Grade 6 student Pishon Gezehagn, Grade 7 student Andrew Cyr, Grade 7 remote student Arianna Leal, and Grade 8 student Esmeralda Mejia were named December’s “Loyola Leaders of the Month” (LLM), a program implemented to promote self-awareness, practice the Jesuit philosophy, and develop a greater sense of community among the middle school community.
“Pishon earned the Loyola Leader of the Month Award for her demonstration of exceptional leadership skills, her commitment to justice and her dedication to her studies,” says Loyola teacher Ms. Lucy Harmon. “Since Pishon first stepped into our 6th grade class, she has modeled what it truly means to be a young woman with and for others. She is an active participant during class discussions and carries out crucial conversations with her classmates gracefully and intentionally. She never hesitates to challenge herself by stepping outside of her comfort zone and is always willing to lend a helping hand. We are so fortunate to have had Pishon join the Loyola Academy community this year!”
“Andrew was chosen as the 7th grade Loyola Leader for December because of his leadership and kindness demonstrated in and out of the classroom,” says Loyola teacher Mr. Anthony DeVito. “Each day Andrew comes to school with a strong willingness to treat others with respect and push himself academically. Loyola teachers agreed that the two specific Jesuit values that come to mind when thinking of Andrew are ‘Men and Women for Others’ and ‘Magis.’ He truly embodies what it means to be a Loyola Leader.”
“Arianna was chosen as the Remote Learner Loyola Leader for December because she embodies the Jesuit values of ‘Men and Women for Others’ and ‘Magis,’” says Loyola remote teacher Ms. Regina Capobianco. “She goes above and beyond by always being an active participant in our classroom community, asking questions, and attending study halls. She is a hard-working student, whether working on her own, with a partner, or during our full class discussion. Arianna is a beacon of joy in our classroom. Her classmates recognized the optimism and kindness she brings to all our classes. She shows every day why she embodies these Jesuit values.”
“Esmeralda earned this award through her strong faith and her willingness to help others,” says Loyola teacher Mr. David Walsh. “As the days grew closer to vacation, Esmeralda’s commitment to her studies and her classmates never wavered, as she offered help through simple acts like helping clean up or larger ones like taking time out of her work to help a classmate struggling with a certain concept. Esmeralda unquestionably has the utmost respect for her teachers, her classmates, and her environment. It is truly a difficult task to briefly explain the many ways she employs the Ignatian values of ‘Finding God in All Things’ and being a ‘Woman for Others’!”
Each month, one male and one female who have distinguished themselves and exemplify the two core values of Loyola Academy (“Magis” and “Women and men for and with others”) are recognized by the Loyola Academy team. Students also have the opportunity to submit votes for their peers who they feel have shown great strides in becoming a leader in our community.