A Boston prep school that has transformed the lives of young men with a first-class education is celebrating its 25th anniversary.
Founded in 1990, Nativity Preparatory School, a Jesuit middle school in the city's Jamaica Plain neighborhood, offers a tuition-free education to boys.
"All of the kids we serve are from inner city neighborhoods of Boston, low income families that are struggling with all of the typical things kids from the city struggle with," said Fr. John Wronski, president of Nativity Prep. "Violence in their neighborhoods or low expectations or not having the resources, especially for education."
The student body of 76 receives three meals a day, tutoring from alumni, and opportunities to do sports and other activities in a highly-structured 12-hour school day.
"We all spend a lot of time with each other, practically from 7:30 to 8 at night. Because of that, we're very close together," said 8th grader Anthony Perez.
"It's kind of like we're brothers because we're all together, all the time, said John Okafor, an 8th grader. "We mess around, we have arguments, we're all in school with each other."
Okafor lives in Hyde Park. His parents are Nigerian immigrants. In the fall, he'll head to the rigorous Milton Academy, hoping to pursue a career in science.
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But at Nativity, Prep, it isn't just about academics. Students are encouraged to give back and serve.
"It's not just a place where I learned grammar and arithmetic. It's where I learned to be a man," said Hudson Evei, who graduated from the school in 1996. A first-generation American who grew up in Dorchester, Evei is now a corporate banker serving on Nativity Prep's board of trustees.
"I think a lot of the values I developed as a student there are some of the key tools I've utilized to get where I am," Evei said.
"It's really something to celebrate when you look at the stories of our alums. The professional success they've had in all kinds of fields," said Fr. Wronski.
As the school marks its 25th anniversary, one of the missions is to continue providing guidance and support beyond graduation.
"We never let them go. They're always part of the family," said Winston Tuggle, Director of Graduate Support.
Eighty percent of Nativity Prep students enroll in college and 70 percent graduate. The school wants to grow those numbers with the help of a dedicated group of staff, volunteers, and alums.
"It's all about the people. It's all about the people who are drawn here to give something back to the community," said Fr. Wronski.
"I came back because all the people who donated and gave their time to me just made a great impact in my life," said Anthony Docanto, an alumnus and Boston College High School senior who tutors students at Nativity Prep. "So, for me to take the time to come back and give back to the students is just a full circle."
