Loyola Institute awards first Simon Le Moyne Scholarships

Aubree Eliza Weaver, News & Features Editor
April 12, 2012
Filed under News & Features

In March, Le Moyne College announced the recipients of its first ever Simon Le Moyne Scholarship, which is awarded to students who have participated in the school’s Loyola Institute.

Tyler Santy, currently a senior at Bishop Grimes High School, and Paige Gordon, a senior at Christian Brothers Academy, will each receive a full-tuition scholarship when they begin at LMC this fall. Santy plans to study physics and chemistry, while Gordon hopes to double major in psychology and English.

In order to qualify for this award, high school seniors from Bishop Grimes, Bishop Ludden or Christian Brothers Academy must have participated in the Loyola Institute. Students must also have a 95 percent minimum high school average and an SAT score of 1300-1600 or an ACT score of 29-36. Once at Le Moyne, recipients must maintain a 3.25 GPA and full-time student status.

Founded in 2009, the Loyola Institute is a three-year program that works in conjunction with the Catholic Diocese of Syracuse, and invites students from the aforementioned Catholic high schools.

“The [Loyola Institute] program allows participants to experience the benefits of a Jesuit education while still attending high school,” said Pete Headd, associate director for the Center for Continuing Education. “They can get acclimated to college life, as well as college students, faculty and administrators, meet students at other local Catholic high schools, earn up to 12 college credits prior to entering college full-time and earn an academic scholarship to Le Moyne.”

According to Headd, three years ago, the Loyola Institute class of 2012 included 35 students. Of those students, 12 completed all of the requirements of the program, and just two qualified for the Simon Le Moyne Scholarship. One student from each of the partnering schools, who has fulfilled the requirements, is eligible for the award.

“We’re excited to be awarding these inaugural scholarships,” said Denny Nicholson, dean of admission, in the college’s press release. “The Loyola Institute has proved to be an important initiative, attracting the very best and brightest students from our local Catholic schools.”

Loyola students who were not eligible for the Simon Le Moyne Scholarships were awarded a Syracuse Catholic Schools Scholarship in the amount of $11,000 per year, and it is renewable for all four years. In order to receive this award, in addition to fulfilling all Loyola Institute program requirements, students must have a minimum high school average of 85 percent, an SAT score of 1050-1600 or an ACT score of 22-36 and must have been accepted for admission to the college.

The primary differences between eligibility for the Simon Le Moyne Scholarships and the Syracuse Catholic Schools Scholarships lie in the Simon Le Moyne Scholarships requiring a higher high school GPA and a higher SAT or ACT score.

There are currently more than 70 students in the program. To get involved with the Loyola Institute, students must complete a brief application process and be accepted into the program.“The program requires that a student has completed the ninth grade, has at least an 85 percent GPA or a ‘B’ average and be involved in service to his/her school, church or community,” Headd added.

Santy and Gordon, the inaugural recipients of the Simon Le Moyne Scholarship, were both unavailable for comment.