Guiding Students to the Greater Glory of God
In the context of financial aid, the discussion of accessibility is often limited to tuition costs and student enrollment; to do so, however, is a grave disservice to the work of one Mr. Andrew Montroy.
In his nine years at Strake Jesuit, Mr. Montroy has worked to provide tuition assistance to families who may have otherwise thought Strake Jesuit was not an option. More specifically, he has assisted the school in managing a significant increase in the total dollar amount of financial aid awarded, from $990,000 to $4.8 million, but his work does not stop there.
When not assisting the Financial Aid Committee by compiling data and leading communications, Mr. Montroy can be found on the 3rd floor of Loyola Hall. As the school’s Registrar and World History Curriculum Lead, he diligently manages student report cards and transcripts, assists faculty, students, and families with mySJ, and assures a cohesive World History curriculum.
Mr. Montroy has been part of the school’s effort to dispel the myth surrounding Catholic schools. “We want families to understand that it does not matter where you come from, your financial situation, or your educational background: we want everyone who desires the formation we offer to have the ability to be a Strake Jesuit student no matter the circumstance,” he says.
For Mr. Montroy, accessibility is not limited to finances; it incorporates spiritual and educational opportunities as well.
As the curriculum lead for World History, Mr. Montroy sees his role as supporting Strake Jesuit's mission. Assuring that every student who takes World History has access to the same opportunities no matter the teacher, Mr. Montroy understands that with history comes the need to provide context.
Because his students live in one of the most diverse cities in the country and attend one of the most diverse Jesuit high schools, Mr. Montroy knows that students’ encounter with history must provide a wide enough lens for students to understand the material, their classmates, and the world they live in, and that students must be comfortable with the challenging of their held beliefs in light of other’s experiences.
His ultimate goal is that “when students venture forth from Strake Jesuit, they are able to see, adjust, and interact with the world in a way that allows them to be a young Man for Others.”
Humble, Mr. Montroy knows it is a collective effort to assist young men in their formation as servant leaders and as Men for Others. He points to the Learning Resource Center for creating opportunities for students who may have felt they could succeed in the rigorous academic environment Strake Jesuit provides.
For Mr. Andrew Montroy, accessibility is tuition aid, but it is also a well-aligned curriculum, so students who are open to growth become Men for Others. Accessibility is getting students into the classroom, but it is also providing support systems for these students to succeed once they are there. For Mr. Andrew Montroy, the work of enhancing accessibility is about “helping get students and families to heaven... helping them to live for the Greater Glory of God.”
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