SCHOOL NEWS ARTICLE – MARCH 2005
by Gina Rushing, President, St. Anthony College Preparatory High School
GREAT STUDENTS ATTRACTED TO ST. ANTHONY’S SMALL, SAFE CAMPUS AND STRONG COLLEGE PREP CURRICULUM
The new “President’s Scholars” Program at St. Anthony College Preparatory High School is already attracting top students from local elementary schools for Fall 2005. The new program, recently launched and modeled after CSULB President Robert Maxson’s program for high school valedictorians, offers a full scholarship for four years of attendance at the downtown Long Beach Catholic high school. Seven 8th grade “top students” from area schools have already applied for scholarship awards under this program, and more are expected to follow.
St. Anthony, founded in 1920 as Long Beach’s premier Catholic high school, has a strong, college preparatory tradition and offers a values-based, co-ed college prep education to high school students, grades 9 through 12. Located in an area that was once considered “unsafe” by many residents, St. Anthony today is, in fact, the safest high school campus in the Long Beach area. The high school has no incidents of violence of unrest, and is located within the historic Long Beach Arts District (6th and Olive Avenue, across the street from the Latin American Museum of Art), which is experiencing an unprecedented renewal. The many on-campus renovations give testimony to the high school’s renaissance, along with that of the entire downtown Long Beach community.
Throughout all the many changes experienced by this community over the past 85 years, St. Anthony College Preparatory High School has remained true to its original mission – to provide quality, affordable Catholic education to families in the Long Beach area. At St. Anthony, college-bound students from diverse cultural, religious and economic backgrounds come together to participate in a rigorous program of academic excellence and extra-curricular activities. Grounded in the values of Jesus, St. Anthony High School educates the “whole person”, while emphasizing family spirit, moral, religious and intellectual development in a secure, caring environment. The ultimate mission of St. Anthony High School is to form morally and ethically aware, academically capable people who become outstanding contributors to the future.
Last year, 97% of St. Anthony’s graduating seniors continued on to college. This year, there is a sense of excitement and anticipation as our seniors receive their letters of acceptance from colleges located throughout the United States – ranging from Harvard University and other private four-year universities such as Mount St. Mary’s and Loyola Marymount, to University of California campuses and California State Universities, as well as a variety of local community colleges.
Student Profiles:
Senior Andrew Schnorr is the youngest of four children who have all attended St. Anthony High School. Andrew had many choices for high school, but chose St. Anthony for its small size and the opportunities it offers to gifted students. Like his older siblings, Andrew has been involved in a wide range of activities at St. Anthony. He is the student faculty liaison for student government, President of the Campus Ministry organization, a member of the President’s Ambassador service group, an actor in the Theater Arts program, and a Member of the National Honor Society and CSF. Through the Campus Ministry organization, Andrew has served the school as a Senior retreat leader, lector, prayer leader, and usher. Andrew has led his class in Grade Point Average during his four years here, and will be the class Valedictorian. Outside of school, Andrew has written a novella which has been accepted for publication. Andrew has been accepted by Harvard University, where he will continue to pursue his interests in writing and acting.
Senior Jennifer Salgado transferred into St. Anthony College Preparatory High School as a sophomore and has achieved great academic and extra-curricular success. She is the eldest of three children. Jenny enjoys serving, and has served her school and her fellow students in a variety of roles throughout her three years on campus. She is, currently, Vice President of the Campus Ministry organization, Senior retreat leader, lector, prayer leader, and usher. Jenny is also a President’s Ambassador and is involved with student government as an elected member of ASB. She has been involved in sports throughout her high school career and has played on SAINTS varsity volleyball, soccer and softball teams. Most recently, Jenny initiated a “books drive” to obtain new books for the St. Anthony College Preparatory High School Caruso Library/Learning Center which has resulted in over 1000 books being donated for student use. Jenny will graduate in June and has been accepted to Marymount College in Palos Verdes, California, for the following school year.