By Ulises Araiza ’11
THE ROUNDUP

The incoming class of 2014 will continue Brophy’s tradition of diversity.

Approximately 340 current eighth graders will make up the newest Brophy freshman class next year, coming from more than 142 different schools, according to Director of Admissions Mr. Mike Ward.

Compared to past incoming classes, the class of 2014 is around the same size as the past five or six classes.

Diversity is also abundant; of the incoming class, about 30 percent is non-white. The accepted non-white group consists primarily of Hispanics, but also African-Americans and Asian-Americans.

The new class was selected by a faculty panel composed of Mr. Ward, Brophy Principal Mr. Bob Ryan, Assistant Principal for Student Activities Mr. Jeff Glosser and Student Counselor Mr. Jose Mendoza ’88.

Like previous incoming freshmen, members of the class of 2014 went through a rigorous admission process of an almost four-hour entrance exam, a thorough interview with a Brophy faculty member, as well as sending in their middle school transcripts, teacher, religious leader and coach recommendations and writing an essay on why Brophy is the right school for them.

“We look at them as a whole student—from academics to extracurricular involvements, what teachers have to say about them and their own personality,” Mr. Mendoza said. He has been helping with the selection of incoming freshman for the past 12 years.

More than $2.2 million dollars will be offered in financial aid to the incoming freshmen and returning students.

“We expect that a large number of students will be applying for financial assistance just because of the times we are in,” Mr. Ward said. However, the exact number will not be known until after April 15.

Mr. Ward said that the incoming freshmen are very talented and smart.

“Based on their files, their testing, their interviews, I think we have a traditional, strong incoming Brophy class. They are smart, energetic and can move this place forward in all the areas of our community,” he said.