[Good Morning: Welcome to the Rose Parvis scholarship
ceremony. Today 33 sophmores entered into the group. It’s quite an honor. One has to have a 4 point average - plus a series of other
“have to”s - for all 4 years at St. Mary’s High School. The key word this morning is “Scholarship.”
Last week in the Washington Post and
in the New York Times I noticed
announcements for this year’s winners of the Pulitzer Prizes for Journalism.
Putting both together last night, I wrote this fictional story for this morning's ceremony. It’s
called, “Scholarship!”]
SCHOLARSHIP
It was her first Pulitzer Prize.
She stood there on the shiny wooden stage floor - waiting
for someone in a suit to finish his introduction of her. He told of her gifts and
skills as a newspaper reporter. He spoke a few quotes and quips. He got a few
smiles and two laughs - in his introduction to this award to this woman.
She heard nothing.
She was a bit nervous. This was quite an award for any
newspaper or news magazine writer and reporter.
She remembered her first ballpoint pen. It could do what the
big people could do with a ballpoint pen: make marks and letters on a pad or
piece of paper. Her first word was not cat or dog - but owl. OWL - in big
capital letters.
Next came hawk and robin and rooster.
In fact - in the second grade - she wrote her first little
book: The Rowdy Rooster - who roared and cleared his throat every night at midnight
- instead of every morning at dawn.
She stood there remembering writing a paper in Middle School
with 2 friends about people who messed up parking lots with dumping paper
and wrappers and Styrofoam containers. The 3 became nicknamed "the Neat Nicks" and got made
fun of - but some kids heard the message and kept the parking lot and rest
rooms neater.
She stood there remembering her paper in H.S. about verbal
bullying in the kind of nick names kids gave kids.
She remembered in College writing a paper pushing for better
medical benefits for the college maintenance workers.
She stood there thinking she was well prepared for her job
as reporter for the Times - Dispatch.
Finally it was her turn to walk to the podium and get her
Pulitzer Prize.All clapped especially
her family. She thanked God and her parents - but especially two high school
English teachers - who pushed her to write and to use her talents for a better
world.
She thanked her editor for pushing her to do her research in
nursing homes in the Midwest - and how the county ones - were not doing their
job.
That Sunday she stayed in church a few extra minutes to once
more thank God and a whole list of teachers in elementary, middle, high school,
university and grad school.She
especially remember Mrs. Lopez who loved to say, “Detailed Research and Scholarship - definitely make the difference every time.”
After being handed her Pulitzer Prize award, someone gave her a dozen roses. It was a
first. She remembered envying the Home Coming Queen in high school getting a
dozen roses and all those kids who were handed roses by family after being in a
play. Finally! She joined their ranks. And she raised her roses and her Pulitzer prize high in the air. ______________________________________ FROM 2017
Top-Notch Students are proving High School is a stepping stone for things to come!
St. Mary’s Parvis Scholar Program confers recognition and honor upon the most intellectually promising Christian leaders of St. Mary’s High School.
This program is reserved for select sophomores who demonstrate steadfast commitment to academic excellence and Christian values.
Named in honor of St. Mary’s Teacher of the Year 1991-1992, the Parvis Scholar Program was established to honor the work of Rosemary Annette Parvis, Social Studies department chair and teacher. Following graduation ceremonies on May 23, 1992, the St. Mary’s community suffered the tragic loss of Rose Parvis in an automobile accident. She was an extraordinary woman: a loving wife, a compassionate and caring mother, a consummate academic, a passionate and dedicated teacher. She was a quiet leader and a constant model of the Christian values which she lived each day.
The Parvis Scholar Program is governed by an academic committee which reviews applications and selects students to be named Parvis Scholar nominees. Those students who are selected will receive singular distinction as Parvis Scholars—an honor these students will carry throughout their years at St. Mary’s. Recognized Parvis Scholars, selected on the basis of both merit and potential, as well as academic achievement and Christian leadership ability, will demonstrate the principles which Rose Parvis espoused and which are an inherent part of the philosophy of a St. Mary’s education. Upon graduation, these students will have:
Sustained a grade point average of 4.0 or above
Demonstrated Christian commitment over a four-year career at St. Mary’s
Illustrated service to the St. Mary’s High School community and to the community at large through leadership in co-curricular and social arenas
Attained acceptance to an institute of higher learning to further pursue a professional career
"Each of our St. Mary's High School Parvis Inductees for 2017 earned a cumulative GPA of 4.0 or above following the first semester of the sophomore year. Each has demonstrated an ongoing commitment to Gospel values and a dedication to serving others. These sophomores employ the gifts of faith, scholarship, sensitivity, compassion, and inclusion. They are leaders in their class and in their school." Stated Chris Morgan, Assistant Principal for Academics. This year we are honored to have 19 sophomore inductees, 14 of which came from our St. Mary’s elementary school. This is a tremendous compliment of the great work our lower school is doing to advance our students in academic excellence. This year’s inductees are Eleanor Aherne, Maggie Aumiller, Mary Byrne, Aidan Doud, Alayna Everhart, Elizabeth Gilman, Elizabeth Harris, Peter Lynch, Trevor Martinez, Thomas Mollen, Ashlyn Odenwald, Alyssa Pasta, Bryce Pfundstein, William Rogers, Spira Rosseau, Charles Ruland, Rylei Smith, Jacob Tribull and Robert Daniel Wilson.
