Emmanuel Weke, left, and Jang Woo Kim are in the record-breaking feshman class at Gonzaga University in Spokane, Washington.
Best and brightest students respond to Gonzaga University’s centuries old Cura personalis
By Albert C. Jones
America, The Diversity Place
SPOKANE, Washington — Arriving early to the campus of Gonzaga University for an interview, there is enough time to look around to get familiar with this part of campus.
The bronze statue of St. Ignatius, founder of the Society of Jesus, stands in front of College Hall; it holds your attention. The reflecting pool mirrors St. Ignatius and the cloudless sky looking down. A young woman, wearing a black hijab, comes out of College Hall. She walks down the steps, past the statue of St. Ignatius and gets into a white van waiting in the round-about.
That moment, long after the interview is over, repeats itself, during the drive through Spokane and duration of the seven days stay here, repeated itself as if it just happened. It is the strongest image of affirmation.
Since their formation in 1534, the Jesuits have contributed greatly to scholarly learning throughout the world. Anyone who has ever attended seminary knows Jesuits have a history of being theologians of the first order.
In that prolonged moment here, where the global village does intersect, the reason for being at Gonzaga University is reaffirmed by that moment that keeps repeating itself. It’s picture perfect for diversity, gives hearing to multicultural voices across the nation and resonates inclusion as the higher tenet.
Serendipitous moments are welcomed occurrences during this journey throughout the United States. The young woman wearing the black hijab is testament to what is going on here at Gonzaga, one of the nation’s finest universities.
This university, in the Inland Northwest, reached a milepost this school year with its freshman enrollment.
The 1,240 freshmen comprise a record, eclipsing the previous high of 1,107 set in the fall 2008. Students of color in this record-breaking freshmen class are 19.5 percent, which is 0.5 percent shy of reaching 20 percent diversity enrollment by 2010.
“Probably a couple of things contributed to our record enrollment,” said Brian Spraggins, associate dean and director of the Diversity Admissions Program. “Gonzaga is the number one choice for a lot of our students and financial aid is stronger this year than in years past.”
Celebrating the diversity of this freshman class only begins to describe the milepost. The average grade-point average of the class is 3.66. The average SAT score was 1188.
For sure, the Office of Admissions is well pleased with the strategic plan accomplishment.
“Elation, I think I can say in a word, is what we feel,” Spraggins said. “The other word is appreciative. Everyone at Gonzaga is dedicated to increased access. To see those kinds of numbers is wonderful for all of us.
“We have been intentional about increasing the number of students of color who come to Gonzaga,” he said. “If you look at the roots of Jesuit education, there has always been a need and desire to have diversity. Jesuits go out into the world and interact with different cultures and communities and those different cultures and communities are coming to Gonzaga University.”
Spraggins, with thoughts of that young Muslim woman in mind, was asked about students of faiths other than Christianity at Gonzaga?
“Certainly we are a Catholic university that is true to its roots,” he said. “We believe in the notion of being religiously inclusive. Any student of any faith can come here and feel welcome. They come with whatever faith they have and enhance that faith. They can explore and grow whatever faith they happen to bring to Gonzaga.”
The pillar of Gonzaga’s educational philosophy is “Cura personalis,” the Ignatian model of educating the whole person – “mind, body and spirit.”
Most students come from Washington, California and Oregon. Thirty-five states are represented in the student body.
Emmanuel Weke, a freshman from Hyattsville, Maryland decided on Gonzaga because he witnessed what a difference one semester made in the deportment of his brother, Endurance, who was decidedly shy and not out-spoken before going off to college in the fall of 2008.
“Our family saw the change in him,” Weke said. “We knew Endurance as a shy person. He came home for Christmas break and he was funny and outgoing. I was interested to see how Gonzaga brought this outgoing and socially more aware person out of him.”
Weke is interested in pursuing a career as a mechanical engineer and a car designer attuned to environmental concerns.
“There were other schools that were recruiting me,” Weke said. “Gonzaga was very generous in the financial aid they provided. If you need help, they will keep giving what you need. Their generosity is what brought me here.”
Endurance Weke, whose name is a reflection of the trials and tribulations his parents went through after immigrating to the U.S. from Nigeria, is also preparing for a career as mechanical engineer.
Jang Woo Kim, a sophomore from South Korea who prepped at a private high school in the State of Washington, also mentioned the generous scholarship package awarded to him by Gonzaga.
“When I visited the campus, it was like a family atmosphere,” said Kim, an accounting major and sports management minor. “Everyone was so welcoming. I attended classes for a day. The professors were amazing.
“I had a choice of schools I could have attended. Five were in the Top 20,” he said. “Visiting Gonzaga made me want to come here. It was a hard choice, but I decided to come here. Gonzaga was generous enough to offer me a big scholarship that I accepted and came here.”
Kim is a member of the GU Bomb Squad, a hip hop dance club that performs at various events on and off campus, including men’s and women’s basketball games.
Gonzaga’s pitch to perspective students is not a sales job. All Gonzaga students, like Weke and Kim, are among the best and brightest. They were competitively on the recruitment lists of an assortment of colleges.
“I don’t believe I have to sell the school,” said Spraggins, a 1996 graduate. “I don’t think anyone here does. Gonzaga has a lot to offer. Our job is to communicate who we are and the education and academics we offer. Part of that is to share what Gonzaga graduates are doing out in the world.
“The community here offers support,” he said. “No student is just a number. Every student is recognized and is part of the community. That’s what attracts a lot of students to Gonzaga — the notion that they are becoming part of a genuine community.”
History proves a welcoming sense of belonging has been here from the beginning.
There is a bust of Gonzaga founder, Father Joseph Cataldo, S.J., that remembers his friendship with Native Americans. Cataldo translated the Gospels into Native languages, including Nez Perce.
“It’s very Jesuit. The Jesuits, since their founding, have engaged in intercultural dialogue,” Julie McCulloh, dean of admissions, said in a prepared statement. “That’s part of who we are as a Jesuit institution and we must engage in those Jesuit practices because they are important.”
Now that a benchmark is a fraction away from being reached, what’s next?
“Our real focus is on continuing to grow access,” said Spraggins. “We’re working on building on the success that we have had.”
That success also includes selecting Gonzaga’s second Act Six Leadership and Scholarship Initiative scholars. Gonzaga awarded eight such scholarships for 2009. Full-tuition or full-need scholarships are awarded to high school students from urban areas in the state.
Forty-three were awarded throughout Washington for 2009. In 2002, Whitworth University, nearby in Spokane, became the first to award Act Six scholarships. Other participating Washington colleges include Pacific Lutheran University, Northwest University and Trinity Lutheran College.
Collectively, the scholarships will provide nearly $5.5 million in educational aid over the next four years.
Brian Spraggins, associate dean and director of the Diversity Admissions Program, stands in front of the statue of St. Ignatius at Gonzaga University.