This summer, Brother Isidore Scholars at St. John’s have been honing their college essays, developing leadership skills, and visiting area colleges.
 
In early June, the rising seniors in the group had the opportunity to write their college essays with Kirstin McEachern of the English Department. They also met to discuss leadership with two Prep graduates, James Zampell ‘71 and David Hennessey ‘83.
 
The rising juniors worked on their college interview skills and visited Boston College and Tufts University with Nancy Sacco and Conor Dowley of the School Counseling Department.
 
Students found the college admissions program helpful, according to Tyler MacDonald ‘14. “After working with Ms. Sacco, I have a good idea of where I need to start and what needs to be done." And for Matt Mahoney '14, the timing was perfect. "Now I can now begin my junior year with a greater understanding thanks to the ideas I was exposed to this week."

On the agenda for rising sophomore scholars was a three-day leadership camp. The first day was spent on a ropes course at Project Adventure, where the group learned about leadership and teamwork. Putting what they learned into action, they traveled to IMEC in North Andover to help load pallets with medical supplies bound for developing countries. On the third day, they meet with James Zampell ‘71 and David Ives ‘75 for a discussion about servant leadership and the greater good.
 
“It was amazing to see how the boys supported each other and really worked as a team,” said Mark DiFabio, EdD, Assistant principal for Freshmen and Sophomores. “Some of the challenges really pushed the boys out of their comfort zones and they supported each other. In other challenges, they accomplished things that could be done only by working as a team.”
 
The Brother Isidore Scholars program seeks to develop the idea of servant leadership in the spirit of St. Francis Xavier and Theodore James Ryken, who founded the Xaverian Brothers in 1839. 

“It is one thing to have gift. The focus of these programs is to help the boys realize how they can use these gifts to change the their local communities and the world as a whole.  Going to IMEC really helped to bring this into focus, as the boys can directly see this happening,” said Dr. DiFabio.