Scholar Success Stories

John Robert

TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY, BUSINESS HONORS

When I found out I received the Max Finney Scholarship my freshman year at Strake Jesuit I knew my life would be changed; however, I did not understand the degree to which that was true. Because of the scholarship, I was empowered to pursue all of my passions both academically and extracurricularly, I was plugged into the network of other scholarship recipients, and perhaps most impactfully, I was made to feel like a member of the Finney family. The scholarship enabled me to invest in my interests such as photography and travel, including a trip to Europe with my classmates where we followed the journey of the 101st Airborne Division in WWII. The bi-annual book study continues to challenge my perspectives and worldviews. One of my favorite books was The Great Divorce which changed the way I view heaven and hell. The most amazing thing, however, is the Finney Family themselves and how they inspire myself and the other scholars to live our lives to the MAX just as Max himself did. Through the stories and jokes, scholar lunches, and annual Lax to the Max tournament, I have been exposed to the Finney family’s unique love. The Finney community will stick with me for the rest of my life, and the burning desire to live my life to the max will never go away.

I hope to continue honoring Max’s legacy at Texas A&M where I will be majoring in Business Honors and a second, undecided business degree.

ATHAN

TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY, ARCHITECTURE

Receiving the Max Finney scholarship has made an insurmountable impact on my life over the last five years. I can still remember how exciting and humbling it was to receive a phone call informing me that I was going to be a Max Finney Scholar. Though I may have sounded calm from the other end of the phone, I was practically bouncing off the walls with joy.  I was lucky enough to get to meet Max while in middle school at St. Annes. The thing that struck me the most about him was how, even though I was two grades younger, he knew my name and never forgot to say hello when we passed in the hallway. I have always tried to live in a way that mimics this characteristic of Max. Making someone feel known is often the best way to bring Christ to them. This is something Max and the Finney family has taught me and I will carry it with me for the rest of my life. Being a two time recipient of the Max Finney Scholarship, I was able to get to know the Finney Scholarship community very well and it has been crucial in helping me to become the man I am today. The Finney family is doing much more than just giving financial benefits to the scholars. They are providing the foundation for what it means to be a joyful and virtuous man in a lonely and secular society.

I will be majoring in Architecture at Texas A&M University.