2025-26 IMPACT REPORT
dare to be
Thank you for your support! OF THE HURTADO SCHOLARS PROGRAM AT ROCKHURST HIGH SCHOOL. The program’s theme for 2025-26 was “The Future Is Ours To Create” and your generosity made the scholars’ futures brighter than ever. They certainly made the most of the opportunities that you made possible. The theme for the year ahead is “Dare To Be”. They are being challenged to reach their full potential as they develop from new scholars as rising 6th graders into program graduates ready to become Hawklets into Rockhurst High School graduates prepared for college life and beyond.
Thank you again for your support in this endeavor!
DEAR FRIENDS, As I reflect on our 2025-26 school year, I am filled with gratitude. Every accomplishment we celebrate at Hurtado Scholars is possible because of a community of people who continue to believe in the God-given potential of our young men. Thank you for believing in our sacred mission and for walking alongside our scholars and their families. In this report, you will find a snapshot of what your generosity has made possible over the past year. More importantly, I hope you find it to be a celebration of the young men whose lives continue to be transformed because you chose to believe in them. As you will see in the following pages, this year brought much for us to celebrate. Our scholars continued to grow academically, personally, and spiritually, and another graduating class left Rockhurst prepared for the next chapter of their lives. While these accomplishments are certainly worth celebrating, Hurtado has never simply been about tuition assistance. It has always been about relationships, mentorship, belonging, and helping young men discover who God created them to be. That is why some of our greatest successes cannot be measured on a transcript or résumé. They are found in the confidence our young men discover, the relationships they build, and the desire they develop to use their gifts in service to others. One moment from this summer captured that beautifully for me. During a service project cleaning trash from the banks of Indian Creek near Rockhurst, our middle school scholars spent a rainy afternoon serving our community with joy and enthusiasm.
At the end of the day, our coordinator from the City of Kansas City remarked that the young men from Hurtado and Rockhurst were “built different” because of the way they cared, worked, and served. I could not have asked for a better description of the kind of young men we strive to form. As we begin our fourteenth school year, we also begin a new journey with our scholars under the theme Dare to Be. Saint Catherine of Siena once wrote, “Be who God meant you to be and you will set the world on fire.” Those words have become our invitation to every Hurtado Scholar. We never ask our young men to be the best at anything. Instead, we challenge them to strive to be their best in all things so they can fully realize their God-given potential and become the men God created them to be. Thank you for making our mission possible. Your generosity opens doors, creates opportunities, and reminds our scholars that they are seen, valued, and capable of extraordinary things. Because of you, young men throughout Kansas City are discovering who they are, who God is calling them to become, and how they are called to set the world on fire through lives of faith, leadership, and service. With much gratitude,
Anthony M. Re | Director, Hurtado Scholars Program
THE HURTADO SCHOLARS PROGRAM IN 2026-27:
AS OF JUNE 2026
Financials
by the numbers
$
923,783 OPERATING BUDGET
$
82,142
TUITION CONTRIBUTIONS FROM HURTADO FAMILIES
$
850,000
IN DONATIONS NEEDED TO RUN THE PROGRAM*
This year, 38 Hurtado Scholars Program graduates are currently enrolled at Rockhurst High School. The average tuition contribution per family is $2,161. Your support allows them to have the Rockhurst experience. They have the potential. You make it possible.
Make your gift to the Hurtado Scholars Program.
157 52 100%
Rockhurst High School graduates who are also Hurtado alumni College, vocational college, or employment following graduation from Rockhurst High School
11
Hurtado graduates in the Rockhurst High School Class of 2026
13
Incoming middle school scholars entered our 6th grade cohort in May 2026
3.13
Average cumulative GPA among Hurtado high school scholars in 2025-26
3.27
Average second-semester GPA in 2025-26, the strongest academic performance in four years
4 3.24
*Donations support the Hurtado Scholars Program’s operating budget, which includes staffing, tuition assistance, and program needs.
Young men served since Hurtado’s founding
Consecutive years with an overall cumulative GPA above 3.0 for our high school scholars Freshman cumulative GPA in 2025-26, the strongest freshman cohort in the past four years
SUMMER 2026
Middle School Academic Achievement Each summer, Hurtado scholars complete nationally normed assessments through the Scholastic Testing Service (STS). These assessments compare our scholars’ academic performance to students across the United States.
ACADEMIC GROWTH BY GRADE Grade Level
Average National Percentile
Average Grade-Level Performance
Incoming 6th Grade
72nd percentile
Performing at the second month of 6th grade
Incoming 7th Grade
78th percentile
Performing at the sixth month of 7th grade
Incoming 8th Grade
88th percentile
Performing at the sixth month of 8th grade
An 88th national percentile means the average Hurtado scholar performed better than 88% of students across the United States on the same assessment.
2025-26 highlights Across the three middle school grade levels, average academic performance ranged from the 72nd national percentile among incoming 6th graders to the 88th national percentile among incoming 8th graders.
The typical incoming 8th grader performed at approximately the 95th national percentile in both Reading and Mathematics, outperforming about 95% of students nationwide.
Five of our nine incoming 8th graders earned overall grade-equivalent scores comparable to those of current high school freshmen.
On average, every middle school cohort performed above grade level. Incoming 7th and 8th graders demonstrated academic performance comparable to students in the sixth month of their respective school years, despite testing at the beginning of summer before starting that grade.
These nationally normed results reflect the remarkable potential of our scholars and what is possible when young men are challenged to dare to be their best each day.
Year in the Life of a Hurtado Scholar SATURDAY ACADEMY • SUMMER PROGRAM • ACADEMIC RIGOR • MASSES • FIELD TRIPS TEAM BUILDING • SWIM LESSONS • SERVICE PROJECTS • PHYSICAL FITNESS
JULY 1, 2025 - JUNE 30, 2026
thank you to the 2025-26 hurtado scholars program benefactors $100,000 - $499,999 The Dehaemers Family Charitable Trust Lori and Chad Meyer William G. McGowan Charitable Fund, Inc. $50,000 - $99,999 Bonnie and Jerry Kelly ’73, Kelly Family Foundation E. Kemper Carter and Anna Curry Carter Memorial Trust Ellen and Kerm Fendler Kristy and Chris Hane $25,000 - $49,999 Rebecca and Trey Bowen ’95, Lindsey and Matt Bowen ’00 Martha and Steve Butler ’65 The McGee Foundation Patrick and Janna Stueve Family Foundation R and C Charitable Foundation The Ronald D. Deffenbaugh, Sr. Foundation $20,000 - $24,999 Amy and Adam Balentine ’01 Frank and Margaret G. McGee Charitable Fund Reda Education Foundation Fund St. Peter Claver Jesuit Community Erin and Paul Stucky
$10,000 - $19,999 Karen Smith and John Becker ’89 Julie Walker Browne and Pete Browne ’85 Haggerty Family Foundation J. E. Dunn Construction Company Kathleen and Bob Muleski ’68 Megan and Chris Schumm Michelle and Terry Sexton ’87 Thomas Fahey Family Foundation $5,000 - $9,999 Susan and Mike Becker ’60 Jaymie and Kelly Bonavia Clarkson Construction Company Amy and Paul Holewinski Becky and Bill Krueger Peggy and Jim Van Dyke ’72 Ginny Vogelbaugh $3,000 - $4,999 Carol and Michael Grimaldi ’67 Tania and Tim McGill Marsha and George Schieber Becky and Jake Smith ’66 $1,000 - $2,999 Cortney and Chris Barton ’05 Kathleen and Jim Betterman
Rita and Charlie Breusing ’64 Kate Brown Katie and Dan Calderon ’99 Anne and Kevin Connor ’81 Laura and Bob Cotter ’69 Micah DeSchepper ’98 Sarah and Ray Evans ’78 Christie and Zach Frisch ’05 Gabriela and Michael Gude ’07 Joan Horan Mary Jane and Mike Judy ’99 Liliane and Jim Kelly ’67 Shannon and Patrick Lillis Jennifer and Chris Loper Diane and Kirk Marty Jackie and Henry Massman ’80 Ellen McCarthy Joanie and Jim McLaughlin ’70 Mary and Jim Meysenburg Rita and Kevin Pavicic ’76 Jim Polsinelli ’60 Katherine and Andrew Shepard ’05 Julie and Gus Sonnenberg ’90 Janann and Greg Vardakis ’77 Karenbeth and Tom Zacharias $500 - $999 Roxanne and Armand Aaron Gail and John Balling
Tessa and Luke Betterman ’07 Kate and Chip Cavanaugh ’77 Kathleen and Paul Diamond Gloria and Phil Garcia Barb and Jon Haden ’75 Jackie and John Haynes ’80 Steve Krchma ’65 Nancy and Mike Lyon ’71 Kali and Michael McGee ’09 Angie and Louis Menard Linda and Bob Pearson Kelsey and Marcus Perry ’03 Janney and Josh Polsinelli ’00 Julie and Mark Tapko Pat and Owen Zidar ’75 $250 - $499 Jonathan Adriano ’01 Wendy and Troy Burgess Janelle and Lucas Commodore ’09 Libby and Clay Crawford Evergy Nancy and Mark Fitzpatrick ’74 Julie and Gerard Grimaldi ’77 Rita Jensen Mary Ellen Komos* Jim Kopp ’67 Deb and Larry Krissek ’74 Kristina and Nick Krump ’93 Lisa Dunbar and John Lewis ’80 Megan and Mike Padow ’99 Megan Dimond and Michael Sanem ’02 Joe Snyder Blaire and Knox Tate ’89 Nancy and Pat Walsh Lisa and Jeff Weis ’81
$100 - $249 Donna Aldrich Sarah and Jack Caffrey ’09 Andrew Castillo ’12 Joanne and Tom Comiskey Adrianne DeWeese and John Leacox Colleen Enna Kathy and Mike Gabhart ’59 Rachel Mahlik and Marvin Grilliot Beth Haden Charlie Halterman ’68 Luan Le ’21 Sarah and David Mehl Alice and Bill Munninghoff Sarah and Sean Murray Sarah Hirsch and Dan Nash ’82 Shannon and James Ortbals, Jr. Susan and Rick Robards Chely Scarbrough Valerie Valle and Delmar Swindle Nhung Tran and Phap Le Megan and Jerry Viviano Peggy Walker Heidi Willis Jim Wirken ’62 Steve Yanda ’05 UP TO $99 Tammy NeBlock-Beirne and Paul Beirne Shannon and William Condon Paul Donovan ’81 Claudia and Paul Gibson Jeanne Gorman Laureen and Robert Ingram Sarah and Mitch Kelly ’01 Lindsey and Patrick Lancey ’06
Make your gift to the Hurtado Scholars Program.
Lora McDonald Joan McNamara Jane and Pete Muenks ’64 Daniel Neugent ’22 Martin Radosevic, Jr. ’16 Annie and Matt Riggs Tede Schantz Rev. Joseph M. Sharbel ’73 Hannah Smith Katie and Tim Swan Loretta Verbanic *deceased
The following funds provide operational and/or institutional support for the Hurtado Scholars Program: Class of 1968 Endowment Fund Jed and Sharon Ervin Scholarship Fund The Jim and Kathy Polsinelli Hurtado Scholarship Fund The Rev. William T. Sheahan, S.J. Scholarship Fund
Hurtado Scholars and Benefactors Recognized at Annual Celebration
More than 200 Hurtado Scholars Program supporters joined together on June 2, 2026 at Boulevard Brewery for the annual El Fuego Que Enciende Others Fuegos / The Fire That Kindles Other Fires celebration. The program honored Ellen & Kerm Fendler with the 2026 "The Fire That Kindles Other Fires" Award for their decade-plus of program support, helping the program grow from an idea to a miracle in action. They were surrounded by many friends and family as they accepted the award. “Ellen and I believe that a college preparatory high school education like what Rockhurst offers is a great equalizer, and the Hurtado Scholars Program offers these young men that opportunity,” shared Kerm. “And it makes the entire Rockhurst community richer. We see this program as having the potential to be transformational – not just for the Scholars – but for the whole Rockhurst community.” Kim Brown, a Rockhurst counselor who worked with all Hurtado graduates when they became students at The Rock, was also recognized for her years of selfless work as she moved on from Rockhurst after 10 years of service to the school community.
Mark your calendar for the 2027 Fire That Kindles Other Fires celebration on June 8, 2027. Tyler Davis ‘30 was the 2026 recipient of The White Van Award, given to a graduating 8th grader who has exemplified the pillars of the program (Academics, Leadership, Spiritual and Faith Formation, Social Development).
Jeremy Smith ‘26 was the 2026 recipient of The Green Truck Award, given to a Rockhurst graduating senior who has made the most of his time at Rockhurst through his commitment to the values and skills he learned while a Hurtado Scholar.
Surrounded by their family, Ellen & Kerm Fendler accepted the 2026 “The Fire That Kindles Other Fires” Award.
Ellen & Kerm Fendler have been supporters of the Hurtado Scholars Program at Rockhurst High School since its inception in 2012.
The Hurtado Scholars Program honored Kim Brown (middle) for her 10 years of service to the Rockhurst and Hurtado communities. Left to right: Marvin Grilliot (former Hurtado Director), Anthony Re (current Director), Brown, Vanessa Wiegman (current Assistant Director), and Fr. Bill Sheahan, SJ (Hurtado Program Founder).
Kerm Fendler shared his and Ellen’s reasons for supporting the Hurtado Scholars Program, noting that it is a “great equalizer” for families of students with great potential.
Scan the QR code to watch “Journeys of Hope”, a 2026 update on the Hurtado Scholars Program.