$127,000 grant will support procurement of STEM equipment in the school’s Welding Program
The Ambassador’s Fund for Catholic Education awarded Father Judge High School in Northeast Philadelphia a grant in the amount of $127,154 for the 2022-2023 academic/fiscal year. The funded program will support the expansion of the school’s Welding Program to include engineering technology integration of AUTO CAD (computerized automated drafting) and robotic welding. Matthew H. McCloskey, Jr. (1893-1973), building contractor and U.S. Ambassador to Ireland (1962-64), created and funded the charitable organization in 1967 to advance Catholic education and evangelization throughout the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. This charitable organization changed its name to the Ambassador’s Fund for Catholic Education in February 2020.
Matthew H. McCloskey IV, president of the Ambassador’s Fund for Education, explained the reason for the grant award, “Father Judge High School has changed the way that high school education can happen in this archdiocese. We were happy to invest in Judge when they were breaking into new territory with their Career & Technical Education curriculum, beginning with the state-certified welding program. We’re just as happy today to return to Judge with a grant for the welding expansion.” He continued, “We understand this will offer the students even more course work in specialized metals and processes, plus additional hands-on experience with new equipment and technology. This program is a winner for the students and the school.”
The Welding Program, launched the 2019-2020 academic year, was the first-of-its kind at the school and is the inaugural curriculum in Career & Technical Education (CTE) offerings. There are currently 78 students in the Welding Program and the first cohort of 33 workforce-ready welders will receive a Father Judge diploma along with industry certifications upon graduation this June. The school intends to implement CTE course offerings beyond welding over the next five years as part of its strategic plan.
Mike Sicilia ’89, Father Judge Board Member and EVP, Industries at Oracle Corporation, remarked, “Our strategic planning process included an analysis of our current academic offerings as well as market trends and needs.” He added, “We found that making Career & Technical Education programs available would provide students who desire so, with much needed trade skills. This grant allows our students to benefit from the addition of cutting-edge technology to our current program. In a world where the trades are in huge demand, Father Judge plans to lead the way in educating the next generation.”
When learning that Father Judge High School was awarded the grant from the Ambassador’s Fund for Catholic Education, Brian Patrick King ’97, president of Father Judge High School, remarked, “I am humbled by the extraordinary generosity of Ambassador’s Fund for Catholic Education whose investment in our school now totals more than $275,000. We received an initial grant of $150,000 in support of our Welding Program in 2019 and this recent grant allows us to continue to create different learning experiences for our students who are interested in exploring Career & Technical Education.” He continued, “CTE, along with our existing rigorous college preparatory curriculum, provides unique pathways for our students to – as our school’s patron St. Francis de Sales said – “be who they are and be that well.” McCloskey commended King’s creativity and commitment to developing specialized training opportunities, “We congratulate Father Judge’s leadership on their vision and innovative thinking. They’re producing strong educational options in high-demand fields for their students.”
Father Judge High School was founded in 1954. The all-boys school is dedicated to educating its students’ minds and souls in the spirit of Saint Francis de Sales. For additional information about Father Judge High School, please visit fatherjudge.com/.
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