SJU’s First College Advantage Bowl Awards Scholarships to High School Students

Students from four New York City high schools visited the Queens campus on February 6 to test their knowledge and win scholarship aid to St. John’s during the University’s first annual College Advantage Bowl.

Held in the Taffner Field House, the tournament was styled after the popular game show Jeopardy, with students answering questions from various categories including math, art and literature, history, common knowledge, and St. John’s trivia. The participants belong to the University’s College Advantage Program, which allows qualified high school juniors and seniors to take credit-bearing courses through St. John’s in English, mathematics, language, fine arts, science, and the humanities.

“We hope to introduce St. John’s—and all we have to offer—to high school students, their parents, and others from their respective high schools,” said André McKenzie, Ed.D., Vice Provost for Academic Support Services and Faculty Development. “It’s a fun way for the students to test their knowledge of various subjects and demonstrate some school spirit.”

Students competed on teams representing their participating high schools with Xaverian earning first-place honors, followed by Archbishop Molloy, St. Francis Preparatory, and Bayside. Ryall Carroll, Ph.D., Chair and Associate Professor of Marketing, moderated the event.

Each member of the winning team received a $2,000 annual scholarship to St. John’s (in addition to the $2,000 already earned for participating in College Advantage). Students on the second-place team each won a $1,500 annual scholarship; those on the third-place team, a $750 annual scholarship; and members of the fourth-place team, a $500 annual scholarship.

“I’m from Staten Island,” said Anthony Rousseo, a senior at Xaverian, “and I think it’s great that St. John’s campuses still have a suburban feel while giving you access to everything in New York City.” He currently is taking an English and theology course through College Advantage. After attending an open house and receiving an on-site decision from an admission counselor, he is seriously considering St. John’s.

“College Advantage is a great opportunity,” said Tash Illiparambil, a senior at St. Francis Preparatory High School and a native of Floral Park, NY. “It saves students money, and participating in the tournament is giving us a chance to save even more.” Like Rousseo and other students, she watched Jeopardy to prepare. And she, too, is impressed with St. John’s. “It’s definitely a possibility for me,” she said.

Contestants and their guests were invited to a men's basketball game in Carnesecca Arena following the tournament. The students also were given T-shirts featuring the St. John’s University logo and those of their respective schools.

 “We hope everyone who came to the event left with a greater awareness and exposure to St. John’s,” McKenzie observed. “It’s been an excellent way to showcase the competing high schools and the University itself.”