|
The 20/20 program is a
“support system,” says Barabino, that tries to ensure that
participating students are successful academically and
socially during their years at the school, as well as
prepared for the transition to college or career after they
graduate.
“We are constantly
monitoring them,” she says, “and teaching them
responsibility and maturity.”
“It’s a great school
overall, I’ve made great connections with other students and
my teachers,” says Brian Pietz, a junior and 20/20 student
who entered St. John’s in his freshman year. Pietz maintains
a 4.25 cumulative grade point average and in addition to his
academic achievements has been involved in a variety of
other activities during his years at the school. He is in
the Ambassador Society, a student leadership group that
assists at school events, and QuestBridge, a non-profit
group that links high-achieving students with educational
and scholarship opportunities at leading colleges.
Pietz is also a member of
the National Honor Society and plans to go into a medical
field, most liely at The Ohio State University.
Misael Beltran-Guzman,
also a junior who entered the school in his freshman year,
has top grades and is in the QuestBridge program and the
National Honor Society. “I am grateful for the opportunity
to come here,” says Beltran-Guzman. That opportunity
includes being able to go to Guatemala this summer with a
model UN team and being elected, by his peers, to the post
of class vice president.
Beltran-Guzman plans to
major in education and will probably attend Case Western
Reserve University.
Sophomore Marcus Jarrett
entered St. John’s in the eighth grade but, unlike most
20/20 students, Jarrett was well aware of the school and the
excellent academic environment he would be undertaking.
Jarrett’s father is a St. John’s graduate.
“I like it a lot,” says
the young man of the school, its students, faculty and
staff. A member of Toledo EXCEL, a scholarship incentive
program at the University of Toledo, Jarrett is on track to
enter the UT on a full scholarship, if he so chooses. At St.
John’s he has played football and basketball and is also a
member of the Ambassadors Society.
Julian Hill, a sophomore
who entered St. John’s in the seventh grade, is also a
Toledo EXCEL student. He runs track, plays basketball and is
an Ambassador. “It’s a good school for both academics and
athletics,” says Hill who was leery, before he entered St.
John’s, of attending a school which was not proficient in
both.
The St. Johns 20/20 Jesuit
Scholars Program currently has 57 students enrolled and,
according to Barabino, the school is anticipating 18-20
incoming freshman for the program’s 2017-28 academic year.
If the past is any
indication, several things are apparent about what the
future holds for these incoming freshmen – if they apply
themselves, they will succeed academically and socially at
St. John’s, they will graduate, they will go on to a top
college, they will have an opportunity to ensure that their
families’ future generations opportunities are markedly
different from those previous ones had.
For more information on
the 20/20 Jesuit Scholars Program, call 419-865-5743, ext
0719, or email
admissions@sjjtitans.org.
|
