Two dozen students from Catholic high schools and elementary schools in the Diocese of Cleveland received scholarships from the Bishop?s Scholarship for Excellence program, which is marking its 20th year. It was established by the Catholic Education Endowment Trust to encourage the pursuit of excellence in Catholic education.
Students were asked to write an essay on the following prompt: ?There is so much negativity in today?s world, even in our own communities here in Northeast Ohio. Describe three examples of this unfairness and/or negativity and explain how you have helped to bring about positive change or how you would, if given the opportunity.?
Bishop Nelson Perez, who had input on the essay question, presented the scholarships at a luncheon July 27 at St. Michael?s Woodside Event Center in Broadview Heights. Frank O?Linn, interim secretary for catechetical formation and education/superintendent, introduced Tracey Arnone and Sue Biggs, assistant superintendents, and Rich Osborne, former president of Villa Angela St. Joseph High School, who is assisting in the office. Arnone and Biggs announced elementary school winners? names and Osborne introduced the high school awardees.
The eight high school winners, who are sophomores and juniors, each received $3,000 and the 16 elementary school winners, who are in sixth and seventh grades, each received $1,000.
Father Thomas Haren, pastor of St. Monica Parish in Garfield Heights and chairman of the CEET Advisory Board, welcomed the winners, their parents, principals and pastors. He also offered the opening prayer and Gospel reading before introducing Bishop Perez, who shared some remarks on excellence.
He said during his visits to schools around the diocese, he has seen excitement among the students, which he attributes to ?wonderful families, wonderful schools and wonderful teachers.? He said students poured out their hearts in these essays. To be able to do that took years of work, he said, crediting the teachers who helped the students learn ?so they could articulate, express and write. It?s a wonderful example of excellence in our midst,? the bishop said.
?Excellence is not just a matter of capacity. Everyone is not an Einstein,? Bishop Perez said, adding that when a person walks into a room and throws something on a table, it takes the same amount of effort to carefully place it on the table.
?The difference is excellence. It exudes from those who strive for excellence. Some of those people are at your tables. They didn?t just throw out ideas, they wrote an essay with excellence. Excellence is a virtue that comes from deep inside,? he said.
The bishop referenced the story from Scriptures of the master who was going on a trip and gave three of his servants some talents. One received 10; one got five and one received two
