One of my favorite aspects of my work is the opportunity to interact with alumni from many generations during our regional events and receptions . I am able to share how the core mission of the Prep , rooted in Ignatius Loyola ’ s vision to “ serve everyone — the rich and poor alike ,” still unfolds on the Rose Hill campus for new generations of bright young men from diverse backgrounds and communities .

I was hosted recently with a group of alumni and their spouses by Jim Melican ’ 58 in his beautiful Naples , FL home . Like many of our alumni , Jim hails from the Bronx . He has established an endowed scholarship in the name of his parents . Dr . James Melican , Jim ’ s father , is known to many of our alumni as one of the Prep ’ s legendary teachers of mathematics .

During his remarks , Jim recounted receiving a letter from one of this year ’ s Melican Scholars , a young man from the Bronx . Though separated from Jim by many years , the student described an educational experience close to his own : academically rigorous , critically reflective , and committed to faith and service .

Jim added this detail : “ The young man ’ s name had a different language and sound to it than the Bronx Prep students of my day .” Jim was pleased that the Prep continues to reach out to immigrant families from the Bronx to make the opportunity of Jesuit secondary education accessible to those whose sons have the potential to succeed in an academic program defined by excellence .

While I was grateful that Jim recognized our success , I know it does not happen apart from careful strategic planning .

Without this planning , Fordham Prep could become primarily a college prep school for young men from affluent zip codes whose families can afford a much higher tuition than our current $ 18,960 . While these students account for an important segment in our enrollment mix , Jesuit education occupies a unique niche which aims to serve students from a variety of backgrounds and communities .

In fact , we work hard to avoid what enrollment experts call a “ barbell ”— an increasingly common phenomenon in which a vast majority of students who attend a private , independent school come from families who occupy either the very top or very bottom of the economic strata with few if any students from middle income and working class families .

Ensuring that Fordham Prep remains true to its mission is no easy task , especially as middle income families are squeezed and many relocate away from the New York City area . Identifying bright young men from the Bronx — a borough in which Catholic grammar schools are closing at an alarming rate — does not happen automatically , not without a high degree of teamwork from our admissions , development and business office staff . The effort it took to recruit and enroll the Class of 2021 and support them with financial aid is no exception . Nearly 40 % of next year ’ s freshmen are students of color . 45 % will receive over $ 4 million in tuition assistance over four years , as their families have limited financial resources . 25 % of these students are residents of the Bronx .

I am pleased with two significant developments that allow the Prep to pursue enrollment goals which reflect our mission .

First , we have begun to partner with Regis High School to expand the enrollment of REACH ( Recruiting Excellence in Academics for Catholic High Schools ). Founded by Regis , REACH identifies , recruits and prepares middle school boys from families of limited financial resources so they earn admission and merit scholarships to the Jesuit high schools in New York City .

Over the years , dozens of REACH students have successfully matriculated to Regis and Fordham Prep . Beginning in the summer following their fifth grade , REACH students

take advanced coursework at the University of Scranton each summer and during 20 Saturdays over the school year , culminating three years later in taking the TACHS and Regis admissions exams .

Praised for its impressive outcomes by the Wall Street Journal and the New York Post , REACH represents an opportunity for largely immigrant and working class families to gain access to top Jesuit high schools . These REACH students show a marked improvement in academic performance over their three years in the program — so much so that their TACHS scores beat the average of Fordham Prep ’ s accepted students .

Five REACH students will matriculate to Fordham Prep in the Class of 2021 , bringing the total number to twelve students from the program who study here currently . I amm thrilled to share that through a series of strategic investments , Fordham Prep and Regis will expand REACH enrollment from 100 to nearly 200 over the next few years . This will mean more applicants who are ready for the Prep ’ s academic challenge .

Moreover , thanks to a gift from Diane and Jim Rowen ’ 82 — part of their record-breaking $ 6 million campaign commitment to capital , endowment and strategic initiatives — this coming summer Fordham Prep and the University will host the REACH Candidate Camp . The camp is a 3-week residential experience of accelerated courses , leadership activities and religious formation .

More REACH students knocking on Fordham Prep ’ s door each admissions season means the need for additional tuition assistance , which brings us to the second development : the continued growth of our endowment , which is an increasingly important source of revenue for our financial aid program . In fact , since 2013 , our endowment has grown from $ 21 to $ 35 million .

Endowment growth is one of the key strategic initiatives of the 175th Anniversary Campaign . This growth happens one donor at a time , as generous alumni and Prep benefactors make gifts to the endowment . All of this , of course , brings us back to the Melican Scholarship and its donor , Jim .

As we continue to celebrate our 175th