Just imagine the applause roaring throughout the Terry Center as four young men boldly face the crowd. They stand adjacent to a large screen displaying the small changes from their puerile, freshmen faces from just a few years ago. These young men, the Alumni Service Corps (ASC) members, contribute to Jesuit more than most know; therefore, their departure is always saddening for those who enjoy their presence at Jesuit. However, every year, the spots these men leave open are always filled by intelligent, new college graduates.
When asked why former students join the ASC, Mr. Jack Fitzsimmons, the ASC director, explained that the Alumni Service Corps acts as a good “gap year” between college and one’s career or their graduate school. Their career is not always in teaching, though. Although some go on to teach at other schools, or even remain at Jesuit, such as Mr. Matt DuRoss, Mr. Jonathan Segal, and Mr. Tim Murphy, ASC “isn’t a student-teacher program,” Mr. Fitzsimmons added.
Not just anyone can serve in the Alumni Service Corps, though. A long selection process occurs before the applicants are all finally hand-picked by a committee of Mr. Fitzsimmons and about five or six administrators. First, when former Jesuit students are in their senior year at college, they are sent a letter that explains the ASC program. Those who are interested in the program will then call Mr. Fitzsimmons which then earns them an application packet.
Mr. Fitzsimmons says the packet is “very thorough” because it includes the candidates’ “work background and things they’ve been doing in college, along with references and job experiences.” Most important in the application are three essays that ask why each candidate wants to serve, if they are willing to work on spiritual formation, and if they believe they fulfill the elements of the Jesuit graduate profile. Along with this application packet, a college transcript and a personal reference form filled out by three different people like friends, college professors, and bosses are required.
According to Mr. Fitzsimmons, references from roommates and fraternity houses are good because they “can attest that [the candidates] would be good people to live in a community with because they do have to live in a home, not far from the Jesuit campus, so we want to have people that would live well in community.” After the applicants send everything in, Mr. Fitzsimmons sits down with the previously mentioned committee and they pick our Alumni Service Corps.
The committee has selected great candidates for 2013-2014. Kyle Baginsky ’09, a graduate of the University of Oklahoma, was on the Jesuit golf team and hopes to attend dental school. Baginsky will be teaching science next year. Ben Donnelli ’09, a fellow University of Oklahoma grad, played basketball and football at Jesuit, and also hopes to attend dental school. Donnelli will be teaching science as well. Ben Pace ’09, who attended Spring Hill College, ran cross country at Jesuit and will be teaching English. Shaun Sarmiento ’09 is a graduate from St. Louis University with a Pre-Med degree, and will teach science.
Mr. Fitzsimmons also added that this is an interesting year for the program. Three of the four ASC members will be teaching science courses, the most ever for ASC. In addition, this will also be the first year that an ASC member does not teach a social studies course.
These men will be coming back to Jesuit “to serve their alma mater in thanksgiving for their Jesuit education,” according to Mr. Fitzsimmons, an honorable duty that hopefully continues for years to come.
