Fordham Preparatory School Summer Academy

Mission Statement and Program Goal

The Jesuit educational mission advo- cates that an ethnically and economically di- verse student body creates a superior envi- ronment for learning and living. The Ford- ham Prep Summer Academy was created to address the need for continued skills devel- opment among gifted young men in . The Academy seeks to introduce able students of modest means to Fordham Prep. The program’s curriculum calls for in- struction in grammar, reading, and mathe- matics in the morning. Time after lunch is set aside for computer skills, theatre use, and opportunities for recreation. There are also visits to nearby cultural resources in and near the Bronx such as and the Bronx Zoo.

2011 THE STUDENTS OF THE 2011 FORDHAM PREP SUMMER ACADEMY Joseph Bull St. Lucy Marlon Burgess Mott Hall —Throgs Neck Jonathan Campbell St. Mary School John Diaz Our Lady of Angels Tristan Diaz Our Lady of Angels Hakeem Dunkley Immaculate Conception— GH Jacy Frias St. John Chrysostom Arthur Gooden Sts. Philip and James Zaire Goodwin St. Mary School Christian Hamilton Holy Family Danny Herrera St. John Chrysostom David Hom St. John Joshua Johnson St. Lucy Elias Matamoros St. Athanasius James McCormack Visitation Thomas McKay St. Dominic Fernando Medina Mott Hall 3 Kendrick Mercedes St. Ann Jesus Morales Holy Family Cesar Moreira St. Simon Stock Jarette Mungin Immaculate Conception—MH Nwosu Okoro Sts. Philip and James Ivis Perdono St. Simon Stock John Pimintel Visitation Jason Ramsey St. John Chrysostom William Rios Immaculate Conception—GH Jasiah Sira Mott Hall— Throgs Neck Jesse Tiska Greenwich Catholic Justin Urena Carl Icahn Charter Damian Vallecillo St. Athanasius Reyd Williams Carl Icahn Charter Brian Wong St. Ann

FPSA CURRICULUM

The FPSA curriculum is for students entering FPSA the 7th grade. The three main subjects are Mathe- matics, taught by Mr. Pedro; Reading, taught by Mr. Armstrong; and English/Language Arts, taught by Ms. Irizarry. In Math, the students learn about the perimeter, area and volume of various shapes, and they also learn how to solve problems using inte- gers. In Reading, the students read the novel, The Outsiders, and hold classroom discussions. In Eng- lish/Language Arts, the students study vocabulary, spelling techniques, sentence structure, and they complete personal and descriptive writing projects. 2011

Summer 2011 Page 2 TRIPS AROUND THE BRONX

TOUR OF ROSE HILL BY: JOHN DIAZ, ARTHUR GOODEN, JASON RAMSEY AND NWOSU OKORO

On July 11, 2011, the students of the Fordham Prep Summer Academy went on a tour of the Rose Hill Campus. Rose Hill is the name given to the Campus in 1787 by Robert Watts, a wealthy merchant. Fordham Prep was founded by John Hughes and established in 1841. It is a prestigious school located on the Rose Hill Campus at Fordham University. The name Rose Hill is in honor of his family‟s ancestral home of the same name in Scotland. The tour began at the cemetery down the road from Fordham Prep by Loyola Faber Hall. There are thirteen trees at Edward‟s Parade, representing the thirteen colonies. The next stop was the Monument for the seven linemen of the Fordham football team. The Jesuits are a religious order started by Ignatius of Loyola. He was a Spanish soldier who found God later in his life after reading books about saints while he was recovering from a battle wound. He felt that helping others was important, but knew in order to do this he had to be educated. The Jesuits are all very educated and travel the world to do service and teach. The Jesuits founded Fordham University. On the tour, we also learned about the Clock Tower, John Mul- cahy Hall, Freeman Hall, Coffey Field, Keating Hall, Kohlmann Hall, Larkin Hall, and the Walsh Library. We learned a lot while on the tour of the Rose Hill Campus.

THE CLOISTERS BY: JOHN PIMENTEL, JASIAH SIRA, DAVID HOM AND JOSEPH BULL

On July 15, 2011, the Summer Academy took a tour of the Cloisters Museum. The Clois- ters Museum is a museum of medieval European art from Germany, England, Italy and France. The Middle Ages lasted for about 1,000 years ending around the 1500‟s. During this time period, people participated in and invented many new activities and resources which the museum preserves today. In the middle ages, people were afraid of a big fiery monster. It was known as the legen- dary fire-breathing dragon. The dragon typically lived around a lake. Every week, people would give the dragon some sheep to feed on. If they didn't, the dragon would turn on them. The dragon was a main piece of art during the Middle Ages. An example of the dragon is the fresco painting (mural-type paintings done on walls or ceilings) located on the left hand side of this article. The king would send knights to kill the dragon. Each knight would have armor, a sword, or a weapon and at least a shield. Each knight would be fierce and strong. Some people would go to the joust to see which knight was the best. Two knights would be on horses with a staff, and they would try to get the other knight off their horse. Many great jousting sessions would be recorded on tapestries. A tapestry is a painting made of cloth. All tapestries depicted scenes describing legends or myths. A famous tapestry in the Cloisters is the one of the unicorn as the people in the Middle Ages longed to find a magical unicorn. During medieval times, games and other activities were created to keep society involved and alive. A game that was created was Quintain. Quintain involved the use of two men standing on one foot opposite from each other and using all their strength to push the other man off his balance. Another game created for society was called Jousting which required two men, each requiring a horse, shield, and a lance. As the game started, each man charged at each other, quickly maneuver- ing to make his opponent fall of his horse. As medieval society grew, people found ways to improve their communities and create new inventions that are still used today such as playing cards, sports, art and music. Overall, throughout the tour we learned about medieval traditions of feasting, plant life and much more. Towards the end of our tour, we also created small pocket shields as a souvenir of the Cloisters Museum.

Summer 2011 Page 3 YANKEE STADIUM BY: DANNY HERRERA, ELIAS MATAMOROS AND IVIS PERDONO

On August 1, 2011, the Fordham Prep Summer Academy went on a tour of the amazing Yankee Stadium, Home of the Cham- pions! There were two Yankee Stadiums. The first Yankee Stadium was built in 1923 and the New Yankee Stadium was built in 2009. The Yankees have won 27 World Series world championships, the most in MLB history. We all learned a lot about Yankee Stadium that we did not know. The new Yankee Stadium seats over 50,000 people. The new stadium also has a museum inside above the team store. The tour guide showed us around the museum and explained everything about each exhibit. On each baseball there is a signature of a new or old Yankee player. The wall that held the baseballs was built to show the way the last pitch of the first perfect game was thrown. In that game, Yogi Berra was the catcher and the pitcher was Don Larson. The guide also showed us how old the older jerseys looked compared to the new jerseys. He also told us that the Los Angeles Dodgers used to be the Brooklyn Dodgers. The Yankees used to play them in the Subway Series, but then the New York Mets came into existence. The Yankees and the Mets were the 3rd and 4th teams to come to New York. The Yankees and the Giants use to share a sta- dium, but the Giants pushed them out because the Yankees were getting more publicity. So, in 1923, the old Yankee Stadium was built. This tour helped us learned all about the history of America‟s pastime, and exploring the new stadium was a great opportunity.

The Yankees

BRONX ZOO BY: FERNANDO MEDINA, CHRISTIAN HAMILTON, JESUS MORALES, ZAIRE GOODWIN AND KENDRICK MERCEDES

On July 28th, 2011 FPSA went on a trip to the Bronx Zoo. It was clear from the beginning that the trip was going to be a fun and exciting one, and we couldn‟t wait to see all of the interesting animals we were going to learn about. Our tour guide took us on what is known as the tour of Predators and Prey. A predator is an animal that eats other organisms, otherwise known as prey. The predators‟ eyes are usually in the front of their faces to seek and hunt down their prey. A prey has eyes usually to the side because they have to look out for their surroundings and identify predators who are seeking out for them. During the tour we learned about many exciting animals. We had no idea that Pere David‟s Deer were from China and that the only difference between the male and female are the antlers. The males have antlers but the females don‟t, which makes the females harder to see in the marshy grasslands. We also visited the tigers. Ti- gers are one of the biggest predators in the world today; they can grow to almost six feet tall. You can tell a predator by their sharp teeth called carnassials which help them dig into their prey. Tigers are known as carnivores because they only eat meat. They eat animals such as pigs and deer. Next, we went to see the ducks. Ducks, like the deer, are prey. We learned that when ducks‟ feathers are messy, they do something called preening. Preening is what ducks do to clean their feathers. Finally, we saw a polar bear. Polar bears‟ favorite food to eat is seal so, like the tiger, this also makes them predators. A polar bear‟s skin is also black, and this happens to be very difficult to realize because of their white fur which gets its color from the sunlight‟s reflection. The polar bear absorbs the light and the heat helps keep the bear warm and light colored. The trip to the Bronx Zoo was amazing and, in our opinion the best trip ever. We hope we can go on it again sometime and learn more new and interesting facts about the animals that surround us everyday.

Summer 2011 Page 4 STUDENT HERITAGE BY: REYD WILLIAMS-PEDRO

The German‟s Welsh surname Williams is a surname derived from the personal name Willi- helm and Willelm. Both of these family names were adapted because our true ancestral heritage was lost in the slave trade. Some of the Williams family settled in the Carolinas in 1742 in the 18th century. In Mullens, South Caro- lina, the oldest of eight children, my grandmother was born to John Henry Williams and Hernuna Williams. Her name is Tristeen Williams. My grandmother lived in a time in South Carolina when racism was alive and well. She endured the segregation signs “Whites ONLY” and “Colored ONLY” and the “N” word. Growing up on a farm and with such a large family was difficult at times, so when my grandmother completed high school, she came up to New York City to live a better life. She attained employment while staying with relatives until she made enough to move into her own apartment. My grandparents had two children, my aunt Tammy and my mother Robin. At this time my mother is pursuing her education in the hopes of becoming an educator with an emphasis in special education and English. My mother is an inspiration to me and my siblings. We hold education in the highest regard. The notable surname Pedro is a proud sign of rich and ancient Spanish ancestry. Pedro‟s name was given as a first name as well because it was thought of as a strong Christian name. Personal names were derived from saints and biblical figures. In the 19th century some of the Pedro family, settled in various parts of the United States. A man with the same name as my grandfather, Joseph Pedro, settled in New Orleans, LA in 1854; however, my grandparents Jo- seph and Margaret Pedro were born and raised in the U.S. Virgin Islands St. Croix. My grandfather, Joseph Pedro, is one of three children born to Herman Pedro. He grew up in Christiansted St. Croix. As a child papa helped his father raise animals for slaughter. Papa‟s passage to the states came when he enlisted into the Armed Forces. After his tour in Europe was complete, he sent for my now deceased grandmother, Margaret. From this union, my aunt Ann-Margaret and my father Randall were introduced to the family. My dad had a different path in his future. His childhood was spent in the Bronx and he played baseball a lot. It wasn‟t until he was in high school that he decided to play football. Football led him to an athletic scholarship at the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, MA. It was at the College of the Holy Cross, my dad excelled on and off the field. My dad was in the NFL draft pick and was signed by the New York Giants for a short time. My dad and mom have played important roles in my life as well as in my sibling‟s lives. They have helped me throughout my education years, showing me that knowledge is power. I attend one of the most success- ful academic charter schools in New York where I continue to flourish. I have been afforded the blessing to attend the Summer Academy Program in the hopes to attend Fordham Prep for high school. After my completion of high school, I hope to go on to college to become a mechanical engineer. My desire to reconfigure the train system has been a dream of mine.

STUDENT HERITAGE BY: JACY FRIAS

My surname Frias is of local origin, which means it was derived from the place where the first bearer once lived. It is believed that its origin is in Spain, since there are two places named Frias in the towns of Burgos and Cadiz. The word “Frias” comes from the Latin word “frigiditas” which became “frialdades” in Spanish. It was then shortened to “Frias” which means “cold.” The name Frias was first found in the northern region of Castile, a Christian Kingdom in medieval Spain. Christianity, would ex- plain why the apple tree and goat symbol on my family crest. Both symbols have the meaning of peace. The colors in my family crest mean many things. The red stands for military strength, the gold symbolizes generosity, silver means peace and sincerity, and blue stand for truth and loyalty. I am not sure how my ancestors arrived in Puerto Rico and in Santo Domingo but history shows how Spanish explorers arrived and settled in both Puerto Rico and Santo Domingo as early as the year 1496. My grandmother remembers stories about how our ancestors came from Spain. I am the third generation of the “Frias” family living in the United States. Both sets of my grandparents were the first to arrive in New York in the 1950‟s. My mother‟s parents were born and raised in Puerto Rico. My father‟s parents were born and raised in Santo Domingo. My parents were born and raised in New York City. My mother works in the Bronx VA Medical Hospital as a medical tech- nologist. She works in the blood bank setting up units of blood for sick patients. My father works in a fancy Manhattan high rise as a security guard. They both work hard to provide for me and to help me accomplish my goals, just as their parents did for them. Finally, my goals for the future change all the time. In fourth grade, I wanted to become a doc- tor because my mother had surgery and I enjoyed helping her. In fifth grade, I wanted to become a fire fighter and save lives. Today I want to attend a good college and study computer programming so I can design video games. Also, I want to play basketball in college and become an NBA player. To accom- plish my goals, I plan to study hard in school and practice playing basketball everyday. I just need to do my best and never give up!

Summer 2011 Page 5 ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT: JAIME RIVERA „09 In 6th grade, I received a call from the office of St. Simon Stock grammar school to come down for a meeting that evidently changed my life as I know it today. My name is Jaime Rivera Jr., and I am a Summer Academy, HAP program, and Fordham Prep High School Alumnus. During this meeting, I was introduced to the Summer Academy Program at Fordham Pre- paratory School. I was never fond of going to school in the summer because I felt it was time for me to get away from school, but choosing to go to the Summer Academy led me on the road to success. Not only did I learn in the Summer Academy, but I had fun and met people whom I still keep in con- tact with until this day. I enjoyed the Summer Academy so much that I decided to attend the HAP program the following year. If it weren‟t for the Summer Academy, I would‟ve never heard of HAP, nor would I have heard of, or even thought of, going to Fordham Prep. After HAP, I knew Fordham Prep was the high school I wanted to attend. When I graduated from grammar school, I was valedictorian at Saint Simon Stock. Fordham Prep is not the most afford- able high school, but with help, and having attended the Summer Academy and HAP, I was not only given financial aid, but I also received a Presidential Scholarship to help pay my tuition. My time at the Prep was well spent. Most people would say it is hard for a Puerto Rican from the Bronx to fit in, but I did just fine. I was an Honor Student all 4 years, while also taking part in numerous teams and student clubs. I played football, baseball, ran track and was captain of the JV and Varsity Hockey team. I also was a part of the Spanish club. While at Fordham, I realized that some of my closest friends were those of whom I attended Summer Academy and HAP. I feel my years at Fordham Prep were the best years of my life, but it wouldn‟t have been possible if I hadn‟t gone to the Summer Academy. My senior year at Fordham, I was accepted to every college I applied to, including Boston University, University of Maryland, and Fordham University among others. I decided to spend the next four years of my life in at Syracuse University, where I currently at- tend. My time at Syracuse hasn‟t changed much from high school. My GPA has risen gradually every semester. My current GPA is 3.5. I was able to transfer into the business school (Whitman School of Management), which is currently ranked 2nd in the country in its gradu- ate program. I am majoring in Finance and Entrepreneurship and Emerging Enterprises with plans to minor in either accounting or mar- keting. I am active in student organizations and currently president of Phi Iota Alpha Fraternity Incorporated, the oldest Latino fraternity in existence. My dream is to eventually become a financial advisor for a Fortune 500 company and to own my own business. Though it may seem cliché, if I hadn‟t gone to the meeting that introduced me to Summer Academy, I feel I would have never joined Summer Academy, which means I would‟ve never been introduced to Fordham Prep. I will forever be proud to say I am a Summer Academy alumnus. I would forever recommend the Summer Academy at Fordham Prep to any young man looking to get a greater educa- tion while having fun. I will never forget my time there and if I could go back and do it all again, I would, especially knowing that it put me on the path to success.

FPSA: WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE? 2011 marks the 10th Fordham Prep Summer Academy class. Since its inception, the Summer Academy has seen growth in many areas, particularly with the students who have come from the Academy and moved on to fruitful careers at Fordham Prep. As those students from the first three Summer Academy classes have now graduated from high school, the Prep has seen these graduates achieve many awards and accomplishments. Among these achievements are admission to some of the best local and national colleges and universities. Academy alumni who have gone on to graduate from the Prep are now attending the following schools of higher education: Catholic University, Washington, D.C. Loyola University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD John Jay College of Criminal Justice, New York, NY College of Mt. St. Vincent, Bronx, NY Morehouse College, Atlanta, GA , Pleasantville, NY Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, NY St. John’s University, Jamaica, NY State University of New York at Albany, Albany, NY State University of New York College at Purchase, Purchase, NY Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY Williams College, Williamstown, Massachusetts State University of New York at Oswego, Oswego, NY New York University, New York, NY

Summer 2011 Page 6

SUMMER ACADEMY FACULTY AND STAFF

Director: Counselor: Wanda Piñeiro Delorian Bennett ‘09 B.S. New York University M.A., P.D. Fordham University This fall, Delorian will be a junior at St. John‟s University. At the Prep, he was a defensive end Born and raised in the South Bronx, Mrs. Pi- on the football team and a member of the ñeiro has been teaching at Fordham Prep since Kawaida club. Delorian was also a member of 1979. In addition to being the Chair of the Mod- the 2003 Summer Academy class. Majoring in ern Language Department at the Prep, she is moderator of business management, Delorian hopes to be a professional the Spanish Club and is the school‟s Director of Diversity. writer in the future.

Counselor: Instructor: Eddie Cruz-Desintonio ‘12 Brian Armstrong B.A. Johnson C. Smith University A graduate of Immaculate Conception School in M.S.T. Iona College Mott Haven, Eddie will be a senior at Fordham Prep this fall. He was also a member of the 2006 Mr. Armstrong is a Social Studies and Reading Summer Academy class. At the Prep, Eddie is very teacher at St. Mary School. He has taught there active in running, and shows his leadership as one for thirteen years and has served as moderator of of the captains of both the track and cross country teams. In various activities including Student Council. college, he would like to study pre-med and biological sci- ences. Instructor: Rose Irizarry Counselor: B.S., M.S. Mercy College Anil DaCosta ‘08

Ms. Irizarry has taught in the New York City Majoring in Communications, Anil will be a senior Public School System for fourteen years. In this fall at Le Moyne College. He was very in- addition, she has also taught at the American volved with the football and the track and field School in Bayamón, Puerto Rico. teams as a student at the Prep. A graduate of St. Mary School, Anil is active in volunteer work at Le Instructor: Moyne, and hopes to one day work in the area of human Randall Pedro rights and social services. B.A. College of the Holy Cross M.A. Fordham University Counselor: Stefen Rice ‘10 A former football standout at the College of the Holy Cross, Mr. Pedro has been teaching at Stefen will be a sophomore at Pennsylvania Fordham Prep for twenty-one years. He teaches State University. Coming from St. Lucy School, Religious Studies and serves as the moderator of the Stefen was an honor student and a star athlete at Kawaida Club, the African-American student organization, the Prep on the school‟s football and track teams, as well as serving as coach of the Prep‟s bowling team. as well as being a member of the Spanish Club. He is currently majoring in engineering in college.

"We must speak to them with our hands by giving, before we try to speak to them with our lips." -St. Peter Claver

Summer 2011 Page 7 “I AM ARTHUR GOODEN JR.” FPSA STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT BY: JOSHUA JOHNSON

This year‟s 2011 National Track and Field Championship was held at Walt Disney‟s World Wide of Sports in Orlando, Flor- ida. The events were held from July 12th to the 17th. My name is Joshua Johnson and I am part of team CYO (Catholic Youth Or- ganization) representing the Bronx. I competed in three events: the 4x 100 relay, shot put and the discus. This was a great experience for me. It was my second year in a row that I qualified to compete at nationals. I was not afraid, but felt that I had to do better because I had competed last year. The experience was greater than last year because this year I had stiffer competition in my throwing events. I‟ve been practicing hard for the last month and my coach Jim Hughes said I was ready. My first event I am a fun, loving, con- was the shot put, I threw a 34 footer which put me in fifth place. I did better than last year be- cause I finished sixth in the country for that event. This standing qualified me for the Junior siderate person. Olympics in New Orleans. I wish to become a ma- The running competition was harder. My relay team had a bad pass and we didn‟t do so well. I couldn‟t let that get me down because I had the biggest event coming up in the dis- jor league baseball cus. I was ready and the day of the event I said to myself that I‟m throwing to the heavens and player. it worked. I threw my personal best, an 88 footer, and landed the silver medal in the event. I I look up to those who was so proud of myself and thanked God for giving me the strength to throw well. I only had a little time to celebrate because I'm back in practice mode getting ready for the AAU Junior live their life the right Olympics. I plan to do my best and make my family, friends, teachers and the Bronx proud of way. my accomplishments. I live my life following my own sight. FORDHAM PREPARATORY SCHOOL I look like a serious per- As a Jesuit, college preparatory school, Fordham President Prep‟s mission is to inspire young men to reflect, to question, son but I really do care. Fr. Kenneth Boller, S.J. to learn, to pray, to love, to serve, to lead. Since 1841, we have based our challenging curriculum and pursuit of human I am strong as a man and academic excellence on a foundation of Catholic faith and Principal principles. We seek to be one community created from a with the might of a Robert J. Gomprecht ‘65 broad spectrum of ethnic, racial, geographic, and socio- bear. economic backgrounds. We strive to include qualified stu- Assistant Principals dents of limited financial resources by providing substantial I want to be a person Dennis M. Ahern ‘63 financial assistance. Our faculty and staff dedicate themselves to a caring and dynamic interaction with students both inside who gives back to peo- Theresa Napoli and outside the classroom, a characteristic of Jesuit education ple and makes them as for over 450 years. We educate our students to be men for others: spiritually motivated, intellectually accomplished and happy as I am. committed to promoting justice.

THE FPSA WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE FOLLOWING FOR THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE PROGRAM:

Fordham Preparatory School Fr. Kenneth Boller, S.J. Mr. Robert J. Gomprecht ‘65 Mr. Dennis M. Ahern ‘63 Mrs. Theresa Napoli Created and Edited by: Vijay DaCosta ‘04 Families of the FPSA Eddie Cruz-Desintonio „12 Teachers and Administrators of the FPSA

Summer 2011 Page 8