Rockhurst Alumni Giving Back Through Jesuit High Schools
Pat Sommer
Issue date: 2/25/05 Section: News
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When Rockhurst University graduate Joe Nguyen accepted his diploma last spring, he knew he wouldn't be going too far from where he came from. Nguyen, also an alumnus of Rockhurst high school, decided to give a year of his life to serving a similar institution. His gratitude for the education and the experience he received from high school led Nguyen to apply for the Alumni Service Corps.
The ASC (Alumni Service Corps) is a program that takes alumni, who have graduated from Jesuit high schools, and gives them the opportunity to teach in similar Jesuit school. "I wanted to give back to a community that gave me so much over eight years," Nguyen said of his decision. Nguyen called the ASC "a lot of work, but at the same time, really rewarding."
Designed as a regular teaching job, the ASC is not your everyday volunteer project. "It's a real job," said Nguyen, "You have to apply for it and get accepted." The high schools will not just take anyone into the program. On average there are several dozen applicants each year, but fewer are accepted.
Currently, Nguyen is teaching sophomore chemistry at St. Louis University High (SLUH) through the program. "I wish I had more classes to teach. Presently I am only teaching one class," stated Nguyen, "but it is real enjoyable." In addition to teaching, Nguyen is involved with coaching basketball and is looking forward to coaching track this upcoming spring.
"Usually, the volunteers are somebody who just wants to break away from school and see if teaching is for them," said Mike Callahan, director of the Missouri Province ASC. Callahan says that most of the students who get involved with the program remember an ASC teacher who had an impact on them during their high school years. Along with prospective teachers, many volunteers like Nguyen join for the service aspect of the ASC. "The volunteers received a lot from their high school and want to give back," Callahan said.
The program is geared towards alumni who have enjoyed their Jesuit school immensely and have skills to offer the respective high schools. If accepted to the program you will not just find yourself teaching a class and then leaving at three o'clock. "The program wishes to get guys involved in as many extra-curricular as classes," Nguyen said, "This is the essence of a Jesuit high school; a quality I was attracted to."
The ASC (Alumni Service Corps) is a program that takes alumni, who have graduated from Jesuit high schools, and gives them the opportunity to teach in similar Jesuit school. "I wanted to give back to a community that gave me so much over eight years," Nguyen said of his decision. Nguyen called the ASC "a lot of work, but at the same time, really rewarding."
Designed as a regular teaching job, the ASC is not your everyday volunteer project. "It's a real job," said Nguyen, "You have to apply for it and get accepted." The high schools will not just take anyone into the program. On average there are several dozen applicants each year, but fewer are accepted.
Currently, Nguyen is teaching sophomore chemistry at St. Louis University High (SLUH) through the program. "I wish I had more classes to teach. Presently I am only teaching one class," stated Nguyen, "but it is real enjoyable." In addition to teaching, Nguyen is involved with coaching basketball and is looking forward to coaching track this upcoming spring.
"Usually, the volunteers are somebody who just wants to break away from school and see if teaching is for them," said Mike Callahan, director of the Missouri Province ASC. Callahan says that most of the students who get involved with the program remember an ASC teacher who had an impact on them during their high school years. Along with prospective teachers, many volunteers like Nguyen join for the service aspect of the ASC. "The volunteers received a lot from their high school and want to give back," Callahan said.
The program is geared towards alumni who have enjoyed their Jesuit school immensely and have skills to offer the respective high schools. If accepted to the program you will not just find yourself teaching a class and then leaving at three o'clock. "The program wishes to get guys involved in as many extra-curricular as classes," Nguyen said, "This is the essence of a Jesuit high school; a quality I was attracted to."