“The Illuminating Excellence campaign celebrates the compassion, spirit, and generosity of the entire BC High community. Every gift to the campaign honors our Jesuit, Catholic values by changing the trajectory of young men’s lives for the better.”
Grace Cotter Regan P’12 President
Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give.
2 Corinthians 9:7
At BC High, the notion of philanthropy—literally, “love of humanity”—begins with weekly contributions to the Mite Box. By making gifts from the heart that benefit those in need, our students honor the principle of discernment through actions that advance the greater good.
The Illuminating Excellence campaign affirms BC High’s commitment to educate young men who devote their lives to leadership and service. Like students’ Mite Box donations, gifts of any size to Illuminating Excellence advance our mission and embody our shared Jesuit, Catholic values. They make a BC High education more accessible, provide enhancements to our campus that reflect our commitment to educate the whole person, and support the dedicated teachers and dynamic programs that enable us to embody excellence.
We’re extremely grateful for the contributions of the Eagles who have lent their support to the campaign at every level; we welcome the opportunity to recognize their philanthropy.
Celebrating Generosity. Uplifting Our Community.
Illuminating Excellence: The Campaign for Boston College High School is the largest fundraising effort in the school’s history.
BC High is a school on the move: we have big plans, and a clear blueprint for achieving them. The campaign’s emphasis on Inspiring Human Excellence, Improving Access and Affordability, and Investing in Our Campus aligns with the strategy we are pursuing to ensure that BC High stays strong and successful in years to come.
Yet Illuminating Excellence is about more than state-of-the-art facilities, vital scholarships, or reaching our goal of $125 million. Our campaign affirms and celebrates our values by engaging our entire community in collective acts of faith, generosity, and service. Inspired by the highly cherished Mite Box tradition, Illuminating Excellence demonstrates how gifts of all kinds—from alumni and friends of all ages—advance our efforts to shape graduates who will go forth and set the world on fire.
Inspiring classmates to give.
Johnny Gu ’24 took the lessons learned from the weekly ritual of Mite Box giving and used them to rally the support of his entire class. Having learned that nearly 50 percent of BC High students receive financial aid, Johnny led the effort to have the Class of 2024’s Senior Class Gift be directed toward scholarship support. “I asked my classmates to think about how great they would feel years from now, knowing that their generosity had helped students in need,” he explains. “Donating to BC High doesn’t just improve the quality of life at the school— it’s a way of giving back to the place that gave us so much.”
Leaders of tomorrow.
For Carlos Bosques and Karen Carrasquillo, BC High has given their sons, Julian ’23 and Gustavo ’25, access to experiences that have shaped them into well-rounded leaders. Seeing their boys excel in sports, student activities, and the arts inspired Carlos and Karen to support BC high as donors. “Gifts to BC High ensure the continuation of the exceptional education and opportunities the school provides,” they explain. “Our contributions help maintain and expand diverse programs that position students to excel. By donating, we also hope to set an example for other families who recognize the value of giving back.“
The Mite Box, a centuryold tradition at BC High, is based on a Gospel story where a poor widow donates the only money she has—two copper coins, or “mites”—to the temple treasury.
Every gift matters.
Prior to joining Ernst & Young as a Senior Consultant, Omonosa Owens ’16 achieved Triple Eagle status through a communications degree from Boston College and an MBA from the Carroll School of Management. Omonosa has a sincere belief that young alumni have a vital role to play in supporting BC High. “My time at BC High was transformative—it was a catalyst for my academic and professional success,” he explains. “I encourage my fellow young alums to support the school at whatever level they can afford; it’s a true manifestation of what it means to be a ‘man for others.’”
It’s about the people.
For Trustee Marty St. George ’82, president of JetBlue Airways, giving to BC High is about supporting the people who make life-changing experiences possible. After meeting with students in Judge House, he made a generous gift to support the House System. “I struggled when I first came to BC High,” he explains. “Having seen firsthand how the House System turns a large school into a more personal experience, I wanted to show my appreciation for the care and support the Houses offer to our young men. People are the secret sauce of our school; we all owe the faculty and staff a debt of gratitude.”
Improving Access and Affordability
Opportunity for All
It’s a story you hear repeatedly at BC High: A promising young man’s life is transformed by the commitment of an adult who believes in his potential. Illuminating Excellence builds on that legacy of generosity by providing increased support for scholarships and financial aid, so that those transformational opportunities continue to be available for bright, dedicated students.
Scholarship resources secured through the campaign will help ensure that every new class of Eagles includes highly motivated students from a breadth of
backgrounds and perspectives. Donors at all levels can direct their support to current-use Companions Scholarships for today’s students; city-based merit scholarships focused on diverse communities such as Boston, Brockton, and Randolph; and endowed scholarships that provide long-term access and affordability.
Your support for improved access and affordability advances our efforts to graduate young men who embody BC High’s Jesuit values through a learning environment that reflects the world they will encounter in college and beyond.
Investing in Our Campus
Deeper Connections
A Jesuit education demands that, in order to strengthen students’ minds and bodies, we provide them with physical spaces that help them thrive both as individuals and as part of our community. The campus enhancements made possible by the Illuminating Excellence campaign embody our ethos of human excellence and our commitment to foster ever-deeper connections.
Projects associated with the campaign promote wellness in all its forms by providing students with opportunities to advance their physical, educational, spiritual, and emotional development.
Funding opportunities for the campaign include state-of-the-art classrooms, collaborative environments, and spaces that reflect the high caliber of our athletic programs, including the Patrick F. Cadigan ’52 Family Foundation Wellness Complex (below) and the Murphy Family Stadium.
Brothers for others.
For nearly a decade, the Obukwelu brothers—Ifeanyi ’07 (pictured), Nnamdi ’09, Obumneme ’11, Oderah ’12 and Mukosolu ’18—were a presence on the BC High campus. The children of Nigerian immigrants, the brothers grew up in a household where the importance of education was paramount. “We wouldn’t have been able to attend BC High and take advantage of all the community has to offer without financial aid,” explains Ifeanyi, a current member of the Board of Trustees. “It is our honor to pay that generosity forward to future generations of students. We are proud to help bolster the school through our support for The Fund for BC High, and we hope members of the wider network of alumni will consider doing the same.”
A positive impact.
For Rick Flynn ’76, P’05, ’07, ’10, giving to BC High is a natural expression of gratitude for all the school has done for him and his family. He chose to make an estate gift
to the Illuminating Excellence campaign that will help ensure the school’s viability and sustainability. “I want to see BC High continue to succeed by offering boys the academic training, character development, and life-changing experiences that will make them men of conscience who will have a positive impact on a world in need,” he notes. “Making a gift in your will is easy to do. It’s a great way to honor the foundational role the school has played in our own lives and in launching so many young men into the world.”
Illuminating Excellence is more than just an ambitious fundraising initiative— it’s an open invitation to anyone in our community of alumni, parents, and friends who wants to help make the light that shines on our campus burn ever brighter. To learn more about how you can support the campaign, visit bchigh.edu/illuminating-excellence.
“Illuminating Excellence honors BC High’s proud legacy, reaffirms the school’s commitment to its Jesuit values, and provides the resources needed to secure a bright future for the school we love. Whatever the size of your gift, your generosity makes all the difference for future generations of Eagles.”
Dan Coughlin ’70 and Dan Kenslea ’71 Legacy Campaign Co-Chairs
