Ignatius Scholars

At two special ceremonies Friday (September 26), first during Convocation in the Chapel of the Holy Cross and then afterward in Faber Hall, Jesuit High School honored the outstanding students who are part of the school's Saint Ignatius Scholars Program, with the eight students who are Ignatius Scholars receiving special recognition.

The scholars program is comprised of all students who score in the top 2% nationally on the HSPT as 8th graders and then enroll at Jesuit. There are currently 75 Jesuit students in the program from a total enrollment of 857, about 9% of the student body.

Among those 75 are the 19 who were named Ignatius Scholars (8) and Loyola Foundation Scholars (11), selected on the basis of character, faith, service, and need. The eight Ignatius Scholars receive an annual award of one-half tuition for all four years, while the Loyola Foundation Scholars receive one-quarter tuition all four years. 

The two seniors completing their fourth year as Ignatius Scholars, Jack Fults and Ben Burke, both addressed the student body Friday in the chapel (click for video from the Convocation of principal Mike Scicchitano, Fults, and Burke). They spoke about the tremendous impact the scholarship has made in their lives, their love of the brotherhood at Jesuit, and their appreciation for the school's academic excellence.

The other Ignatius Scholars honored Wednesday are juniors Juan Amador and Rhys Marriott, sophomores Cole Knutzen and Robbie Martin, and freshmen Jack Etzkorn and Jevey Solak.

The Loyola Foundation Scholars at Jesuit in 2025-26 are seniors Austin Blewitt and Noah Reese; juniors Austin Boyle, Joseph Cusimano, and Evan Voor; sophomores Luca DeMeo, Andrew Hyde, and Mayo Olaleye; and freshmen Max Caterinicchia, Giovani Giraldo, and Will Salvi.

September 27, which is a Saturday this year, is a special date in Jesuit history. On that date in 1540 the Jesuit Order was confirmed by Pope Paul III. Therefore, the event also marks the 485th anniversary of the founding of the Society of Jesus, known as the "first confirmation of the Society," and every year on or close to September 27, Jesuit's Ignatius Scholars are honored. 

After Convocation, the eight Ignatius Scholars and their families attended a special breakfast reception in the MPR. There, the two freshmen, Etzkorn and Solak, each spoke about becoming an Ignatius Scholar. Afterward, Jesuit president Fr. Vincent Giacabazi, S.J. presented the seniors, Burke and Fults, with a special plaque depicting Saint Ignatius from a portrait by famed Flemish artist Peter Paul Rubens, in recognition of their four years as Ignatius Scholars.

In order to maintain their scholarship, the Ignatius Scholars must achieve a minimum cumulative GPA of 4.0, complete all required community service by the designated dates, remain free of serious disciplinary sanction (i.e., notice or probation), and participate in at least one non-athletic school club or activity. The program was founded in 2014, making this the beginning of its 12th school year.

For more information about the Saint Ignatius Scholar Program, contact Admissions Director Steve Matesich '91 at (813) 877-5344, ext. 715, or email admissions@jesuittampa.org.