Two DeMatha Stags (one a current student, one a graduate) recently received terrific academic news.
Kelvin Blake ’24 found out that he is getting a scholarship and grant to attend Princeton University, while Dominic Lyles ’18 is receiving a three-year, full-tuition merit scholarship to attend the American University Washington College of Law. Both plan to start in the fall.
Kelvin has a 4.5 cumulative GPA and will major in neuroscience. He is a member of DeMatha’s National Honor Society Valois Chapter, the Black Student Union and the track team. In February, he delivered a Lenten reflection during the school’s two Ash Wednesday services.
As a member of the Archdiocese of Washington Youth Leadership Team, Kelvin works with teenagers to spread the Catholic faith and help those in need. He has also served at the Our Lady of Sorrows food pantry.
He thanks his family for instilling in him “the importance of education and [motivating him] to remain persistent and hardworking.”
Academic achievement, athletics and service – three pillars of a DeMatha education –
are also a high priority for Dominic. He attended Bucknell University on a football scholarship and graduated cum laude in 2022 with a degree in international relations. He is in his second year of the Teach for America program, teaching in a school that is underserved because of systemic racism and/or poverty.
Dominic says the education he received at DeMatha is playing a crucial role in his success: “While attending DeMatha, I was pushed by my teachers and football coaches to be the best I could be in each of their respective settings, thus making me more organized, disciplined and competitive.
“Also at DeMatha, I was able to broaden my understanding of the world around me, using concepts taught in my classes to make sense of the injustices and inequity I saw. DeMatha’s culture of excellence allowed me to grow and thrive when I graduated and assisted in growing me into the man I am today.”
We are proud of Kelvin and Dominic’s myriad accomplishments, particularly their work in serving others. They are two shining examples of well-rounded DeMatha brothers.
(Written by Mark DePrato '14 and Chris McManes of the DeMatha Office of Advancement.)
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