The Connelly Foundation announced in a virtual ceremony its 2022-23 Neumann Scholars. It is awarding 44 academically-talented eighth grade students from 29 regional parochial schools with four-year, full scholarships to attend any Philadelphia Archdiocesan high school of their choosing.
Each student will receive a grant for the full high school tuition (tuition varies by school) currently averaging $8,400 a year, which over four years will amount to approximately $40,000 individual value. The scholarships are named for Saint John Neumann, the fourth bishop of Philadelphia, who is credited with founding over 200 schools in the Archdiocese.
This year, 463 students from 102 parochial schools in the five county area competed for the scholarships. The standardized test was administered on Sept. 26. Among the 44 scholarship recipients are the following five students from Bucks County:
– Lorenzo Covello, St. Charles Borromeo School
– Joseph Frey, Our Lady of Mount Carmel School
– Margaret Fronheiser, St. Ignatius School
– Jack Gatta, Nativity of Our Lord School
– Joross Rafa, Nativity of Our Lord School
“The Connelly Foundation is thrilled to highlight the academic achievements of these 44 students and the academic excellence of the parochial grade school faculties and staff who educate them,” said Josephine C. Mandeville, chair of the Connelly Foundation board. “For over 25 years, the Neumann Scholars Program has encouraged these young women and men to reach even greater heights in academic success through a high quality Catholic education at an Archdiocesan high school.”
“I was thrilled to learn that 44 eighth grade students from across the five county Archdiocese of Philadelphia were named 2022 Neumann Scholars. These students persevered in the face of severe challenges brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic and excelled in their studies despite difficult obstacles,” said Archbishop Nelson J. Perez, Archbishop of Philadelphia. “Their outstanding achievements would not have been possible without the hard work, collaboration and dedication exhibited by their pastors, administrators, faculty, staff and parents.
“I am deeply grateful to the Connelly Foundation for its longstanding and unwavering support of Catholic education in our Archdiocese. Not only do they continue to believe and invest in the tremendous gift of a Catholic education, but have also been steadfast in their support of many other organizations that help our brothers and sisters in Christ who found themselves in need due to the pandemic.”
Launched in 1995, the Neumann Scholars Program identifies scholastically gifted eighth grade students through an independently administered competitive examination. The criteria to sit for this year’s exam was a seventh grade Terra Nova standardized total test score of 90 or a cognitive skills index score of 120, plus a seventh grade GPA of 92.0 or above. Students also needed to complete an application and an essay.
“The Archdiocese of Philadelphia has no better partner in Catholic education support than the Connelly Foundation. In an incredibly challenging year for students, school families and educators, it is a great privilege to celebrate the academic achievements of these fine students,” said Andrew M. McLaughlin, Ed.D., Secretary of Elementary Education, Archdiocese of Philadelphia.
The 44 students recently announced join 120 current Neumann Scholars attending an Archdiocese high school. Since its inception in 1995, the program’s graduates have enjoyed 100 percent college acceptance with over $200 million offered in college scholarships, 118 National Merit Finalists, four National Merit Semi-Finalists, 233 National Merit Commended Students, five National Merit Achievement Students, and an average SAT score of 1418 and a high score of 1600 (combined math and critical reading). Since 1995, the Connelly Foundation has funded just over 1,000 students with Neumann scholarships, amounting to about $30 million in Neumann scholarships awarded.
“These students and their schools demonstrate the success of Catholic schools in the Philadelphia Archdiocese,” said Mandeville. “Their accomplishments are the result of the partnership between pastors, parents and teachers. It is also the reason why four Catholic elementary schools in the Archdiocese were also named 2021 National Blue Ribbon Schools of Excellence.”
Visit connellyfdn.org for more information.
