As a college-preparatory high school, academics are extremely important at Villa Angela-St. Joseph High School. The school’s commitment to the academic growth of each student is demonstrated at the end of every quarter when students are recognized and awarded for earning honors-level grade point averages.
In addition to academics, though, at the very heart of VASJ’s mission as a Catholic high school rooted in the Ursuline and Marianist traditions (the only school in the world to be sponsored by both), is to guide students spiritually and help them to grow in their faith.
There are a variety of faith-based awards given to students each year at the school’s Founders Day Mass but still VASJ Coordinator of Mission Effectiveness Mr. Bill Raddell ’68 wanted to do more so he created the Faces of our Founders award.
“We have many academic awards, but this one emphasizes that as a school we are doing more than offering a solid academic program and that character development and faith are core to our school's identity,” Raddell says. “It reinforces the effort we are making with our students to encourage them to grow in virtue.”
At the end of each quarter, one VASJ student from each grade level who exemplify the characteristics of the school’s founders, St. Angela Merici and Blessed William Joseph Chaminade, is presented with the Faces of Our Founders award.
Recipients are both nominated and selected by their classmates, teaching students to look for these qualities in their classmates.
“It is good for the students to reflect on who is living out our school's charism and Christian values and perhaps encourages them to look at their own faith witness,” says Raddell.
Students are asked to nominate someone they think best exemplifies the spirit of St. Angela Merici and Blessed William Chaminade with the following character traits:
After
“It is not a popularity contest,” says Raddell. “Students are taking it seriously and I think the students who have been selected truly live the values of our faith.”
Award recipients are recognized at an all-school assembly and their pictures are displayed in cases on the school’s second floor.
The recipients for the second quarter are:
9th grade - Janessa White
10th grade - Elizabeth Smith
11th grade - David Paus
12th grade - Cara Faddoul