March 9, 2020 | By Hannah Loomis

St. John’s College recently announced the Southwest Scholars Partnership, an initiative to team with regional high schools across the Southwest. Twenty-one schools have partnered so far and were chosen for their academic excellence overall, as well as for representing a diverse range: from small classical schools to large public high schools, from schools with rural or first-generation populations to top ranked boarding schools with international populations. The partnership’s mission is to spread awareness of the benefits of a liberal arts education, and to highlight that regional students have choices beyond large state universities. Students, teachers, and counselors from the schools—based in Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas, and Utah—will begin experiencing the St. John’s educational approach this spring.

“The Southwest is a culturally rich region, but it offers few colleges at which students can experience the depth and breadth of liberal arts learning. And among that small group, there is only one St. John’s College,” said St. John’s College President Mark Roosevelt. “Through the Southwest Scholars Partnership, we are able to introduce a diverse array of schools, who serve a diverse population of students, to our academic program, which develops students who read and listen deeply, think and speak precisely, and explore fearlessly any mathematical problem, scientific theory, or philosophical question proposed. These skills are increasingly rare in America’s hyper-vocational landscape, positioning Johnnies to lead rather than follow. The partnership also makes St. John’s more accessible and affordable for students and families here in the Southwest.”

As part of the partnership, one student from each participating high school will receive a four-year, $5,000 annual undergraduate scholarship to attend St. John’s College in Santa Fe, while one high school junior per year will receive a full-tuition scholarship to the college’s Summer Academy. Other benefits of the partnership include travel grants up to $500 for students who participate in overnight visits to the campus, as well as an annual St. John’s College book award for a junior nominated by the high school.

Teachers at participating schools will have the opportunity to join in discussion-based seminars led by St. John’s faculty members, and over four summers, one teacher per year will receive a half-tuition scholarship to complete the St. John’s College Graduate Institute Master of Liberal Arts degree. There will also be the option for one teacher or college counselor per year to spend a week at the Summer Classics program in Santa Fe.

To kick off the partnership, 23 participants representing 18 of the partner schools gathered recently in Santa Fe for a three-day introduction to St. John’s—and each other. Administrators and educators took part in a packed schedule that included tours of Santa Fe and the St. John’s campus, class visits and student presentations, a special seminar led by tutor David Carl, and a panel presentation on the St. John’s learning opportunities available to partner students and teachers.

Louie Little, director of admissions at the Cambridge School of Dallas (Texas), exemplified the enthusiasm shown by participants. “I thoroughly enjoyed my time at St. John’s College,” said Little. “I was especially refreshed to see classical education at its best. I am always excited when one of our students wants to continue their classical studies at St. John’s or other schools with [a] like mission. I will now advocate with more passion after my visit to Santa Fe.”