The annual Sponsors Appreciation Luncheon is always a festive, happy celebration and this year's was no exception.  72 guests joined the students and faculty for this popular event in Knott Hall at Loyola Blakefield on Tuesday, April 19.  Nicholas Finch '11 who is headed to Georgetown Prep next year served as the master of ceremonies, introducing his classmate Jeremee Tripp '11 (City College) for the opening prayer, and Principal Christopher Wilson for a reflection on his years at the Academy.  Mr. Wilson is finishing his 8^th year at Saint Ignatius Loyola Academy and is leaving to become President of a fellow NativityMiguel school in New England.  After an enjoyable lunch, alumnus David Lawson '98 spoke of his journey from the Academy through Loyola Blakefield and Morgan State to a career as an electrical engineer developing technologies for unmanned aircraft and delivering audio, video and geographical data to soldiers in real time for AAI Corporation/Textron Systems.

Cynthia Jaramogi, mother of Jerrod '09 and Jahi '12, spoke movingly about the Academy's influence on her life and the life of her boys, followed by Academy President John Ciccone's remarks about the success in high school and college acceptances our students and graduates had achieved this year.

Student sponsors are the heart of our program, and we look forward each year to this wonderful occasion to honor them for their commitment to our students.   

Academy Volunteers Celebrated 

The Academy is blessed with numerous gifted volunteers who enrich our student's lives with their time and talents.  In thanks to their many contributions to our school, the Academy hosted a concert and reception on Friday, April 29.  The festivities began with the biannual Junior Bach concert which featured compositions by Academy students and performed by graduate student artists from the Peabody Conservatory.  A special finale was planned featuring Academy and Baltimore School for the Arts alumnus Tariq Al-Sabir '07 who was recently awarded a full scholarship to the Peabody Conservatory!  Thank you to Dr. Steve Stone, Chair of the Music Theory Department at the Peabody and Conservatory student Jake Runestad who has led the Junior Bach program for several years.

After the concert in Saint Ignatius Church, guests adjourned to the Reeves Gallery to view an exhibit of photographs by Academy students who participated in the Photography Club this year.  The club was led by Dan Schlapbach, Associate Professor of Fine Arts at Loyola University Maryland and a group of his students who volunteered in this service learning project.  A reception honored all Academy volunteers who do so much to help our young students reach their full potential.

Academy students were on hand to distribute program books and enjoy the game.  Click here to see a copy of the Blakefest program book on our Website under News.