Alumnus of the Year 2025 Announced
José Luis Toledo, Jr. ‘96, has been named Belen Jesuit’s 2025 Alumnus of the Year. He started at Belen as a sixth grader in 1989 and immediately felt at home. “Belen is more than my alma mater—it is the foundation of my character. It’s a brotherhood that extends beyond the classroom and has taught me to have a lifelong commitment to service,” Toledo says.
José embraced every aspect of Belen's life—sports, friendships, and detentions. Never one to follow a straight path, he embraced both triumphs and trials, learning invaluable lessons in and out of the classroom. He played football and baseball for four years and even one year of golf, managing to letter three times in that single season. He also learned some hard lessons, including accountability, consequences and dealing with lost opportunities.
Teachers such as Fr. Sardiña helped him take responsibility for his actions, it was coaches like Coach Stuart and Coach Aparicio who helped mold him into a man of discipline, pushing him to do things he never thought possible. Brother Gerry, who ran Gerry’s Farm, showed him that service wasn’t about obligation—it was about giving of oneself for the greater good. While he had many strict teachers, no department challenged him more than Spanish, where he quickly learned that “no excuses” meant precisely that.
Grounded in the principles of Ignatian Spirituality instilled by the Jesuits at Belen, José grasped the profound meaning of life: to praise, revere, and serve the Lord, and made it the cornerstone of his life. “I don’t go a day without offering up all of God’s gifts and giving gratitude,” said Toledo. “Every decision I make, every challenge I face, I reflect on through God and His teachings. My faith has taught me that I am not in control—all I can do is make choices through the lens of God’s wisdom and trust in His plan.”
His connection to Belen deepened in 2007 when his wife, Loli, joined the faculty, giving José new perspectives as both a husband and soon-to-be Belen parent.. All three of their children are Jesuit-educated — one Belen alumnus who is now at North Carolina State University, one current Belen student in ninth grade, and one Our Lady of Lourdes Academy alumna currently at St. Louis University.
Over the past 13 years, José has served as the cook for Belen Youth Missions, ensuring each participant is nourished both physically and spiritually. He also coaches football, mentoring student-athletes on and off the field. As a delegate for his class and an active member of the Alumni Professional Section for Accounting, Finance, and Enterprise, he continues to support the growth of the Belen community
“I have known José for many years and can attest to his love and commitment to Belen,” said Fr. Guillermo M. García-Tuñón, S.J., ‘87. “At no point in time did he ever wander too far from Belen Jesuit, but always served his alma mater faithfully. Most outstanding has been his 20 years of service to Belen Youth Missions. During that time, he has fed and cared for thousands of Belen students who have experienced working with and for the poor of the Dominican Republic. While not formally a teacher in the classroom, he has helped educate these young men to be true men for others.”
“When I heard that I had been selected as the 2025 Alumnus of the Year, I was overcome with emotion and brought to tears by the unexpected honor,” said Toledo. “The true giants of Belen are the men who came before me—mentors like Eddie García ‘87 and José González ‘91. These are men I respect deeply for their unwavering values, moral integrity, and commitment to service. To stand among them is an overwhelmingly humbling experience.”
His greatest hope is that the young men he mentors will continue to carry the torch, leading the next generation in the spirit of service and faith. “Be humble, never procrastinate, and take care of the tasks that require no talent. Surround yourself with people who make you better—morally and spiritually. That is what Belen taught me, and that is what I will always carry forward.”
In honor of this recognition, a digital billboard will be on display showcasing José on the Palmetto Expressway & Bird Road from April 14 to May 4, 2025. Click here to see the photo album from the Hall of Fame ceremony where the Alumnus of the Year was celebrated.
BELEN JESUIT PREPARATORY SCHOOL
500 SW 127th Avenue, Miami, FL 33184
phone: 305.223.8600 | fax: 305.227.2565 | email: webmaster@belenjesuit.org
500 SW 127th Avenue, Miami, FL 33184
phone: 305.223.8600 | fax: 305.227.2565 | email: webmaster@belenjesuit.org
Belen Jesuit Preparatory School was founded in 1854 in Havana, Cuba by Queen Isabel II of Spain. The task of educating students was assigned to the priests and brothers of the Society of Jesus (the Jesuits), whose teaching tradition is synonymous with academic excellence and spiritual discipline. In 1961, the new political regime of Cuba confiscated the School property and expelled the Jesuit faculty. The School was re-established in Miami the same year, and over the next decade, continued to grow. Today, Belen Jesuit sits on a 30-acre site in western Dade County, only minutes away from downtown Miami.