Programs - Acton Institute PowerBlog

Catholic High School Honor Roll: "When it comes to recognition, this honor is priceless!"

Thursday, May 8, 2008

Why should your high school apply for the Catholic High School Honor Roll? One reason is ecclesial recognition. The video below highlights the experience of St. Theodore Guerin High School in Noblesville, IN. Bishop William L. Higi of the Diocese of Lafayette-in-Indiana attended the school’s press conference to honor the school’s accomplishments. The video shows the press conference, and does a fantastic job of describing the Honor Roll.

Other schools also saw this type of recognition, including Salesianum School in Delaware.

Bishop Michael Saltarelli of the Diocese of Wilmington, and Very Rev. Joseph Morrissey, OSFS, Provincial Superior of the Oblates of St. Francis de Sales, were present at the awards assembly.

There is one week left for schools to apply for the Honor Roll. They can apply online at www.chshonor.org by May 15, 2008. Obviously it’s a busy time in a school year, so if schools need extra time, they can contact us at info@chshonor.org to make arrangements.

While the value to schools is quite clear, many fine schools still have not heard about the program or do not take the time to submit an application. It is a tragedy for schools – perhaps even Catholic schools you know – to miss this opportunity. Many of the schools that do not apply may be your alma mater or located in your area. Your encouragement will help them reap the substantial benefits the program offers. Contacting the principal and development director at these schools goes a long way to encourage schools to participate in the Honor Roll. Schools can only benefit from participating.

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The Final Countdown: 2 weeks left for schools to apply for the Catholic High School Honor Roll

Thursday, May 1, 2008

How is the 80’s song “The Final Countdown” by the band Europe tied to sound Catholic secondary education? Surprisingly, it’s through Acton’s Catholic High school Honor Roll.

After a short prayer, the below video shows the pep band for Xavier High School in Appleton, Wisconsin pumping up the crowd for its Honor Roll announcement this past Fall. After applying for the Honor Roll last year, the school earned a place among the Top 50 Catholic high schools in the United States.

The second half of the announcement ceremony can be seen here.

This type of recognition and attention is typical of schools that excel in the Honor Roll’s 3 areas of examination: academics, Catholic identity, and civic education. The program serves as an incentive for schools to excel in these areas, and it is a resource for parents, schools, colleges, and donors. Along with this recognition opportunity, applicant schools receive thorough evaluations with valuable feedback.

Schools can apply online at www.chshonor.org by May 15, 2008. However, many fine schools have not heard about the program or do not take the time to submit an application. It is a tragedy for schools – perhaps even Catholic schools you know – to miss this opportunity.

Many of the schools that do not apply may be your alma mater or located in your area. Your encouragement will help them reap the substantial benefits the program offers. Contacting the principal and development director at these schools goes a long way to encourage schools to participate in the Honor Roll.

Posted by Anthony Pienta in Programs at 16:14 | Leave a comment | Trackback

Should your school be on the Honor Roll? One month remaining to apply.

Tuesday, April 15, 2008

Applications and nominations are being accepted for the 5th annual Catholic High School Honor Roll –a list of America’s Top 50 Catholic high schools judged on academic excellence, Catholic identity, and civic education. The list is published nationally as a resource for parents, schools, colleges and donors. As a constructive award competition, the Honor Roll is designed to encourage excellence in Catholic education.

This is the perfect time to encourage your local Catholic high school to apply. All schools benefit because they are compared to other Catholic high schools nationwide and are given a thorough evaluation to help them improve. Those schools that place in the Top 50 receive widespread recognition. Unfortunately, many fine schools are not recognized simply because no application is submitted. Your encouragement will ensure that this opportunity is not missed.

Catholic High School Honor Roll Postcard

Catholic High School Honor Roll Postcard

Learn More:

How do schools benefit?

Evaluation: Each applicant receives comprehensive feedback
Recognition and Impact: Top 50 schools see increased enrollment, energized staffs, media coverage, and a valuable marketing opportunity
Scholarship: $2,000 drawing for online applicants

How Does it Work?

Apply: 3 surveys = complete application
Deadline: May 15
Cost: Free to apply at www.chshonor.org.
Award Announcement: Fall 2008

Evaluation & Feedback

About the Honor Roll: The Catholic High School Honor Roll is a constructive award competition and evaluation program designed to recognize and encourage excellence in Catholic secondary education. It is sponsored by the Acton Institute, a non-profit education and research organization in Grand Rapids, Michigan and is overseen by a distinguished advisory board of prominent Catholic university presidents and scholars.

Each year the Honor Roll publishes a list of America’s Top 50 Catholic high schools, judged on the criteria of academic excellence, Catholic identity, and civic education. The list is published nationally as a resource for parents, schools, colleges, and donors. The Honor Roll is also an evaluation tool to help schools improve. Each applicant school receives a comprehensive assessment that offers feedback and shows where it stands amongst Catholic schools nationwide.

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Conference for Clergywomen in Wesleyan Tradition

Wednesday, February 27, 2008

UMAction, the Methodist wing of IRD that supports traditional and historic Methodism is encouraging women in the United Methodist and Wesleyan tradition in ministry to consider attending the “Come to the Water” conference in Nashville from April 10-13. John Lomperis of IRD appropriately notes, “Many evangelical clergywomen in the United Methodist Church feel sidelined or excluded in some of the denomination’s official clergy women’s networks because of a dominance of intolerant theological liberalism.”

Just last night I was talking to a female probationary member in a United Methodist Annual Conference who said she was required to listen to sermons that praised liberation theology and attend seminars that promoted many kinds of theological and political liberalism. Fortunately, this conference will stand in stark contrast to the famous Re-Imagining Conference.

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Bloggers @ ActonU 2008

Thursday, January 10, 2008

I’m passing along this message from Kara Eagle, a program officer here at the Acton Institute. If you are a blogger and are interested in learning more about the pursuit of a free and virtuous society, keep reading:

Greetings!

As a blogger who is interested in the relationship between morality and freedom, you are invited to apply to attend the June 10-13, 2008 Acton University in Grand Rapids, MI. A limited number of special fee and travel fellowships are available to those bloggers who qualify and are willing to document their experiences at Acton University on their weblogs. This could be a daily reflection on the interaction and discussion, a final summary of the event, or anything in between. We expect that the engaging speakers, topics, and attendees will give you plenty to talk about.

This year’s updated curriculum will once again provide an in-depth four-day exploration of the intellectual foundations of a free society. As a participant of Acton University, you will be guided by a distinguished international faculty and will delve into the moral, cultural, economic, legal, and theological underpinnings of the social order that values human liberty. You can build your own curriculum, choosing from more than 50 courses ranging from the theological and philosophical, to the policy-oriented and practical.

One of the significant benefits of the program is the opportunity to interact and network with people from diverse educational, vocational, and international backgrounds who all share a concern about issues at the heart of faith and freedom. For instance, the 2007 Acton University conference included participants representing 44 different countries! Undergraduate and graduate students, non-profit professionals, clergy, professors, and business people will find Acton University particularly relevant, but anyone interested in deepening their understanding of the integration of sound economics, rigorous philosophy, and the Judeo-Christian faith is encouraged to attend.

If you are a participant on a group or institutional blog and are unable to attend, feel free to nominate another frequent contributor to your blog by sending me their name and email address.

Please visit www.acton.org/actonu where you will find the online registration form along with complete conference information. Be sure to reference this message when you fill out the form. If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact me via email or at 616.454.3080. We hope to see you in June!

Kara Eagle
Program Officer
Acton Institute
616.454.3080

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Updated: Freedom, the Family and the Market: A Humane Response to the Socialist Attack on the Family

Friday, January 4, 2008

Dr. Jennifer Roback Morse at today’s Acton Lecture Series event.

The 2008 Acton Lecture Series kicked off yesterday in Grand Rapids, Michigan with an address by Dr. Jennifer Roback Morse entitled “Freedom, the Family and the Market: A Humane Response to the Socialist Attack on the Family.”

Morse, an Acton Senior Fellow in Economics, described how the socialist ideal of equality has played an independent role in the breakdown of the family, arguing that socialism has attacked the family directly, and has adopted policies that have led to demographic collapse. By contrast, Christianity and capitalism offer more appealing solutions to the problems socialism claims to solve, and a more humane approach to dealing with issues of family and gender.

If you weren’t able to attend in person, you can download the audio here (11 mb mp3 file). And don’t forget to set aside some time on February 14 to attend the next Acton Lecture Series event, featuring Dr. Glenn Sunshine’s talk on “Wealth, Work and the Church.”

Update: Video of the lecture is available below.

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2008 Acton Lecture Series

Thursday, November 29, 2007

The schedule for the 2008 Acton Lecture Series has been released. The following is a quick overview of the line-up. Detailed descriptions of these lectures as well as time, location, and ticket information are available at the Acton Lecture Series page on Acton’s Web site.

	Freedom, the Family and the Market: A Humane Response to the Socialist Attack on the Family Dr. Jennifer Roback Morse January 3, 2008
	Wealth, Work and the Church Dr. Glenn Sunshine February 14, 2008
	The Rise (and Eventual Downfall) of the New Religious Left Rev. Robert A. Sirico March 13, 2008
	Can We Repair What’s Wrong with our Health Care System through Christian Principles? Mrs. Grace Marie Turner April 10, 2008
	Looking for Happiness, Finding Faith Dr. Arthur C. Brooks June 22, 2008
	Asia: Lessons and Opportunities Mr. Michael Miller July 24, 2008
	The Birth of Freedom: A look at Judeo-Christian Tradition to the Rise of Political and Economic Freedom in the West Dr. Jay Richards August 14, 2008
	What’s Wrong With Latin America? Dr. Samuel Gregg September 18, 2008

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2008 Novak Award Nominations Being Accepted

Tuesday, November 20, 2007

The nomination process has begun for the international 2008 Novak Award. Named after theologian Michael Novak, this $10,000 award rewards new outstanding research into the relationship between religion and economic liberty. Over the past seven years, this award has been given to young, promising scholars throughout the world.

To nominate an emerging scholar, please complete the online form. We encourage professors, university faculty, and other scholars to nominate those who are completing exceptional research into themes relevant to the mission and vision of the Acton Institute.

Suitable nominees will have received their doctorate in the past 5 years or be a doctoral candidate working closely with themes relevant to the Acton Institute.

Selection Timetable:

Nomination Deadline: November 30, 2007
Nominee’s Submission Deadline: December 31, 2007
Award Announcement: January 31, 2008
Recipient’s Calihan Lecture: TBA

To see the full description of the award and its requirements, visit: www.acton.org/programs/students/novak.php.

Please direct questions to Anthony Pienta at apienta@acton.org.

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More Audio from Acton University

Thursday, June 21, 2007

This post will be updated and bumped as more audio becomes available. Newer audio appears at the bottom of the list.

Economic Liberty in Catholic Social Teaching: Kishore Jayabalan
Competing Visions of Business: Michael Miller
Sixteenth-Century Protestant Moral Theologians: Stephen Grabill
Catholic Social Teaching: Basic Principles: Stephen Haessler
NOTE: This is a re-post; the audio link from a previous post has been corrected.
Poverty in the Developing World: Michael Miller
NOTE: Due to a recording error, the end of this lecture is slightly truncated.
Africa: Separating Myth from Reality: Rev.Chanshi Chanda
Spontaneous Order, the Market, and Divine Providence: Dr. Jay Richards
Christian Ethics, International Law, and International Institutions: Kishore Jayabalan
A Proper Christian Approach to the Environment: Dr. Jay Richards
A Journey from Pride to Gratitude: Jeff Sandefer

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Father Sirico Closes Acton University 2007

Friday, June 15, 2007

Acton University 2007 came to a close this evening with another stirring address by Rev. Robert Sirico which capped a great week in Grand Rapids for all involved. It’s getting late and I can’t hope to top what Father Robert had to say this evening, so I’ll refer all of you to the audio link below.

It’s always a relief when we come to the end of what is without a doubt the busiest week of the year for Acton’s Grand Rapids staff, but there’s a hint of sadness as well as we have to say good bye to so many people who have come to our hometown to engage in this remarkable conference. Over the next 24 hours or so, many of our new (and old) friends will be heading back to their various corners of the world via automobile and airplane, and we send along our prayers for traveling mercies for each and every one of them. I think I can speak for everyone at Acton in wishing all of our alumni the best in their various endeavors, and in hoping that we’ll see them again in the future.