Brophy College Preparatory is a Catholic all boys high school in downtown Phoenix dedicated to educating young men and helping them grow up to be, as Brophy’s motto proclaims, “Men for Others.” Here, we featured three outstanding Brophy students: Ivan Ramirez, Michael Ashley and Bradley Nordstrom.
Ivan Ramirez ’13
1. Basic info: (name, grade, extra-curricular activities, where they live, etc.)
Ivan Ramirez, Football, Phoenix
2. What do you like most about Brophy? What do you like least about it?
What I like about Brophy is that it challenges me academically and that it makes me a better person in and out of school. All the activities that it has for students to attend are something that I believe not many other schools have.
3. Who is your favorite teacher and what is your favorite subject?
Coach Galante would be my favorite teacher because he pushes me to be better no matter what. Also I’m not sure if Weight Training is a subject but that is definitely my favorite class.
6. What did/does your family think about Brophy?
My Family thinks Brophy is the best there is, they have seen a change in me in everything I do. They believe Brophy will open many doors for me and that it was a one in a lifetime opportunity.
7. If willing, please tell us a time in your life that was particularly difficult for you and how you were able to overcome it. Was the Brophy community apart of helping you get through it?
My Junior year I was having some problems at home and I was down all the time. I was angry, sad, and didn’t know what to do. I came to school but I came only to get the day over with and go home. Then, one day during weight training, Coach Galante noticed something different in me and brought it up. It helped me a bit because he gave a speech to the class about us being brothers and that we had to watch after each other. After class he came up to me and talked to me about some things and told me some words that will always go with me. After that day I looked up to Coach for everything he went through and what he does today!
8. What would you tell other boys who are interested in Brophy?
I would tell them that attending Brophy has been the best decision that I have made in my life and that it should be something that they are looking forward to because they won’t regret it.
9. Do you have a favorite memory of Brophy?
Definitely Kairos, it was a great bonding experience with my Brophy brothers and it came exactly when I needed it the most.
10. What will you miss most about Brophy?
I think that what I will miss the most about Brophy is the relationships that I had with all my teachers. This was something new for me and it had a huge effect on the way I looked at school.
13. What do you think Brophy has already done for you?
Already, Brophy has made me a better man. It has given me the opportunity to better myself in everything I do and to better everything around me. It has also already prepared me for the future, in guiding me with the steps i will take and the decisions I will make.
Michael Ashley ’12
1. Basic info: (name, grade, extra-curricular activities, where they live,etc.)
My name is Michael Ashley, I am a freshman at ASU this year and I live on campus in the dorms.
2. What do you like most about Brophy? What do you like least about it?
What I like most about Brophy is that I can say with confidence that my teachers cared about my success, both academically and spiritually, and that they would always be willing to work with me to develop these areas.
3. Who is your favorite teacher and what is your favorite subject?
My favorite Brophy teacher would have to be Mrs. Cronin, though I only had her for a few classes, I quickly came to learn more about her and develop a relationship with her as she was a leader on my Kairos and my synthesis mentor.
4. How did you hear about Brophy?
I came to know about Brophy through my brother, Kevin Ashley, who graduated in the class of ‘07
5. How has Brophy (the scholarship program) changed your life?
The scholarship program that Brophy offered was greatly beneficial as it offered a chance for lower income students to attend Brophy and have a profound experience that otherwise we would not be able to have.
6. What did/does your family think about Brophy?
The entirety of my family deeply appreciates Brophy and the messages and values that it perpetuates.
8. What would you tell other boys who are interested in Brophy?
Hands down, I would tell them to apply to Brophy. Brophy has had a large positive impact on my life in so many facets, and I wish for others to strive towards that as well.
11. What college or university do you plan to attend?
I’ll be attending ASU as I’ll have the full cost of tuition paid for through the Board of Regents High Endorsement Scholarship.
12. What are your plans for the future?
As of right now, I plan to major in biological sciences with an emphasis on genetics. Once I finish my undergrad and receive my bachelor’s degree, I hope to attend a grad school to study medicine.
13. What do you think Brophy has already done for you?
It was mentioned in our graduation ceremony that if the class of ’12 leaves Brophy satisfied with the state of the world, then Brophy has failed us. I can say the Brophy has not only made me aware of the many injustices in the world, but Brophy has also made me want to go out into the world and perpetuate justice where it is not present.
Bradley Nordstrom ’14
1. Basic info: (name, grade, extra-curricular activities, where they live,etc.)
My name is Brad Nordstrom and I am a rising junior. I play lacrosse on Brophy’s varsity 1 team. I live in North Phoenix and I am the oldest of four children.
2. What do you like most about Brophy? What do you like least about it?
What I like most about Brophy would be the “at home” feeling I get when I am there. There isn’t a moment in my two years that I have felt uncomfortable. There really isn’t anything I don’t like about Brophy.
3. Who is your favorite teacher and what is your favorite subject?
My favorite teacher at Brophy would have to be Mr. Schmidbauer. He was my hardest class by far, but it was always a fun environment to be in. My favorite subject is science.
6. What did/does your family think about Brophy?
My family loves Brophy and they feel like it has given me exceptional opportunities that other schools wouldn’t have.
7. If willing, please tell us a time in your life that was particularly difficult for you and how you were able to overcome it. Was the Brophy community apart of helping you get through it?
There was a time at the end of sophomore year when I was suffering through depression. I told one of my Brophy friends how I was feeling and he went straight to Ms. Parise. The Brophy community helped me tremendously in the process of overcoming how I was feeling.
8. What would you tell other boys who are interested in Brophy?
I would tell them that going to Brophy was the best decision I have ever made. It’s a great place to be and I have fun every day.
9. Do you have a favorite memory of Brophy?
At this point of my Brophy career, my favorite memory would be winning the lacrosse state championship in 2012 against our biggest rivals, Chaparral.
10. What will you miss most about Brophy?
I’ll miss seeing all of the teachers that are so fun to be around and I will definitely miss all of my friends that I have made. I’ll also miss the all of the extra-curricular events that Brophy has to offer.
13. What do you think Brophy has already done for you?
Brophy has already done many things for me. But the three most important, I would have to say, are setting me up to succeed in college, I have become more open to new things, and I have become a much more religious person.
For more information, visit brophyprep.org
