2023 WJA Alumni Collective

Alumni Collective

Kendrick Sanker

Georgetown Prep ’12

Hampton University ’16

Kwincy Hall

St. Frances Academy (MD) ’18

Bowie State University ’23

Mehki Long

Bishop McNamara ’19 Old Dominion University ’23

Eric Ford

The Landon School ’21

Army (West Point) ’25

Kevin Winston Jr.

DeMatha Catholic ’22 Penn State University ’26

Sam Moore

New Hope Academy ‘16

Bowie State University ‘21

Liberty University ‘24

Prentiss Hubb Jr.

Gonzaga (DC) ’18

University of Notre Dame ’22

Rakim Jarrett

St. John’s (DC) ’20

University of Maryland ’23

Jabari Greenwood

Gonzaga (DC) ’15

Towson University ’20

Everett Reed

Washington Math & Sci ’18

Nickolas

Butler-Simpson

Bishop McNamara ’22

University of Michigan ’26

Malik Mack

St. John’s (DC) ’23

Harvard University ’27

Sgt. Mitchel Dennis Riverdale Baptist ’16

Army

University of Maryland ’23

Jared Bynum

Georgetown Prep ’18

Providence College ’22

Stanford University ’24

WJA Mission:

The mission of the Washington Jesuit Academy is to provide a high quality and comprehensive education to boys from lowphysical growth.

Our Vision Statement:

For 20 years, Washington Jesuit Academy has asked the question: What more can we do for our students, families, and our community? In 2005, three years after we opened with an inaugural class of sixth

of WJA Alumni. Our focus on providing more for our young men, even upon their graduation, resulted in the creation of

young men to strive for success throughout their lifetime. Our continued commitment can be summarized through our philosophy: Educating, Empowering, Encouraging, Engaging without Enabling. We believe that every student will learn to lead a purpose-driven life as a member of their community, becoming a

lives of those most in need.

%

of the WJA Class of 2022 (8th grade graduates) were accepted into private, Catholic, or independent high schools

88% of the WJA Class of 2018 (12th grade graduates) enrolled in college

389 WJA Alumni making world

91% of WJA Alumni still actively engaged with our community

99% high school graduation rate for WJA Alumni compared to the national average of 84%

64% of WJA Alumni complete college degrees compared to the national average of 37.5%

33% of WJA Alumni enter in trade school, service industries or the workplace

3% of WJA Alumni enlisted in the military

14 Masters degrees Doctoral degrees

Our Program

empowers our current students and alumni to make the most knowledgeable and informed decisions about their future in order to pursue a lifetime of success. While their time on Varnum Street is foundational, their formative years continue well past their tutelage here. The mentoring, coaching, and academic and social supports extended to our students following their graduation is critical to ensuring that they have every resource at their disposal to prosper. Extensive high school preparation begins in the seventh grade. OSAS works with our students, side-by-side, to evaluate realistic and appropriate options for high school. This is paired with an emphasis on standardized test preparation, academic excellence, and diligent work ethic in order to ensure that our students are equally, if not more, prepared for high school than their peers from neighboring schools. Providing for a seamless transition helps accelerate a WJA alum’s progress in high school and beyond.

OSAS continues to provide unparalleled resources to WJA’s diverse community of graduates while they are in high school, as we provide a variety of supports while our alums are pursuing higher education. This includes SAT test applications. Whether our graduates apply for college, enter a trade or the workforce, or pursue a public service and the culture of brotherhood and betterment that exists among our community is lifelong, and its impact is great.

Team

J.B. Gerald

Rosie MacInnes th–10th

Uyo Ekandem

11th–12th

Haynie (WJA Class of 2010)

Anthony

Our Stories

Paving the Way

Elijah Parks

entered the Washington Jesuit Academy in the seventh grade. His family moved from Chicago to Washington, D.C. and learned about WJA through a mutual connection. Elijah was enamored with the Academy and felt it would

Elijah describes his experience as growth as an individual.

His choices were evaluated and questioned, which taught Elijah mental toughness, fortitude, and the importance of character. While the challenges he faced in his personal growth more prepared.”

As so many others have detailed, Elijah eagerly shares that he formed at WJA. He reminisces on the special relationship between older and younger students and notes that this kind of brotherhood and the bond over a

Elijah graduated as the salutatorian of the WJA Class of 2015. He continued his studies at The Maret School and is now a senior at Williams College in Williamstown, MA. He majors in American Studies with a dual concentration in Africana Studies and Justice & Law and plays on the Williams College football team.

Elijah’s Message:

During August of 2022, Elijah received a text message from Ms. Rosie MacInnes to Williams College to move him into his new college dorm...

Percival Tonha

He labels he learned how to be a better person. He grew notably in his

Percy was deeply impacted by his relationship with his teacher, Mr. Scheibel. Mr. Scheibel pushed Percy, saw his potential, and taught him how to appreciate himself and his gifts.

After graduating from WJA, Percy attended St. Anselm’s Abbey School. Percy considered multiple options for higher education. Ultimately, his Headmaster recommended Williams College. He visited the Williams campus and was immediately impressed with the connections he forged and the resources available to students. Percy

In the summer of 2022, Director of Alumni Relations, Ms. MacInnes, drove Percy and his mom to Williams College to help Percy shares that Elijah met Williams. Though their time at WJA did not overlap and Percy and Elijah were never previously introduced, Since transitioning to Williams College with the heartfelt assistance of his fellow WJA alum, Percy has embraced his experience and plans to study Studio Art when he is eligible to declare his major. When not studying, Percy serves as an assistant teacher for 7th and 8th grade Studio Art at a local middle school and practices road cycling with his team.

Percy’s Message:

Driven

joined the WJA family in 2013. Cayden, his mother, and siblings moved from Florida to Washington, D.C. to live with Cayden’s aunt, who had heard about WJA through a mutual connection. He entered WJA as a seventh grader and looks back at his time at WJA with great fondness. Cayden was previously educated at public schools in Texas as He quickly

In addition to this adjustment, Cayden also

Cayden admits that while he was baptized in the Catholic church, he had limited understanding of the faith or what it meant to be religious but learned to value the practice of

He applied to several high schools, but ultimately chose to attend Georgetown Preparatory School, where he could remain close to his mom. Cayden shares that

While at Prep, Cayden maintained a 3.98 GPA, was the President of a club, and participated in fencing. Despite attending on nearly a full-ride,

his gratitude for adults at Georgetown Prep who knew of supported him.

Cayden now attends UT Austin and studies Chemistry and Philosophy. While serving as tutor and eventually a Teaching Assistant for Organic Chemistry, he realized that his passion is teaching. Cayden intends to apply for a PhD program in Chemistry so that he can return to the classroom and teach on a collegiate level.

entered WJA in the sixth grade. Mentorship, competition, and responsibility were transformative elements of his time as a student. Tysheik

his growth both as a student and an individual. Namely, he highlights the critical role of teachers and mentors and states, my teacher to get what I needed to be situated.” Tysheik which helped him tremendously.

Mr. Scheibel was an incredibly impactful teacher and worked closely with Tysheik to ensure that he received every tool needed to excel. Tysheik admired him, considered him a mentor, and accepted his guidance. To this day, they are still in communication.

Tysheik graduated from Archbishop Carroll High School in 2017. After two semesters at Marymount University, Tysheik left to join the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department. He is now a proud father of two, with one on the way.

Tysheik’s Message:

Tahir Ali

With 6 years of age between Tahir and Tysheik, their time did not overlap. Despite this, Tahir still felt the presence of his brother and was concerned that he would be compared to him in every category. As Tysheik did, Tahir connected with Mr. Scheibel

Tahir’s Message:

Tahir recalls the elements of brotherhood and the safety and ability to be oneself. WJA was a place where both of these were cultivated. He notes that WJA presented challenging academics, but resources were available for students to succeed. Teachers were committed to students’ mastery of the curriculum and willingly invested the time and dedication required to help them achieve this mastery.

appreciates what I am, but he can’t wait to see what I am when I’m giving 110%.”

He continued his studies at Archbishop Carroll High School and is passionate about lacrosse, photography, and art.

and congratulate him.

was introduced to the Washington Jesuit Academy through mutual friends. When she learned about WJA’s extended school day hours, she was hesitant to send her sons. She decided to give it a chance, and notes that all doubt about WJA was alleviated almost instantly. It was clear that the extended additional academic support and were otherwise cared for. In evaluating the transformation of her sons while at WJA, Ms. Ali shares that and

Carmen’s Message:

Like both of her sons, Ms. Ali distinguishes WJA by noting the bonds within the community and teachers’ dedication to their students.

WJA Alumni Bootcamp

th grade through a lifetime. This means that the counsel, guidance, and training imparted on students continues well past their graduation from the 8th grade.

entering their senior year of high school.

Alumni Bootcamp aimed to prepare WJA graduates for every aspect of their upcoming college applications. This included:

Completing the Common Application,

Navigating the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA

Applying for privately-funded or college-

Writing high-quality essays,

Preparing for the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT),

Considering the appropriate colleges and universities to which apply

Visiting college campuses, come at a price, these exist as part of the core function of OSAS and are accessible to every student who graduates from the Washington Jesuit Academy. Our alumni entered their senior year of high school on completing the necessary steps to submit applications to their preferred institution.

Alumni Bootcamp Q&A Q:

A: We wanted to equip our rising seniors with the vital information we learned from previous classes. Many aspects of college and how this can be a hurdle in attending loans, grants, and scholarships can assist them in making

Q: A:

and strategy lessons. We also helped alums understand emphasis on which are available and when they are due.

Q: A:

during Bootcamp. Our team reviewed the application line by line to ensure that alumni fully understood what was required and could work with their families to compile the necessary information. When the application opened a few months later, they were wellprepared to complete and submit it.

Support

WJA Alumni Entrepreneur Spotlight

Q: A:

necessary. Many alums have remarked on its value. We have seen a huge return on investment as more alumni the admissions season.

Q: A: as many of our alums do not get that experience. Last summer, we took alumni to visit the University of Maryland at Eastern Shore and Salisbury University. This year, we will add more college visits to increase our role in an alum’s decision to enroll in a particular school.

is a senior at Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) in New York. a digital keepsake platform that allows users to create and preserve their memories.

He was who was diagnosed with a terminal cancer. Josiah

As a Financial Management major, Josiah enrolled in an Applied Entrepreneurship course. One of the youngest students in his class, he excitedly embraced the exercise of developing a startup.

spirit to develop and pitch an idea for an application that would allow an individual to creatively save their life story on a digital platform.

He has since participated in a Business Accelerator Internship, where his innovation and entrepreneurial skills have been tested and strengthened. and Josiah and his co-founders will execute an intricate marketing plan upon its release. .

Josiah remains engaged with the Academy and notes that OSAS connected him to an internship with the Brem Foundation in Washington, D.C. His mother has been hugely supportive of his journey, especially as

Visit to learn about this WJA alum’s app, Tale.