Program preps grade schoolers for meaningful life

Eight freshmen at Rockhurst High School are the first Hurtado Scholars to attend the college preparatory school. For 2½ years, they studied for a scholarship. The boys were nominated by their school principals for the inaugural class of the Hurtado Scholars program, instituted in 2013.

It grew out of an idea in 2011 by the Rev. Bill Sheahan, a Jesuit teacher at Rockhurst. The aim was to attract students from urban diocesan grade schools whose socioeconomic circumstances put college prep schools like Rockhurst out of reach and increase the 103-year-old school’s ethnic and socioeconomic diversity.

“We wanted to reach out to parts of our city that we haven’t gotten many students from,” says Marvin Grilliot, Hurtado Scholars program director. “We decided to work with Catholic schools and families committed to a Catholic education.”

During the 2012-2013 schoolyear, Rockhurst asked principals at Holy Cross, Our Lady of Guadalupe and Our Lady of Angels schools to nominate outstanding fifth-graders. The boys and their families would have to be willing and able to make a three-year commitment. That following summer, the first Hurtado Scholars attended classes at Rockhurst.

With a new class starting every year, there are now 23 scholars--seven seventh graders in their second year in the program; eight first-year sixth graders. Since classes resumed after the Christmas break, Grilliot has been discussing with principals prospective students for the next class of Hurtado Scholars.

This year, the program can take 10 students who will complete fifth grade in May. They will come from Holy Cross, Our Lady of Hope (comprised of students from Our Lady of Angels and Our Lady of Guadalupe, which closed and consolidated in the 2015-2016 school year) and St. John Francis Regis. Interviews with nominees will take place this spring.

The Hurtado scholarships to Rockhurst are merit-based as well as needs-based. According to the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph, almost 90 percent of students in the urban schools receive free or reduced school meals; 43 percent are English language learners; and 24 percent have special needs.

“The mission of Hurtado Scholars is to help students who have great potential, a level of maturity and a willingness to work but for whom a college preparatory education would be very difficult to attain otherwise,” Grilliot says.

Hurtado Scholars study year-round. The six-week summer session opens with a day at William Jewel College’s Tucker Leadership Lab. There are group activities, which include prayer, field trips and community service and separate classes at Rockhurst High School for each grade level, taught by Rockhurst faculty. It’s one of the program’s strengths.

“We have wonderful, dedicated, committed, skilled teachers,” Grilliot says.

The twice-weekly afterschool sessions during the school year take place at the Rockhurst University Community Center. Scholars take part in group activities and academic sessions by grade level.

“They engage in math, writing and reading, and eighth graders (also) prepare for the high school placement test,” Grilliot says.

As in summer, the scholars’ activities include prayer and community service as well as improving academic and study skills.

“We definitely want to challenge them to think and develop art and cultural awareness and leadership skills and grow in faith,” Grilliot says.

The Hurtado Scholars program is funded through Rockhurst High School, private donations, grants and foundations.

“It’s about preparing young men to do well wherever they are and to become leaders and positive role models and give back through community service,” Grilliot says.

CAPTIONS

006 - Hurtado Scholars listening to a talk and viewing Day of the Dead altars at Mattie Rhodes.

004 - Hurtado Scholars at a Rockurst High School soccer game.

000 - Hurtado Scholars at Tucker Leadership Lab at William Jewell College.

009 - Hurtado Scholars at the beginning of summer school program.

009-2 Hurtado Scholars doing community service at Unbound.

006 -2 Hurtado Scholars in after school program.