Nativity Prep Receives a $500,000 Gift from Eileen Patricia Sullivan Roche Foundation!

Nativity Prep is excited to announce a transformative $500,000 gift from the Trustees of the Eileen Patricia Sullivan Roche Foundation. This significant pledge highlights the Roche family’s longstanding dedication to education and their deep commitment to Nativity Prep.

Eileen and Daniel F. "Bud" Roche were introduced to the school in 1994 and immediately demonstrated their remarkable generosity, which spanned decades. Eileen and Bud were devoted supporters of the Nativity annual fund and key leadership contributors to two capital campaigns. They were also early champions of the Student Sponsorship program, which provides scholarships that enable Nativity Prep to provide a tuition-free education to middle school boys from underserved communities. The Roche’s steadfast belief in our culture and mission was passed on to their children and grandchildren, who have continued impacting our school and positively influencing countless students.

This gift from the Trustees of the Eileen Patricia Sullivan Roche Foundation is dedicated to enhancing our teaching fellow program, one which serves a crucial role in inspiring and developing future educators. In recognition of this exceptional generosity and to honor Mrs. Eileen Roche’s legacy, Nativity Prep is proud to name the program the Eileen P. Roche Teaching Fellow Program.

The Eileen P. Roche Teaching Fellow Program will continue to support the newest Nativity Prep educators and encourage their growth as they shape the lives of our students. This initiative reflects the Roche family’s deep passion for nurturing young minds and their vision of a brighter, more inclusive future.

Nativity extends its heartfelt gratitude to the Trustees of the Eileen Patricia Sullivan Roche Foundation for their confidence in our mission and for their unwavering support. Together, we honor Eileen’s legacy and pave the way for the educational leaders of tomorrow.

San Miguel Academy Rowers Raise Over $2000 for Charity on MLK Day of Service

Olympic rower Molly Reckford and award-winning author and rower Arshay Cooper joined San Miguel Academy rowers for their Rev. Martin Luther King Day of Service. San Miguel Academy hosted a rowing exhibition and raised over $2000 in support of Montefiore St. Luke’s Cornell NICU and the Knights of Columbus Relief Fund for those impacted by the California Wildfires.

Molly Reckford, who competed in the women’s lightweight double sculls event at both the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo and the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, was on hand to cheer them on and to offer some coaching tips. Before the exhibition, Molly shared her rowing journey with the San Miguel Academy student-athletes, which included a lot of “getting kicked down but never quitting.” A walk-on at Dartmouth College, Molly stuck with it all four years and emphasized that she was always a student first and an athlete second.  After a few years in the workforce and rowing with a master competitive team in Menlo Park, Molly decided to go all in on her dream of becoming an Olympian. Sacrificing financial security and living off her savings, Molly dedicated herself to training; she told the students, “You have to decide every day that you’re going to do it, continually asking yourself, how far are you willing to go for what you love?” After the exhibition, Molly signed Olympic postcard mementos and took a tour of the School, including a demonstration of the STEMPilot simulator by two of our 'senior' aviation students! 

Arshay Cooper is one of the driving forces behind the success of the San Miguel Academy Rowing program. Thanks to his support and encouragement, San Miguel Rowing has been able to find its competitive edge at both indoor and outdoor events.  A Most Beautiful Thing Inclusion Fund supports Arshay's work of bringing rowing, academic support, and college access to under-resourced communities. Thanks to the Fund, San Miguel Rowing received two new 2-person Hudson boats, named for black rowers Malcolm Hawkins and Alex Osborne, who competed in the 2012 Olympics in London, and 20 state-of-the-art ergometers for year-round dry land training.

Arshay’s work has been featured in many national publications, including The New York Times, Sports Illustrated, and People Magazine. It has inspired the founding of new diversity-focused rowing programs worldwide. A much sought-after speaker, Arshay has shared his message of human potential with top corporations, universities, and nonprofits, including the Obama Foundation, the Aspen Institute, JP Morgan, and Princeton University. 

San Miguel Academy of Newburgh to Welcome Olympic Gold Medalist Nick Mead

San Miguel Academy of Newburgh is pleased to announce that Nick Mead, Olympic gold medalist, will visit the School. Nick won gold at the Olympic Games Paris 2024 in the coxless men's four. It was the first Olympic gold for the men's four since 1960. This same crew won silver at the 2023 world championships last September and had their sights set on gold in Paris. Nick carried the US flag alongside swimmer Katie Ledecky at the closing ceremonies.

Nick will attend practice at San Miguel Academy and observe ‘6K Wednesday’, where each rower works towards their personal best on rowing machines.  He will then speak to the students about his rowing journey.  Nick rowed for Princeton University, graduating in 2017.

San Miguel Academy Rowing is one of the largest middle school programs in the country, with 100% student participation. Its mission is to increase educational opportunities for its student-athletes. The program has proven to be significantly beneficial in helping students secure top-level educational opportunities in high school and college. San Miguel Academy rowers have qualified for and competed in the US Rowing Youth National Championships, finishing in the top ten several times.

San Miguel Academy serves low-opportunity families in Newburgh, NY, who would typically only be able to access the sport of rowing with the assistance of San Miguel Academy and our sponsors. San Miguel Academy Rowing is currently sponsored by the New York Giants Foundation, A Most Beautiful Thing Inclusion Fund, the Head of the Charles/ Philadelphia Gold Cup Foundation, and US Rowing.