The Bowman Scholars program was founded in 2020 for first-generation students—students whose parents did not attend a 4-year college in the US—at Loyola. The primary purpose of this program is to give these students the opportunities and tools they need to flourish in an academic environment. Additionally, it serves to guide students through the college process.
After observing the impact it has had on my own life, I knew I wanted to highlight this program and all that it brings, and offers, to the community at Loyola. With the new leadership of Mr. Metellus, the Bowman Scholars are set up to have a successful school year.
Mr. Metellus attended Niles West, where he became very involved through playing sports. Additionally, his older brother and sister had gone there, so he felt more at home. He liked that, “It was a diverse school…My whole friend group spoke many different languages.”
However, academics were a different story. “I did struggle a bit in school in terms of grades. I wasn’t the most studious student.” This is part of why the Bowman Scholars program is so important to him. He “understand[s] the importance of school and college… I know that what you do now affects what happens in the next few steps.”
He graduated high school nineteen years ago, and at the time, there were no programs like this in his school. He claimed that “there wasn’t as much support in that sense” and that having a support system like Bowman would have helped him. He is first-generation himself since his parents immigrated to America. Though they understood the college process in their country, they didn’t understand it here.
His personal experience led him to work with Bowman Scholars. He also added that the student body was a big contributor. “You are all some of the most special students I’ve ever seen. From your diligence to your hard work and dedication, I was like how can I not be a part of this?”
As for what the Bowman Scholars program is providing to first-generation students, Mr. Metellus says that it is getting the college information to them earlier. The goal is for Bowman Scholars to be “literate in the college language,” as he puts it. Even moreso, Bowman aims to show first-generation students that they bring value to Loyola, and that they should feel a sense of pride to be part of this population.
The work of the fantastic team has helped make this program what it is. From the college counselors to Mrs. Bennett, Mrs. B, Mrs. Dutmers, Mrs. Stanton, and Mrs. Feldman, everyone puts their all into Bowman. This team, as well as Principal Devine, Mrs. Kearney-Alwyn, and President Father Greg, are an “equation for great things to happen,” as Mr. Metellus proudly said.
In the long-term, Bowman will have such a profound impact on students. Mr. Metellus stated that education was transformational, with the ability to change our lives and generations to follow. Receiving and valuing education can allow students to have a college experience, to be financially secure, and put them in a position where they can rewrite their family’s story.
It is important that schools have programs like this. To Mr. Metellus, it is especially important that Loyola has it due to our Jesuit Catholic principles. He believes that since we are women and men for others, it is our duty to serve people. He remarked, “when you help people, it doesn’t take away from what you have, it makes what you have better.”
Aside from the educational aspect, Bowman provides such a strong sense of community that ecompasses Loyola as a whole. Mr. Metellus, borrowing the wise words of Principal Devine said, “If we support Bowman and we give it that light, it just makes the room brighter. It takes nothing away from that other candle.”
