Reflecting the importance of Catholic tradition at St. John’s, the University has established two new scholarships, the Catholic School Scholarship and the Catholic Leader Scholarship. Both are available to first-time freshmen applying for admission into the Fall 2012 semester. The Catholic School Scholarship provides any graduate of a Catholic high school a guaranteed minimum grant of $10,000 over four years, with a maximum potential scholarship of $20,000 based on financial need. It will be automatically awarded to incoming freshmen who will be graduating from a Catholic high school. “The goal for this scholarship is to create a Catholic education network to reinforce the importance of the continuum of Catholic education,” said Jerrold Ross, Ph.D., Academic Vice President for the Staten Island campus and Dean of St. John’s School of Education. “We felt that the notion that an institution of higher education such as St. John’s has faith in the value of a Catholic high school education would send a powerful message when parents and students are looking for the perfect Catholic college.” The scholarship was created in response to a recommendation from the Advisory Board of the Institute for Catholic Schools (ICS) at the University. The purpose of the ICS is to foster the long-term sustainability, growth and excellence of Catholic education by assisting the local dioceses in enhancing the administrative and academic infrastructure of schools. “The St. John’s Institute for Catholic Schools aligns with our mission as a Catholic and Vincentian University,” said St. John’s University President Rev. Donald J. Harrington, C.M. “We are fully committed to a faith-based Catholic education in its totality, which can have a strong impact on the lives of future St. John’s students. We are happy to join hands with Catholic schools of our neighboring dioceses to strengthen the current system, and believe this partnership will help Catholic schools to be even stronger in the days and years ahead.” The Catholic Leader Scholarship is designed for high school graduates who wish to translate their deep Catholic faith into action. Catholic Leader Scholars will receive $5,000 annually and take part in a four-year developmental program that will include leadership training, service and prayer while learning what it means to be a leader inspired by the Catholic tradition. The grant is renewable each year, contingent upon the student fulfilling program responsibilities. In addition to the financial award, Catholic Leader Scholars will enjoy additional benefits, such as engaging in campus-based, liturgical, faith formation and diocesan leadership experiences and having the option to study abroad in a special cohort in Rome focusing on Catholic leadership. Fr. Harrington noted the importance of the Catholic Leader Scholarship and its great vision. “This scholarship initiative is an extension of our commitment to a faith-based Catholic education which can have a strong impact on the lives of future St. John’s students and upon the broader Catholic community.” For additional information about either of these new initiatives, please visit www.stjohns.edu/scholarships.