Students at John Bapst are eligible to participate in the John Bapst Distinguished Graduates Program.  Distinguished Graduates are those students who have a passion for a particular area which they studied extensively in school and have extended their learning and experience in that area outside of class with a special project. Distinguished Graduates Program projects are approved in advance and done under the guidance of a qualified mentor from the faculty or outside the school.

This program of study is designed for students to deepen their knowledge and understanding in areas they are passionate about and to think creatively about their chosen area of interest.

Currently, there are five areas in which students can become Distinguished Graduates: Fine Arts, Global Studies, Humanities, Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM), and Interdisciplinary Studies. In each area, students will study across four years and in multiple, but related, disciplines. They may design their own course of study, depending on their interest area, and ultimately will design and implement the individualized special project to which they dedicate a significant amount of time.

Students who are Distinguished Graduates will have it noted on their transcript and will also receive recognition in the spring of their senior year.

The minimum course requirements for each Distinguished Graduates Program are listed below. Students may be considered Distinguished Graduates in multiple programs.

• Fine Arts – 4 years of Fine Arts courses (or equivalent with department approval), including 2 different artistic areas, and a special project.
• Global Studies – 4 credits of Social Science and 4 credits of Modern & Classical Languages, 1 additional credit in either department, and a special project.
• Humanities – 4 credits of Social Science and 4 credits of English (including AP Literature and AP Language), 1 additional credit in either department, and a special project.
• STEM – 9 credits combined from the areas of Math, Science, and Technology, including at least 4 at the AP or advanced level, and a special project.
• Interdisciplinary Studies – Working with the Academic Dean, students who have interests that do not fall into one of the above categories may custom build a Distinguished Program for themselves.

Students who wish to be considered for the Distinguished Graduates Program must first apply through the department chair.  Copies of approved plans are given to the Academic Dean and Counselor.  Students can apply at anytime up to spring of their junior year. The student, department chair, and mentor design the course of study and special project which is submitted for approval by the department and the Academic Dean.

To find out more about this program, please contact Academic Dean, Jason O’Reilly at joreilly@johnbapst.org.