Supporting Southwest Scholars

With its thrilling landscapes and romantic mystique, the American Southwest has always been both the source and the subject of wonder. This is a land infused with the spirit of the liberal arts, but the magnificent visual extremes that characterize it also symbolize the socioeconomic circumstances of its people and their access to higher education.

As part of the Freeing Minds campaign, St. John’s has launched the Southwest Scholars Program, a donor-driven initiative to recruit and retain Johnnies from the American Southwest. Now in its pilot phase, Southwest Scholars aims to sow seeds of interest in St. John’s College, break down the barriers to admissions, and give more students from this highly underserved region a chance to experience the transformative power of a true liberal arts education.

  • OUR MULTI-PRONGED APPROACH

    • Establishing Partnerships

      Southwest Scholars Program is the development of a partner program with select high schools throughout the six states of the American Southwest.

    • Fostering Engagement with Educators

      St. John’s relies on teachers and guidance counselors to point qualified students to the college, but school personnel are often subject to misconceptions of their own.

    • Fostering Engagement with Students

      In an area where small colleges are rare, gaining an appreciation for the value of a liberal arts education can be as much of a challenge as affording it.

    • Creating Affordable Pathways to St. John’s

      Income disparities loom large in the Southwest, and this situation will likely grow more acute in the coming years.

Establishing Partnerships

The centerpiece of the Southwest Scholars Program is the development of a partner program with select high schools throughout the six states of the American Southwest. Partner schools gain access to a variety of resources provided by St. John’s at no cost to the school. The college in turn benefits from targeted exposure to prospective students, enhanced marketing and recruitment opportunities, and a strengthened friendship with key ambassadors who will be a voice for St. John’s in the Southwest.

  • St. John’s enjoys a deeper relationship with the faculty, administration, and students of participating schools.
  • Partners gain VIP access to St. John’s admissions and financial aid teams, as well as invitations to partners-only events.
  • St. John’s is able to target our marketing dollars in a more strategic and effective manner.

Fostering Engagement with Educators

St. John’s relies on teachers and guidance counselors to point qualified students to the college, but school personnel are often subject to misconceptions of their own. Some have been misled by the notion that an increasingly specialized society warrants a near-infinite supply of educational choices, each subject to even further specialization.

By providing them with a first-hand experience of St. John’s, we can help these educators to better understand the benefits of our Program and promote it more effectively–and enthusiastically–in their own schools.

  • St. John’s will provide key personnel from participating schools with an immersive Santa Fe campus tour—or bring St. John’s to the school through on-site seminars.
  • Teachers and counselors are eligible for an annual half-tuition scholarship to attend the Graduate Institute in Santa Fe over the course of four summers.
  • One teacher and counselor per school per year will receive a full-tuition scholarship to Summer Classics in Santa Fe.

Fostering Engagement with Students

In an area where small colleges are rare, gaining an appreciation for the value of a liberal arts education can be as much of a challenge as affording it. This is especially true for two traditionally underrepresented groups: students who are the first in their families to attend college and students from isolated, rural communities.

The Southwest Scholars Program provides opportunities for high school students to learn more about St. John’s and to enjoy a taste of the experience that awaits future Johnnies.

  • Travel grants enable students to visit St. John’s for an immersive Santa Fe campus tour.
  • Schools are guaranteed a personal visit and special presentation by admissions staff, either in person or, when necessary, online.
  • One junior per school per year will receive a full-tuition scholarship to Summer Academy, one of our most reliable pipelines for new students.

Creating Affordable Pathways to St. John’s

Income disparities loom large in the Southwest, and this situation will likely grow more acute in the coming years. Statistics reveal that a rising percentage of college-age students will come from lower-income households and from economically vulnerable communities where a private college education is sometimes seen as a luxury for only the wealthy to enjoy. The Southwest Scholars Program counters these factors by creating more affordable pathways for a diverse range of students.

  • Students are eligible to receive a $5,000 annual scholarship to attend St. John’s College in Santa Fe for four years.
  • St. John’s works hand in hand with partner schools to help interested students maximize their options.
  • A junior nominated by each high school will receive a St. John’s College Book Award.

What Our Students And Partners Have to Say About Southwest Scholars

Your gifts are expanding St. John’s reach, making our distinctive education more accessible to students—and educators—across the six states of the American Southwest.

You are the Future of Southwest Scholars. Learn Why.

Download the Southwest Scholars Brochure

St. John’s Guide to Support Southwest Scholars serves as a handy, printable reference.

Alumni and Friends are Making a Difference

Your gifts to Freeing Minds are keeping the Program strong today while preparing the college for an even stronger tomorrow.

Are You In?