Description
The program provides low-income graduates of Saint Malachy School with the opportunity for a quality high school education that will prepare them for college. The program is named in honor of Fr. John McNamee, the Pastor of Saint Malachy for over twenty-five years. Through his vision and leadership, Saint Malachy School is one of the most successful, best equipped and staffed elementary schools in the inner-city. While a Catholic school, the students are of diverse religious beliefs. Most are not Catholic. Graduates of Saint Malachy School - through the efforts and sacrifices of caring parents, teachers, donors and volunteers - have been educated in an atmosphere that sets high standards for achievement, personal responsibility and service. The goal of the McNamee Scholars Program is to enable these students to continue this academic and personal growth by attending quality high schools that will prepare them for admission to college.
Each student selected as a McNamee Scholar is assigned a mentor on a one-to-one basis. The role of the mentor is to provide the necessary support and assistance to insure the student's success in high school. The student also receives $2,500 each year toward their high school tuition. In 2009, one student was selected as a McNamee Scholar. She is attending Merion Mercy Academy, an all-girls private school in the Philadelphia suburbs. Her mentor is an alumna of the same school. She has her doctorate in Educational Leadership and has extensive experience and training in mentoring. In June 2010, two additional students from Saint Malachy School were selected for the program. Both will be attending Archdiocesan high schools in Philadelphia and will be assigned mentors over the summer months. All three students are African American and live in North Philadelphia.
In this and succeeding years, the program will select a minimum of three McNamee Scholars each year. The initial funding of $25,000 for the program has been donated by the founding members of the program's Board of Directors.
