Hurtado Scholar program celebrates the many “Fires that kindle other fires”

On June 13, dozens of families gathered downtown and fellowshipped in Drexel Hall for the Hurtado Scholars Program celebration, honoring parents and Hurtado Scholar achievements. As people entered the Hall, they were warmly greeted with handshakes from a handful of middle school scholars wearing the light blue Rockhurst Hurtados Scholars shirt.

The Hurtado Scholars Program, established in 2013 and offered by Rockhurst High School, serves to provide young boys with the educational and leadership opportunity to prepare for success at a college preparatory high school and beyond. 

The celebration began with a collective prayer from Father Tom Pesci, SJ, former president of Rockhurst High School who now serves as Rockhurt’s President Emeritus, and opening remarks from David Laughlin, president of Rockhurst High School. 

The emcee’s of the event, AJ Murphy, former Hurtado Scholar and rising sophomore at the University of Kansas, and Leticia Zarate-Garcia, a Hurtado Scholars benefactor and Rockhurst High School past parent, introduced the first reflection of the night, given by Geoff Henggeler.

Henggeler, Rockhurst class of 1999 and parent of two Hurtado Scholars, expressed gratitude for the Hurtado program and all that it does for its students, going on to list that the three gifts the program offers to its scholars are: connection, confidence and belonging. 

Following Henggeler’s reflection, Anthony Re and Vanessa Wiegman, Director and Assistant Director of the Hurtado Scholars program as well as educators at Rockhurst, presented some of the awards of the night. 

The “White Van Award” – bestowed to a graduating eighth grader who exemplifies the five pillars of the program – was awarded to the scholar Axel Garcia Soto. Garcia-Soto, who will be a freshman at Rockhurst High School in the fall, spoke to The Telegraph about his experience in the program.

“When I got accepted, it was a total surprise and I’m grateful for being selected,” Garcia-Soto said. “What I enjoy about the program is that you get to make a ton of new friends…connect with teachers and subjects and everything. There is nothing I wish I could change [about the program] because it is perfect.”

The “Green Truck Award” – given to a graduating senior who has made the most of his time at Rockhurst High School with the use of values and skills learned as a Hurtado Scholar – was awarded to Angel Becerra. Becerra, who is heading to Georgetown University in the fall on a full-ride scholarship, gave a speech expressing appreciation for all the support he received from the program and Rockhurst High School. He also encouraged the other scholars to make the most of their time and to “find a balance” once they enter high school. 

“I’m happy that I did it… you get to learn, you get to have new experiences. And I really think that from new experiences you grow from them, and it motivates you to get involved in it and then do more,” Becerra told The Telegraph in an interview. “It’s really a magical thing.”

Following Becerra’s speech, the program took a moment to recognize Mary Delac, principal of Our Lady of Hope Catholic School. Attendees congratulated her on her retirement and acknowledged her historic impact on the Hurtado Scholars program. 

The “El Fuego Que Enciende Otros Fuegos / The Fire That Kindles Other Fires” award was presented next and given to Anita and Robert Paredes, Hurtado Program Benefactors. In their speech, they noted how much the program meant to them, how proud they are of the scholars and thanked the benefactors of the program who without their gifts the program would not exist. 

As the celebration neared its end, Director of the Hurtado program, Anthony Re, gave a final reflection announcing the many successes earned by scholars and the program itself. He also spoke about goals for the future of the program. 

“I’m just so grateful to get to work amongst so many wonderful people who just have so much love and care for these young men and their families, and want them to be the people that they’re meant to be,” Re told The Telegraph. “These young men make Rockhurst a better place as well. They bring so many gifts and talents.” 

To close out the event, President Laughlin gave closing remarks calling on individuals who can donate to support the Hurtado Scholars program. This year, the program has raised just shy of $1 million. This funding goes toward their operations fund and scholarships for students in the program. 

As the scholars gathered for a photo outside on the steps of Drexel Hall, The Telegraph spoke with a parent of a Hurtado scholar.

“I think it’s wonderful. It gives a lot of students great opportunities, some who don’t even see themselves going [to Rockhurst]” Zulma Soto, parent of Axel Garcia Soto, said. “He learns how to be a young man. And we’re Catholic so, he gets to take that with him through high school. He’s been taught good values for life and what it means to be a good person.”

You can find more information about the Hurtado Scholars program, view the full reflections given at the celebration or donate to the program online at https://www.rockhursths.edu/about-us/hurtado-scholars-program