Jesuit High School of Tampa
Encyclopedia
Jesuit High School of Tampa, established in 1899, is a private, Catholic, all-male high school
located in Tampa, Florida
, USA. It operates independently of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Saint Petersburg
. The school has been named a Blue Ribbon School of Excellence.
Jesuit of Tampa teaches a college preparatory curriculum. Jesuit of Tampa has graduated federal judges, political leaders, priests, teachers, physicians, journalists, scientists, attorneys, professional athletes, writers, scholars, actors, painters, engineers and entrepreneurs. According to Nick Suszynski, alumni director as of 2006, Jesuit has graduated fourteen judges. The alumni association commonly refers to the high school as "Tampa's Largest Fraternity."
Another factor that makes Jesuit students visible in the community is its strict dress code. Students are expected to wear dress trousers, along with dress shirts and ties part of the year.
The motto of Tampa Jesuit is "Ad Maiorem Dei Gloriam" which means "For the Greater Glory of God." The school encourages its students to be "Men For Others."
(formerly a Jesuit-run parish) known as Tampa College. The high school's 1899 original site is located at the corner of Florida Avenue and Madison Street in downtown Tampa.
Jesuit High School had begun to outgrow its original location by the 1940s and 1950s due to increased enrollment. Father Michael Kennelly
, S.J., who served as the school's president and rector from 1953 until 1959, spearheaded the $600,000 capital campaign, which allowed the school to purchase 80 acres of rural grazing land on Himes Avenue in West Tampa. The campus was moved from downtown Tampa to its current location on North Himes Avenue in 1956. Father Kennelly obtained the necessary permits and designed the new campus, which he centered around St. Anthony's Chapel.
Jesuit High School had an enrollment of 245 students at the time of its relocation in 1956. The high school currently has 708 students, as of January 2011.
Jesuit's president is Fr. Richard C. Hermes, S.J., and its principal is Mr. Barry Neuburger.
are regarded among the nation's best, having won many awards since its mid-1990s inception. Other clubs include SADD, National Honor Society
, award-winning language honor societies, religious service group Agmen Christi, the Lyre literary art showcase, the school's drama troupe, the Jesuit Masque, and the Tiger yearbook and newspaper. There is also a Pep Club called Blue Tide that is also at most of Jesuit's sports events.
and the library dedicated to Fr. Richard Hartnett, S.J.
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
located in Tampa, Florida
Tampa, Florida
Tampa is a city in the U.S. state of Florida. It serves as the county seat for Hillsborough County. Tampa is located on the west coast of Florida. The population of Tampa in 2010 was 335,709....
, USA. It operates independently of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Saint Petersburg
Roman Catholic Diocese of Saint Petersburg
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Saint Petersburg is a Roman Catholic diocese in Florida. It was founded on March 2, 1968.-Background:The Diocese of St. Petersburg was established on June 17, 1968, from the Roman Catholic Diocese of St. Augustine and the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Miami. It is a...
. The school has been named a Blue Ribbon School of Excellence.
Jesuit of Tampa teaches a college preparatory curriculum. Jesuit of Tampa has graduated federal judges, political leaders, priests, teachers, physicians, journalists, scientists, attorneys, professional athletes, writers, scholars, actors, painters, engineers and entrepreneurs. According to Nick Suszynski, alumni director as of 2006, Jesuit has graduated fourteen judges. The alumni association commonly refers to the high school as "Tampa's Largest Fraternity."
Another factor that makes Jesuit students visible in the community is its strict dress code. Students are expected to wear dress trousers, along with dress shirts and ties part of the year.
The motto of Tampa Jesuit is "Ad Maiorem Dei Gloriam" which means "For the Greater Glory of God." The school encourages its students to be "Men For Others."
History
Jesuit High School was founded in 1899, then located in downtown Tampa and directly affiliated with Sacred Heart ParishSacred Heart Catholic Church in Tampa, FL
Sacred Heart Catholic Church was constructed in 1905 in downtown Tampa, Florida, and is one of the oldest churches, and is the oldest Catholic church, in the city of Tampa. The church, located at 509 N. Florida Avenue, is predominantly a Romanesque structure, with other elements...
(formerly a Jesuit-run parish) known as Tampa College. The high school's 1899 original site is located at the corner of Florida Avenue and Madison Street in downtown Tampa.
Jesuit High School had begun to outgrow its original location by the 1940s and 1950s due to increased enrollment. Father Michael Kennelly
Michael Kennelly
Michael F. Kennelly, S.J., was an Irish-born American Jesuit and academic administrator. He was a member of the Society of Jesus for more than seventy-seven years....
, S.J., who served as the school's president and rector from 1953 until 1959, spearheaded the $600,000 capital campaign, which allowed the school to purchase 80 acres of rural grazing land on Himes Avenue in West Tampa. The campus was moved from downtown Tampa to its current location on North Himes Avenue in 1956. Father Kennelly obtained the necessary permits and designed the new campus, which he centered around St. Anthony's Chapel.
Jesuit High School had an enrollment of 245 students at the time of its relocation in 1956. The high school currently has 708 students, as of January 2011.
Jesuit's president is Fr. Richard C. Hermes, S.J., and its principal is Mr. Barry Neuburger.
Curriculum
Jesuit's curriculum includes studies in theology, mathematics, sciences, fine arts, language arts, foreign language, physical education, and social studies. Of the 60 members of the faculty, there are six Jesuits (3 priests and 3 scholastics, junior religious preparing for the priesthood). The Jesuits on the staff serve in administration, teach in the classroom, and work jointly with several lay staff members in religious formation. The school celebrates daily Masses in the residence chapel and monthly all-school Masses in St. Anthony's Chapel. Each school year begins with the Mass of the Holy Spirit, a tradition that dates back to the early days of Jesuit education. All students are required to attend school Masses and take four years of Catholic theology. The school has a long tradition, however, of welcoming non-Catholics and non-Christians to its student body.Athletics
The school won the FHSAA Boys' Athletic Program of the Year award in 1997-1998, and had the most state championships and places at state events, 1998–1999, 2000–2001, and 2005-2006. In addition, the school won the Tampa Tribune Athletic Program of the Year award in 2003-2004, and the St. Petersburg Times Athletic Program of the Year award in 2004-2005. In the past 10 years, the soccer, baseball, cross country, and track teams have combined for a total of 11 state championships. Jesuit has had a tradition of talented coaches who have led their teams to post-season play and several championships. These victorious coaches include "Wild" Bill Minahan, Dominick Ciao, Paul Straub, John Crumbley, Mike Boza, "Big" John Szponar, and Bob Bauman.Clubs and extracurricular activities
When outside the classroom, students contribute several thousand hours of community service as part of their mandatory service. Students in the Key ClubKey Club
Key Club International is the oldest and largest service program for high school students. It is a student-led organization whose goal is to teach leadership through serving others. Key Club International is a part of the Kiwanis International family of service-leadership programs...
are regarded among the nation's best, having won many awards since its mid-1990s inception. Other clubs include SADD, National Honor Society
National Honor Society
The National Honor Society is a recognition program for high school students in grades 10-12 in the United States and in several other countries...
, award-winning language honor societies, religious service group Agmen Christi, the Lyre literary art showcase, the school's drama troupe, the Jesuit Masque, and the Tiger yearbook and newspaper. There is also a Pep Club called Blue Tide that is also at most of Jesuit's sports events.
Facilities
To the north of the chapel are the cafeteria, fine arts building, and the Jesuit residence. Classroom buildings surround the remaining sides of the chapel. The new "Tiger Palace" has room to accommodate a total audience of 1,400. The southeast portion of the campus is the home of the renovated athletic center, which was dedicated to renowned alumnus and baseball legend Al LopezAl Lopez
Alfonso Ramon "Al" Lopez was an American catcher and manager in Major League Baseball, and was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1977....
and the library dedicated to Fr. Richard Hartnett, S.J.
Notable alumni
- Xavier BeitiaXavier BeitiaXavier Beitia is an American football placekicker who last played for the Georgia Force of the Arena Football League in 2007. He played college football at Florida State and signed with the New York Jets in 2004 and Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2006...
, kicker: 2001-2003 Florida State University, 2004 New York Jets, 2006 Berlin Thunder - Ted Couch, benefactor who gave the first endowment to start H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research InstituteH. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research InstituteH. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute opened on October 26, 1986, on the Tampa campus of the University of South Florida. The current President/CEO is Dr. William S...
.http://www.saintpetersburgtimes.com/News/021301/Hillsborough/Generous_supporter_is.shtml - Jim Davis, U.S. Congressman
- Jay FeelyJay FeelyThomas James "Jay" Feely is an American football placekicker for the Arizona Cardinals of the National Football League. Jay played for the Temple Terrace Spirit Soccer team that won the National Championships when he was 16....
, National Football LeagueNational Football LeagueThe National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
kicker: 1997-1998 University of Michigan, 2001-2004 Atlanta Falcons, 2005-2006 New York Giants, 2007 Miami Dolphins, 2008 Kansas City Chiefs, 2008-2009 New York Jets, 2010–Present Arizona Cardinals - Bert KreischerBert KreischerBert "The Machine" Kreischer is an American stand-up comedian, actor and reality television host. In 1997, he was featured in Rolling Stone as the "top partier" at Florida State University, the "top party school in the US", while he was in his sixth year of college. The Rolling Stone article was...
, comedian - LionelLionel (radio)Michael William Lebron , popularly known as Lionel, is an American nationally syndicated radio talk show host. Beginning May 2007, he hosted a daily three-hour radio talk show on Air America Radio. Lionel was a consistent performer for Air America and drew weekly audiences of around 1.5 million...
, nationally syndicated radio talk show host - Frank LlanezaFrank LlanezaFrank Llaneza was a tobacco blender and former executive of Villazon & Co. who is regarded as a pioneer in the resurgence of the premium cigar industry at the end of the 20th Century...
, prominent cigar maker - Al LopezAl LopezAlfonso Ramon "Al" Lopez was an American catcher and manager in Major League Baseball, and was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1977....
, former Major League BaseballMajor League BaseballMajor League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
Hall of Fame Player: 1928-1935 Brooklyn Robins/Dodgers, 1936-1940 Boston Bees, 1940-1946 Pittsburgh Pirates, 1947 Cleveland Indians, Manager: 1951-1956 Cleveland Indians, 1951-1956—1968-1969 Chicago White Sox - Dave MagadanDave MagadanDavid Joseph Magadan is a former Major League Baseball first and third baseman and current Red Sox Hitting Coach. He is the cousin and godson of former manager, Lou Piniella.-Amateur playing career:...
, former Major League BaseballMajor League BaseballMajor League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
player: 1986-1992 New York Mets, 1993 Florida Marlins and Seattle Mariners, 1994 Florida Marlins, 1995 Houston Astros, 1996 Chicago Cubs, 1997-1998 Oakland Athletics, 1999-2001 San Diego Padres - Rich McKayRich McKayRich McKay is the president, CEO, and former general manager of the Atlanta Falcons of the National Football League. He was the general manager of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers when they won Super Bowl XXXVII.-Early years:...
, National Football LeagueNational Football LeagueThe National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
executive: 1993-2003 Tampa Bay Buccaneers, general manager, 2003-2006 Atlanta Falcons, president and general manager - Jason MichaelsJason MichaelsJason Drew Michaels , nicknamed "J-Mike", is a Major League Baseball outfielder. He is a 1994 graduate of Jesuit High School of Tampa and received an Associate of Arts degree from Okaloosa-Walton Community College in 1996...
, Major League Baseball player, Philadelphia Phillies (2001–2005), Cleveland Indians (2006–2008), Pittsburgh Pirates (2008), Houston Astros (2009–Present) - Lou PiniellaLou PiniellaLouis Victor Piniella is a former Major League Baseball outfielder and manager. He has been nicknamed "Sweet Lou," both for his swing as a major league hitter and, facetiously, to describe his demeanor as a player and manager...
, former Major League BaseballMajor League BaseballMajor League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
player and manager: 1964 Baltimore Orioles, 1968 Cleveland Indians, 1969-1973 Kansas City Royals, 1974-1984 New York Yankees, 1985-1986 New York Yankees (coach), 1986-1988 New York Yankees (manager), 1990-1992 Cincinnati Reds (manager), 1993-2002 Seattle Mariners (manager), 2003-2005 Tampa Bay Devil Rays (manager), 2007-2010 Chicago Cubs (manager) - Brad RadkeBrad RadkeBrad William Radke is a former Major League Baseball right-handed pitcher who played his entire 12 season career with the Minnesota Twins. Radke won 148 career games and was one of the most consistent pitchers in the Twins organization during the late 90's...
, pitcher, 1995-2006 Minnesota Twins - Shane RobinsonShane Robinson (baseball)Shane Robinson is a Major League Baseball center fielder for the St. Louis Cardinals.-College career:...
, Major League BaseballMajor League BaseballMajor League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
player: 2004-2006 Florida State University, 2009–present St. Louis Cardinals - Garrison SanbornGarrison SanbornGarrison Sanborn is an American football long snapper for the Buffalo Bills of the National Football League. He was signed by the Bills as an undrafted free agent in 2009. He played college football at Florida State.-Personal:...
long snapperLong snapperIn American football and Canadian football, the term long snapper refers to a player who is a specialized center during punts, field goals, and extra point attempts. His job is to snap the ball as quickly and accurately as possible....
for Buffalo BillsBuffalo BillsThe Buffalo Bills are a professional football team based in Buffalo, New York. They are currently members of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League... - Joe VanceJoe VanceJoseph Albert Vance was a Major League Baseball pitcher. He pitched parts of three seasons in the majors between and for the Chicago White Sox and New York Yankees.Vance also played 11 games for the football Brooklyn Dodgers in 1931 as a running back....
, animator, Walt Disney Feature Animation - Tedd Webb, broadcaster, photographer, author
- Charles R. Wilson, circuit judge, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
- Anthony AllenAnthony AllenAnthony Allen , an English lawyer and antiquary, was born at Great Hadham in Hertfordshire, about the end of the seventeenth century. He went to Eton College and King's College, Cambridge, taking his bachelor's degree in 1707, and his master's in 1711...
, running back Baltimore Ravens