South Bend bound

Grad heads to the University of Notre Dame to study biochemistry.

University students who major in biochemistry typically use it as a springboard into medical school. But for John "Jack" Crowe, who recently graduated from Notre Dame Prep and will be studying biochemistry at the University of Notre Dame, he's leaving that next step open for now.

"I am very excited about going to Notre Dame," he said. As of right now, I plan to study biochemistry there. However, I am open to studying other sciences if they intrigue me further in college."

He said the main reason he's studying biochemistry is because of a genuine love for the subject. Still, he doesn't want to pigeonhole himself into committing to the doctor career track. 

"I am open to wherever that new knowledge will take me," said Crowe, who finished his ND Prep career as one of the school's 22 valedictorians for 2018.

'Leadership and high character'

This year and the previous three at NDP for Crowe were busy ones, to be sure, and his end-of-the-year accolades prove that out. He graduated with a 4.445 GPA, highest honors and earned a number of special awards, including the President’s Award for Educational Excellence, the American Citizenship Award, the Spirit of the Fighting Irish Award, and the AP Scholar with Distinction Award.

Crowe also earned a Certificate of Excellence in English award from NDP. English department head Anthony Butorac said the award is well-deserved but it's Crowe's humility that impresses him most.

"One of my favorite things about Jack is that despite being this ambitious-seeming, success-driven kid, he's authentically humble," he said. "You can joke with him about grades and school and he doesn't take it too seriously, which is probably why he does so well. His humility is real and that will go a long way in a success-driven environment." 

Crowe also was a nominee for the Michigan High School Athletic Association's Scholar Athlete of the Year award as a member of the Notre Dame Prep baseball team. Irish baseball coach Jason Gendreau said Crowe's a worthy nominee.

"Jack has been an exemplary student-athlete during his time at Notre Dame Prep," Gendreau said. "His play, his leadership and high character have been models for others to follow. As his coach for his senior year, it has been a privilege having him on our team and working with him on a daily basis."

Every one gets a 'shoutout'

According to Crowe, Notre Dame Prep’s environment of competitive rigor and high standards on the field and in the classrooms made him assume that his academic load and many extracurriculars were standard practice. 

"But other schools are not this way to my knowledge," he said. "This high standard for success pushed me in classes I was not comfortable in at first, but now they are some of my most beloved subjects." 

David Osiecki, an NDP social studies teacher who had Crowe in his economics and history classes, said the 2018 grad was a superb student.

"Jack's intelligence, maturity and work ethic are all college-ready," Osiecki said. "He will absolutely thrive in any rigorous and challenging university program."

Meanwhile, Crowe, who gives credit not only to Osiecki but to all the teachers at Notre Dame Prep for getting him to where he is today, said he's grateful for what he's received from the NDP faculty.

"It would not do justice to the majority of teachers for me to leave them out if I were to simply shoutout only a few of them," he said. "Every one of my teachers at Notre Dame Prep was so committed to making me not only a smarter student, but more importantly, a better person. Each and every one of them deserves a shoutout as far as I'm concerned!"


Comments or questions? mkelly@ndpma.org.
 
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About Notre Dame Preparatory School and Marist Academy
Notre Dame Preparatory School and Marist Academy is a private, Catholic, independent, coeducational day school located in Oakland County. The school's upper division enrolls students in grades nine through twelve and has been named one of the nation's best 50 Catholic high schools (Acton Institute) four times since 2005. Notre Dame's middle and lower divisions enroll students in jr. kindergarten through grade eight. All three divisions are International Baccalaureate "World Schools." NDPMA is conducted by the Marist Fathers and Brothers and is accredited by the Independent Schools Association of the Central States and the North Central Association Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement. For more on Notre Dame Preparatory School and Marist Academy, visit the school's home page at www.ndpma.org.



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