Father Judge High School Named a 2022 Yass Prize Quarterfinalist

Father Judge High School (FJHS) in Northeast Philadelphia is a quarterfinalist in the Yass Prize for Sustainable, Transformational, Outstanding and Permissionless Education (STOP). FJHS is one of 64 quarterfinalists from 33 states and the District of Columbia. The announcement was made on Monday, October 3, 2022 at the Forbes Under 30 Summit in Detroit, Michigan.

The award highlights education providers that strive to offer education that is Sustainable, Transformational, Outstanding and Permissionless (STOP). In conjunction with the $1 million Yass Prize, the STOP Awards initiatives will distribute over $10 million to honor the remaining education innovators, providers, and entrepreneurs through the course of the competition. Quarterfinalists are automatically guaranteed $100,000. The Center for Education Reform is powering the award.

As a Yass Prize Quarterfinalist, FJHS demonstrates the STOP principles. In September 2019, the school launched its innovative Welding Program. The program is the first-of-its-kind among Archdiocesan high schools, and plays a vital role in the Career & Technical Education (CTE) initiative.  The Ambassador’s Fund for Catholic Education and the Connelly Foundation provided grant funding for the school’s Welding Lab. FJHS intends to implement additional course offerings in CTE over the next five years as part of its strategic plan, including: Biotech, Business, Construction Trades, Culinary, Engineering and Entrepreneurship. In June 2022, the school’s first cohort of thirty-three students completed the Welding program and are now employed by companies including DC Fabricators; Holtec International; L-3 Harris; PTR Baler & Compactor; SEA BOX; and SEPTA.

Mr. Brian Patrick King, `97 President of Father Judge High School said, “On behalf of the Father Judge High School community, we are incredibly honored to be named a Yass Prize Quarterfinalist and to participate in this process.” He continued, “This presents an incredible opportunity for our school to further the CTE program and continue to provide unique career pathways for our students.”

The $1million Yass Prize will be announced on December 14 at Forbes on Fifth. Forbes is a media partner. The school now moves on to the next phase to determine the semifinalists.  For additional information about the Yass Prize, please visit yassprize.org/.

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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Editor’s Note:

For information about Catholic schools in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, please visit aopcatholicschools.org/.

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Meredith Wilson
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215-587-3747