Cathedral Scholars Program
Cathedral Scholars offers access to and success in postsecondary education for exceptional students from D.C. public and charter high schools who are traditionally underrepresented on college campuses.
About the Cathedral Scholars Program
Envisioned by former Cathedral Dean Nathan D. Baxter and St. Albans School Headmaster Emeritus Jack McCune, the Cathedral Scholars Program (CSP) is a means for the Cathedral to use its resources—especially those of its schools—to serve the District of Columbia’s public school students.
The program was designed to provide academically talented students of high character and leadership potential with special academic work and cultural opportunities.
Interested students should contact Joseph Peralta for more information.
2024 Application Now Open
Eligibility:
- Current 9th grader attending a DC public or charter school
- Excellent record of school attendance
- Excellent record of in-and-out of class behavior & character
- Strong commitment to completing a consecutive four-year summer program of six weeks per summer
- Must apply by April 12
Program Goals
- Identify and recruit promising youths to increase their academic and cultural learning opportunities.
- Support our Scholars as they work towards on-time graduation from high school and postsecondary education.
- Develop our Scholars’ leadership, metacognitive and career skills to encourage them to realize their full potential to better serve themselves
and their communities.
Impact
The first class of Cathedral Scholars was recruited in 1997 and graduated from high school in 2000. Since then, approximately 15 students per year have completed three years of summer college preparatory work. 100 percent of Cathedral Scholars graduate high school and successfully matriculate into a postsecondary, four-year degree-granting institution.
Cathedral Scholar alumni continue to build successful careers and serve in leadership roles such as: director of regional advancement at American University, director of development at Streetwise Partners, and vice consul at the U.S. General Consulate in Guangzhou, China.
Schools in which graduating scholars have enrolled include:
Albright College • Arizona State University • Berklee College of Music • Bowie State University • Clark Atlanta University • Columbia University • Coppin State University • Delaware State University • George Mason University • George Washington University • Grinnell College • Howard University • Lafayete College • Morehouse College • Morgan State University • North Carolina A&T University • North Carolina Central University • Pennsylvania State University • Pepperdine University • Princeton University • Purdue University • Roanoke College • Temple University • The College of New Jersey • New York University • Virginia Commonwealth University • University of Maryland – Baltimore County • University of Maryland – College Park • University of North Carolina – Greensboro • University of Rochester • West Virginia State University
Support Cathedral Scholars
Your gift today will strengthen the Program’s current activities and allow it to sustain connections with Scholar graduates as they move on to higher education.