Class of 2022 Pays Tribute to Mr. Charles Donovan with Scholarship in His Memory

In June 2021, several members of the Class of 2022 took part in a weeklong service trip to Camden, New Jersey, titled The Urban Challenge Program. Through the experience, participants grow closer to the lives and stories of Camden’s citizens, while performing various acts of service in partnership with local organizations.

As the trip progressed, the students reflected upon their experiences. They also challenged themselves to consider how they might act in the pursuit of justice going forward. A dominant theme that emerged from their discussions was an enhanced gratitude for their connection to the Loyola Blakefield community—a place each had come to call home and where they felt supported and nurtured by peers and adults.

“Our time in Camden showed us how blessed we are to attend Loyola,” said Ty Hepting ’22. “Beyond the resources available to us and the beautiful campus, we came to fully understand what the community truly means to us. This sense of gratitude compelled us to work toward giving more kids the chance to have the opportunities we have had.”

Upon reflecting on their time together in Camden, Colin McElroy ’22 recalls the experiences that helped ignite this collaborative effort. “Our service trip was the spark we needed to begin a project like this. Seeing the poverty and struggle with my own eyes created the motivation to work hard toward seeking justice, and the shared experience we had as a group helped us come together and put forth a community-wide effort to not only create a meaningful scholarship, but to pay tribute to Mr. Donovan’s spirit of perseverance and generosity.”

In addition to the economic disparities witnessed during their time in Camden, the group gained a clear sense of the lack of access to the type of educational experience they enjoyed at Loyola. If they couldn’t change that dynamic in Camden, they wanted to strive toward making an impact at home. “I saw harsh injustices and came to realize I had a bubble life a Loyola,” said Bennett DuVal ’22. “I understood that the daily struggles of some of the people we encountered in Camden were far from the reality we face. One of the primary struggles was the lack of access to adequate educational resources. This fueled our desire to create a scholarship at Loyola so that a future Don can share in the experiences we have. In many ways, it was about taking what we learned at Camden and bringing it back home.”

As the remainder of the summer unfolded, the group went their separate ways before reconnecting at the start of the 2021 school year. They had also kept in close touch with President Anthony Day, who was one of two adult leaders on the trip. “Their excitement and desire had not waned since the trip,” said Day. “As the school year began, they were eager to get to work on the formation of the scholarship and be active participants in its growth.”

On September 11th, Mr. Charles Donovan, a beloved member of the Loyola Blakefield community, passed away after a five-year battle with cancer. His loss was felt by all those who had the opportunity to know him during his time at Loyola.

Recognized by his peers as a model Ignatian educator, Donovan joined the Loyola Blakefield community in 2005 and taught science and coached the Speech & Debate team. He was exceedingly kind, gentle, and never failed to greet colleagues or students with a smile. Always hardworking and diligent in his teaching, Charles devoted countless nights and weekends to the Speech & Debate program and is one of the reasons it gained recognition as a national leader.

“Teachers like Mr. Donovan are why I love Loyola so much,” said David Veloso ’22. “They create an uplifting and positive community that motivates me to succeed and be excited for class. Honoring his legacy through this scholarship is our way of highlighting Mr. Donovan’s devotion to Loyola.” In the wake of his passing, it became clear to the students that the scholarship inspired by their time in Camden would be an ideal way to honor Mr. Donovan’s legacy.

In light of the impact he had on students, the scholarship effort quickly became a passionate endeavor. “As a freshman, I had Mr. Donovan as a biology teacher,” said Hepting. “I had spent my life dreading science class, but Mr. Donovan changed that. I looked forward to his class each day, and it wasn’t just the content pulling me in, but the energy that he brought. It was clear that he wanted the best for us and did whatever he could to achieve that. It was an honor to have him as a teacher.”

The Class of 2022 Scholarship in Memory of Charles Donovan was formally launched on November 30, 2021, in conjunction with Giving Tuesday—a global movement that inspires hundreds of millions of people to give, collaborate, and celebrate generosity. In addition to a goal to reach $100,000 by the end of the academic year, the student leaders also hope to gain one hundred percent participation from the Class of 2022. As of early January, they exceeded the $25,000 mark with plans to push toward their goal over the next few months. Ultimately, the scholarship will benefit a future Loyola student whose family would not otherwise be able to fund his Loyola education.

“Mr. Donovan embodied a true Ignatian educator,” said Matthew Cooper ’22. “Even though I never had him as a teacher, he would never fail to say hi to me and always kept a smile on his face wherever he went. We want to make sure that his legacy is remembered at Loyola forever.”

To learn more about the Class of 2022 Scholarship in Memory of Charles Donovan and provide your support, please visit p2p.onecause.com/donovan.