January 18, 2012
Queens, NY (January 17, 2012) – St. John’s University
announces a new Catholic Leader Scholarship for high school
graduates nationally. The $5,000 grant award is given annually to
select scholars who wish to translate their deep Catholic faith
into action. Ultimately, Catholic Leader scholars will receive
$20,000 for participation in this program in addition to other
grants and assistance that they may receive. Candidates will take
part in a four-year developmental program which will include
leadership training, service and prayer while learning what it
means to be a leader inspired by the Catholic tradition.
This initiative is a follow-up to the St. John’s Catholic School
Scholarship (with a minimum grant award up to $10,000 and maximum
of $20,000 over four years based on financial need) which was
announced in November as a way to promote and encourage students to
attend and remain in Catholic education. Interested students may
apply for both opportunities. The University has established an
Institute for Catholic Schools in partnership with the three
metropolitan Dioceses in New York and the Diocese of Trenton, New
Jersey.
“The faith life of St. John’s University is central to our
foundation and future,” said Pam Shea Byrnes, Vice President for
Campus Ministry. “As a Catholic and Vincentian institution, we
believe the one of our key areas of distinctiveness is our
commitment to faith inspired leadership that is rooted in a diverse
academic environment.”
The program is available to first-time freshman entering in the
fall 2012 semester. Candidates will be selected from a pool of
deserving students who provide essay answers and a full application
of faith-based activities. Those applicants who are deemed
finalists will be interviewed before selection. Deadline for
application submission is February 25.
Rev. Donald J. Harrington, C.M., President of St. John’s University
echoed 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,” said Rev. Harrington,
C.M.
Other incentives to applying for the Catholic Leader Scholarship
include:
- Serving as student ministers and faith-leader mentors
- Engaging in campus-based, liturgical, faith formation and
diocesan leadership experiences
- Embracing opportunities to create faith-based programs and
promote faith-based leadership
- Having the option to studying abroad in a special cohort to
Rome focusing on Catholic leadership
The $5,000 Catholic Leader Scholarship grant award is renewable
each year contingent upon the student fulfilling program
responsibilities.
For more information contact Kerri Darcy at darcyk@stjohns.edu or
visit the St. John’s University website at
www.stjohns.edu/catholicleader. Media interested in finding out
more information about the St. John’s Catholic Leader Scholarship
or the Institute for Catholic Schools can contact Dominic Scianna,
Assistant Vice President for Media Relations, by calling
718.990.6185 or e-mail inquiries to sciannad@stjohns.edu.