Fordham Preparatory School - Ramview Ramview Winter/Spring 2020 | Page 14

E VE NTS AND RE CAP CLASS OF 2020 EXCELS IN EARLY ADMISSIONS PROCESS College acceptances are rolling in and the Fordham Prep Class of 2020 is once again distinguishing itself as a highly sought group by colleges and universities around the world. Through the early admissions process, 93% of seniors have applied to at least one college, submitting 968 applications to 164 different colleges and universities. “The Class of 2020 is proving to be a highly accomplished group of young men who will have their pick of colleges and universities to choose from for their post-secondary plans,” says Fordham Prep’s Director of College Counseling Maura Brennan. The results have been impressive. Thus far, students have been accepted into 114 colleges and universities, including some of the top colleges in the nation: Cornell, University of Pennsylvania, Georgetown, Boston College, Notre Dame, NYU, Amherst, Wesleyan, and Emory. As of publication, seniors have been accepted into 31 colleges and universities deemed “Most Competitive” or “Highly Competitive” for admittance by Barron’s Profile of American Colleges. In addition, Fordham Prep seniors were also accepted to several international schools, such as University College Dublin, University of St. Andrews, and City University of London. In all, students were accepted into colleges and universities in England, Ireland, Japan, and Scotland. Charlie O’Connor (Darien, CT) was accepted into the highly selective School of Film and Television at Loyola Marymount University (Los Angeles) after honing his skills in the Prep’s film club, FPTV. When talking about the college application process, he says, “The process was definitely stressful for me as I know it was for my fellow classmates. Being someone who wanted to attend film school, I had to complete film school creative portfolios/supplements. Many of the top film schools in the country require a short film, photography, a short story, or short screenplay. Being able to attend LMU gives me a lot of hope for opportunities to come in 12 RAMVIEW the future. I’d love the possibility of working in the film industry and being surrounded by the people in it. I want to make movies that send a message and touch the viewer.” scholarship to Emory University in Atlanta through Questbridge, a national nonprofit that connects exceptional, low-income youth with leading colleges. Senior Miguel Negrete (Yonkers, NY) will be attending Bucknell where he will be competing for the Bisons’ track and field squad after a stellar career as both a soccer player and a track & field star for the Rams. He had high praise for his experience with the College Counseling Department. “The application process ran smoothly. My college counselor kept me on top of the tasks that needed to be completed. They also helped me search for colleges that were best suited for me and would help me prosper both as a student and as an athlete.” “My college counselor, Mrs. Keough, formally introduced me to QuestBridge,” says Giordanis. “She was a big motivator throughout the process, and I am more than grateful for her. The process began with applying to the National Scholar Match in September to become a Match Finalist. I filled out their application and soon after, I ranked up to twelve of their partner schools I would be interested in attending. Being admitted to a school through QuestBridge is a binding decision, so the rankings had to be well-researched and as accurate as possible. In mid- October, I became a Match Finalist, and this is where the nitty-gritty of the process kicked in. I had to submit all supplemental materials to the colleges I ranked by the Early Decision deadline. It became very challenging, but I succeeded. On December 2nd, I matched to Emory University with a full four-year scholarship!” Negrete continued, “I was looking for the opportunity to step away from my comfort zone. I will be able to step away from ‘city life’ and find out who I really want to be. I hope to achieve a career in business with the final goal of obtaining my master’s degree in sports management.” Senior Giordanis Guerrero (Bronx, NY) took a more unique journey for his college destination. He was awarded a full- TEN INDUCTED INTO HALL OF HONOR On Friday, November 22, the Fordham Prep community gathered in the Garden Terrace Room at the New York Botanical Gardens to honor ten of its own with induction into the school’s Hall of Honor. The class included two former members of the Prep faculty and eight alumni, two of who previously served as Chair of the Board of Trustees. The honorees included a Jesuit priest, two doctors, successful businessmen, exceptional athletes, and a trailblazing member of the Fordham Prep faculty. However, the diverse group share a common passion for the school’s mission to “create and form leaders in faith, scholarship, and service.” Dr. Joseph Petriello ’98, principal of Fordham Prep, opened the evening and served as the event’s Master of Ceremonies. Former Prep president Rev. Kenneth Boller, SJ, followed him with an invocation asking God to bless the honorees, all those attending, and the entire Fordahm Prep community. School president, Rev. Christopher Devron, SJ, then welcomed a crowd of over 300 individuals including seven current members or family members of the Hall of Honor. Each member of the class was introduced by a current member of the Hall of Honor or member of the Hall of Honor Nominating Committee. After a short video, each inductee, or a member of their family, had the opportunity to address those gathered. While many details were unique to the individual, all spoke of the values instilled upon them by generations of Prep faculty and staff. These included fidelity to God, the Society of Jesus, and Jesuit education which sustained them as students, as members of the faculty, and in their professional lives. The honorees included: David Arellano 1887 Rev. Thomas Crowley, SJ Llewellyn Hyacinthe, MD ’80 Frank McLaughlin ’65 Edward O’Brien Sr. ’46 Louis A. Perrotta MD 1920 William M. Perry ’64 Wanda Pineiro James S. Rowen VII ’82 Martin A. Waters Jr. ’57 Former Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Jim Rowen ’82, summed up the feelings of all honorees by saying, “I feel a tremendous sense of debt to the Prep. Without the Prep, my life would be very different.” The next Hall of Honor induction will take place in November of 2021. Nominations for the class will open on June 1, 2020. Read the complete article at fordhamprep.org/news National Jesuit Vocation Day On Tuesday, November 5, the Feast of all Jesuit Saints, Fordham Prep celebrated the Feast of All Jesuit Saints and Blesseds. The school also commemorated National Jesuit Vocation Day, a day set aside by the Society of Jesus in the United States to promote vocations to the priesthood. School president, Rev. Christopher J. Devron, SJ, began the day by celebrating Mass in the Prep Chapel during which prayers for vocations were offered. During the school day, men in formation to become Jesuit priests and brothers visited Religious Studies classes. They spoke about their call to serve and their experience in the Jesuit formation program. For more information about becoming a Jesuit, visit beajesuit.org. You can also follow Jesuit vocations on Facebook and Instagram. Last week, at the school’s All Saints Day Mass, the Prep community heard from Rev. Philip Florio, SJ, Provincial Assistant for Vocation Ministry for the Maryland and USA Northeast Province. During his homily, Fr. Florio asked the consider a vocation to the priesthood. He closed by offering his wish that “maybe, just maybe, one of you will think about that call, to become a Jesuit, to join us in this mission to care for so many people, and to strive to be holy.” SPRING 2020 13