b'Through the program, students can find a sense The support goes beyond just tuition assistance. Aof themselves and develop the character to become salaried program director serves on each campus,pillars of light in the community, he said. providing students with day-to-day mentoring, Thats the whole point of the program, according encouragement and oversight.to Marianist Brother Jesse ONeill. Without financial In fact, St. Marys director Jermar Perry suggested lastaid, tuition costs can prevent many students from at- year that the program might be due for a name-change.tending Catholic high schools, said Brother ONeill, Some of our students dont come from urban assistant for education in the Society of Marys Province environments, so MUSP doesnt actually reflect ourof the United States. The programs emphasis on student body, he said. And honestly, a word othercharacter, education and leadership sets these students than urban might be less racially tinged.on a path for success in the future. Our focus is on Perrys observation ignited a discernment processmaximizing the potential of these gifted students across the province in early 2022, resulting in thewho come to our schools. change for the 2022-23 school year.The program began at Purcell Marian in 1992 and We also saw the discernment process as an oppor-has added three more Marianist high schools: Central tunity to strengthen the program, emphasizing theCatholic, St. Marys in St. Louis and Villa Angela- giftedness our students possess, Brother ONeill said. St. Joseph in Cleveland. After 30 years, it recentlyJamar Mosley, EXCEL director at Purcell Marian,received a new name, too: the Marianist EXCELis among the fans of the programs new name.ProgramExcellence in Character, Education and It just really identifies what the program is about Director Anthony Redding Leadership. The name change better reflects theespecially the leadership piece, he said. It hits home(standing) works on a project programs purpose. on what were trying to build, by taking an approachwith EXCEL students at Villa On average, the province provides support for about that emphasizes the entire studentthe academics,Angela-St. Joseph High Schoolin Cleveland.16 students a year at each school, four per grade level. plus the spiritual and social aspects. PHOTO BY KRISTEN MOTT16 Call 1.800.348.4732'