By Mike Ferris, class of 1982
Also contributing to this column was Tom Crossett, class of 1975
A funny thing happened on the way to transitioning North Catholic into a Cristo Rey network school. You see, the feasibility study was going along just fine. The archdiocese’s Office of Catholic Education (OCE) had orally given its blessing (remember this!), businesses were lined up, the alumni association was backing the plan, an existing student base was in place, money was being raised, and many people were on board for this new venture. The only two things that needed to be done were to secure a building, and have a religious order take “ownership” of the building and school. The former is a requirement of any school, but the latter is a requirement of the Cristo Rey board. While Cristo Rey is a Jesuit application, the Jesuits were open to any order to lend a hand. The final pieces to this puzzle seemed like slam dunks, right? Not so fast.
The Alumni Scholarship Fund
With the recent news regarding Northeast Catholic, many people have been wondering what would happen with the NC Alumni scholarship fund. After gathering information from the Alumni Association, I have attempted to answer many of the questions regarding this fund. Below, you will find the timeline of the evolution of the fund, followed by the latest changes to the fund. If you have any additional questions, please contact the NC Alumni office at 215-289-4994.
1973 – Board of Trustees expanded the number of colleges to also include LaSalle, St Joseph University, Villanova University and St Charles Borromeo Seminary.
1977 – Expanded scholarship program to include sons/daughters of dues paying alumnus. Established a grant to partially underwite the tuition of incoming Freshmen at Northeast Catholic High School. (The Fund was now awarding $106,000 annually to four college students and twenty-one Northeast Catholic students.)
1992 – Due to the threatened closure of North, the college awards were suspended and the fund was now focused solely on tuition assistance grants to incoming freshman. At this time, the fund awarded 57 incoming freshman grants, with an annual value of $165,000.
2008 – The scholarship fund is now awarding 30 grants with an annual value of $250,000, in the following increments: five at $12,000, five at $10,000, ten at $8,000, ten at $6,000. These grants were paid directly to Northeast Catholic in equal semi-annual installments on the students’ behalf. Over the years, the fund has paid out nearly $3.2 million in tuition assistance to Northeast Catholic students.
The Future of the Scholarship Fund
Due to the closing of Northeast Catholic High School, the scholarship fund will change once again. The fund will continue to support catholic education by expanding the mission of the fund to include the tuition assistance grants for high school, college and elementary school students of children and grandchildren of dues paying NC Alumni Association members. Please note: Awards will continue to be based on academic success and financial need.
Current award recipients
Any student (NC freshman, sophomores, and juniors) who is receiving a grant from the scholarship fund, will continue to receive tuition assistance, based on their grant contract, provided that student transfers to a Philadelphia Archdiocesan high school. Pleas note: All other contract conditions apply. You should have been notified by the Alumni Association regarding current awards.
College Grants
The 4 years college grants will be awarded to high school seniors at Northeast Catholic, as well as children and grandchildren of dues paying NC Alumni Association members. These grants may be used at catholic colleges and universities in the Philadelphia region (Contact the NC Alumni Office for the specific colleges/universities that are included.) The student’s application must be submitted while the student is a senior in high school.
High School Grants
The 4 years high school grants will be awarded to 8th grade children and grandchildren of dues paying NC Alumni Association members. These awards may be used at any catholic high school in the Philadelphia, Camden and Trenton Dioceses. The student’s application must be submitted while the student is in the 8th grade.
Elementary school Grants
These 3 year elementary school grants will be awarded to 5th grade children and grandchildren of dues paying NC Alumni Association members. These awards will be granted to any qualifying student who will be attending a catholic elementary school in the Philadelphia, Camden and Trenton dioceses. The student’s application must be completed while the student is in the 5th grade.
Qualifications and Notes:
History of the Northeast Catholic Alumni Association Memorial Scholarship Fund
April 30, 1968 - Founded to award tuition assistance grants to graduating seniors at NECHS to attend Allentown College of St Francis DeSales (now DeSales University)1973 – Board of Trustees expanded the number of colleges to also include LaSalle, St Joseph University, Villanova University and St Charles Borromeo Seminary.
1977 – Expanded scholarship program to include sons/daughters of dues paying alumnus. Established a grant to partially underwite the tuition of incoming Freshmen at Northeast Catholic High School. (The Fund was now awarding $106,000 annually to four college students and twenty-one Northeast Catholic students.)
1992 – Due to the threatened closure of North, the college awards were suspended and the fund was now focused solely on tuition assistance grants to incoming freshman. At this time, the fund awarded 57 incoming freshman grants, with an annual value of $165,000.
2008 – The scholarship fund is now awarding 30 grants with an annual value of $250,000, in the following increments: five at $12,000, five at $10,000, ten at $8,000, ten at $6,000. These grants were paid directly to Northeast Catholic in equal semi-annual installments on the students’ behalf. Over the years, the fund has paid out nearly $3.2 million in tuition assistance to Northeast Catholic students.
The Future of the Scholarship Fund
Due to the closing of Northeast Catholic High School, the scholarship fund will change once again. The fund will continue to support catholic education by expanding the mission of the fund to include the tuition assistance grants for high school, college and elementary school students of children and grandchildren of dues paying NC Alumni Association members. Please note: Awards will continue to be based on academic success and financial need.
Current award recipients
Any student (NC freshman, sophomores, and juniors) who is receiving a grant from the scholarship fund, will continue to receive tuition assistance, based on their grant contract, provided that student transfers to a Philadelphia Archdiocesan high school. Pleas note: All other contract conditions apply. You should have been notified by the Alumni Association regarding current awards.
College Grants
The 4 years college grants will be awarded to high school seniors at Northeast Catholic, as well as children and grandchildren of dues paying NC Alumni Association members. These grants may be used at catholic colleges and universities in the Philadelphia region (Contact the NC Alumni Office for the specific colleges/universities that are included.) The student’s application must be submitted while the student is a senior in high school.
High School Grants
The 4 years high school grants will be awarded to 8th grade children and grandchildren of dues paying NC Alumni Association members. These awards may be used at any catholic high school in the Philadelphia, Camden and Trenton Dioceses. The student’s application must be submitted while the student is in the 8th grade.
Elementary school Grants
These 3 year elementary school grants will be awarded to 5th grade children and grandchildren of dues paying NC Alumni Association members. These awards will be granted to any qualifying student who will be attending a catholic elementary school in the Philadelphia, Camden and Trenton dioceses. The student’s application must be completed while the student is in the 5th grade.
Qualifications and Notes:
- 1. The student must be a Northeast Catholic senior (in 2010), or the child or grandchild of a dues paying member of The Northeast Catholic Alumni Association.
- All grants are based on academic success and financial need. Official transcripts and tax information will need to be provided with the applications.
- Awarding of any grants does not automatically qualify that student for future grants. For example, if a student wins a grant for elementary school, it does not mean that student will automatically qualify for a high school grant. Each level of grants must be applied for separately, and transcripts and tax information must be provided with each application.
Once a grant is awarded, it will be for the time specified in the contract (3 years for elementary school and 4 years for high school and college awards.) The amount of the award will be divided equally over the number of years for that award.
Tax deductible donations may be sent to the Fund at P. 0. Box 4896, Philadelphia, PA 19124-0896.
Administration Feels No Responsibility to Those Left Behind
Has North Catholic closed already? By the looks of the North Catholic sign at Hunting Park and Torresdale, evidently we have. For the past six weeks, since before the Communion Breakfast, our sign has been blank. Are there no more baseball or lacrosse games? Has the crew boat sunk? Is there nothing positive happening in our school that the world needs to know? It would appear so!
When the shameful news of our demise was announced, our boys were promised a year like any other year, everything status quo. Nothing would be removed from the walls, proms and athletic events would take place. Do yourself a favor, take a drive by the school and see if you get the same sick feeling in your gut as I have, one that suggests it has been over for months within the walls. To not promote our boys in their spring endeavors is an abomination. The last time I checked people are PAID to provide these services to our men and the community. Isn't it torture enough that we'll have to endure that emptiness in two months time? Time for the powers that be to wake up and fulfill their half-hearted promises.
If you wanted to call and ask about this, or find out about the next baseball game, direct that call to the President's Office. That number is 215-831-1234. One might ask, at times like these, wouldn't the adults attempt to make these disenfranchised boys feel good about their uncertain future. But then again, why would they? Remember, the President of the school is primary responsible for the closing of the school. It was calculated and done purposefully. Not much of a legacy except in his own mind.
Some Alumni have approached the school about having one last mass at the school. Sort of a send off, in a perverse way, to say good-bye and remember what North stood for for most of us. I guess I don't have to tell you the answer, it was "No." Think twice about contributing to the Heritage of Faith campaign being sold at your local parish. Remember, that within this campaign, 20% of what you give goes to the building of those cathedrals they call new schools in the suburbs. You know the schools that none of our boys can attend. And when one might ask you why you don't help, you can tell them because of North's President forced you to reconsider Catholic education and who should pay for it. Yep, a great legacy, "What would Jesus say." Someday, we will all find out and I want to be there.
When the shameful news of our demise was announced, our boys were promised a year like any other year, everything status quo. Nothing would be removed from the walls, proms and athletic events would take place. Do yourself a favor, take a drive by the school and see if you get the same sick feeling in your gut as I have, one that suggests it has been over for months within the walls. To not promote our boys in their spring endeavors is an abomination. The last time I checked people are PAID to provide these services to our men and the community. Isn't it torture enough that we'll have to endure that emptiness in two months time? Time for the powers that be to wake up and fulfill their half-hearted promises.
If you wanted to call and ask about this, or find out about the next baseball game, direct that call to the President's Office. That number is 215-831-1234. One might ask, at times like these, wouldn't the adults attempt to make these disenfranchised boys feel good about their uncertain future. But then again, why would they? Remember, the President of the school is primary responsible for the closing of the school. It was calculated and done purposefully. Not much of a legacy except in his own mind.
Some Alumni have approached the school about having one last mass at the school. Sort of a send off, in a perverse way, to say good-bye and remember what North stood for for most of us. I guess I don't have to tell you the answer, it was "No." Think twice about contributing to the Heritage of Faith campaign being sold at your local parish. Remember, that within this campaign, 20% of what you give goes to the building of those cathedrals they call new schools in the suburbs. You know the schools that none of our boys can attend. And when one might ask you why you don't help, you can tell them because of North's President forced you to reconsider Catholic education and who should pay for it. Yep, a great legacy, "What would Jesus say." Someday, we will all find out and I want to be there.