The Saint Joseph High School Excellence Campaign

By: Dylan Hollender '17, Communications and Marketing Coordinator

How do you describe a long-lasting tradition of educating and shaping young men while preparing them for life? How do you boil down 61 years of history and over 10,000 alumni into a singular theme or idea? That was the challenge for the 2022-23 school year. One word came to mind, one that encompasses all of what makes Saint Joseph High School what it is today: EXCELLENCE.

The Saint Joe’s administration is proud to announce the Excellence Campaign, the theme for the academic year that allows the school to focus on a lesson that many alumni know well and hold dear to their hearts. 

From the very first graduating Class of 1965, all the way to our new crop of freshmen in the Class of 2026, students are often told that “excellence is a habit, not a goal,” a translated quote from the Greek philosopher Aristotle. It tells us to go above and beyond what is expected.

There are many ways that Saint Joseph Men are excellent - academics, athletics, faith, and formation. It begins with the admissions process and continues for a lifetime. It is the duty of every Falcon to live up to this standard. 

“Saint Joseph Men are well-rounded, articulate, and unique.” John G. Nolan Jr., President of Saint Joseph High School, said. “They stand out and stand tall in a crowd of their peers.”

The Class of 2022 took the idea of excellence to heart and proved to the world that they can achieve anything they put their minds to. They showed their excellence by being nationally commended as merit scholars, committing to prestigious universities, and signing national letters of intent to play collegiate athletics.

“Excellence is a way to recognize individuals who, through their struggles and endeavors, have managed to defy expectations and carve their own path in the world,” 2022 Valedictorian Aayush Agnhotri said. “It is a way to unite our similar, yet different experiences and expectations under one umbrella, encompassing all the blood, sweat, and tears involved with getting a Saint Joseph High School diploma.”

With the new academic year comes a new wave of students, ones who will continue the tradition of excellence in their own way, all in the Saint Joseph name. This cycle of excellence is one that has been occurring decade after decade, and will continue on for many more years to come.