Our shared history with St. Jean Baptiste Church spans nearly a century. Last fall, this long-standing relationship between high school and parish sparked a particularly vibrant and fruitful collaboration. Pastor John Kamas and then-principal Sr. Maria Cassano convened a steering committee to establish the parameters and secure funds for a new scholarship. The group, comprised of parishioners as well as board members and staff from the high school, made quick work of the task at hand. Reaching out to fellow parishioners and others who share a commitment to Catholic education, the committee surpassed its goal within six months.
The newly established St. Anne Scholars program provides opportunities for academically gifted students with outstanding leadership potential and exemplary personal values to attend St. Jean Baptiste High School tuition-free. Recipients of the scholarship serve as ambassadors to the parish. As the flagship of SJB’s generous merit scholarship program, the goals of the St. Anne Scholars initiative are multifold:
● Honor the spirit of Mary’s mother–a teacher, guide, and female role model. The National Shrine of St. Anne is located within our church building.
● Raise academic, merit-based scholarship dollars to support St. Jean Baptiste students.
● Foster meaningful relationships between our parishioners and students.
● Incentivize bright, talented eighth grade students to make St. Jean’s their choice for high school.
The parish and school communities are delighted to recognize ninth grader Amelia Perez as the inaugural St. Anne Scholar. She comes to us from St. Elizabeth’s School in the Washington Heights neighborhood of Manhattan where she completed her eighth grade year with an academic average of 97.25%. In addition, Amelia ranked nationally in the 98th percentile for reading and written expression and in the 96th percentile for math on the Test for Admission into Catholic High Schools (TACHS). Amelia and her family have joined the parish community for Mass during the St. Anne Novena in July and at a welcome reception earlier this fall. She has spoken at Sunday Masses and looks forward to continuing her faith journey in the warm embrace of the St. Jean’s community. Baptized as an infant, Amelia is preparing to receive the sacraments of Reconciliation, the Eucharist, and Confirmation at Easter at St. Jean Baptiste Church.
Building on success, the steering committee hopes to raise $100,000 during the current school year in order to increase the number of St. Anne Scholarships awarded in fall 2025. For more information, visit stjean.org/stannescholars or contact Kathryn Collins, Vice President of Institutional Advancement, at 212-288-1645 x121 or [email protected].