A Letter from Brophy Director of Admissions and Alumni Relations Mike Ward
Dear Brophy Alumni,
One of my greatest joys is being part of the Brophy community. As Director of Admissions, my goal is to show prospective families our community in action, in the classroom and across campus. It is often through spending time on our grounds that people truly grasp the significance of the Brophy bond. Similarly, as Director of Alumni Relations, I am privileged to see how you continue to impact your own local communities.
From the founding of our school to the origins of the Jesuits, the value of community remains constant: it forms us and challenges us to be our best for others.This was certainly true for St. Ignatius. Throughout his journey, the people he encountered were vital to his recovery and his discovery of purpose. After his injury, it was his sister-in-law, Magdalena de Araoz, and his nurse, Maria de Garin, who cared for him and provided the books that sparked his spiritual conversion. Later, in Manresa, locals tended to him during illness, and families between Montserrat and Manresa opened their homes to him. His Latin teacher prepared him for university life, while his roommates in Paris, Francis Xavier and Peter Faber, helped him discern his place in the world. Finally, the “original seven” companions who journeyed to Rome became the foundation of the Society of Jesus. These encounters shaped the Jesuit mission: to find God in all things and to build centers of learning, like Brophy, all over the world.
How do we build a community and a Brotherhood that will last a lifetime? Simply put, the administration, teachers, and staff work with students to help them discover their gifts, and then celebrate those gifts. In an interview a few years ago, Coach Bob Chesney, current head football coach at UCLA but then leading the College of Holy Cross football program, was asked how he builds and promotes Men of Action. First, he said that they celebrate those who have been doing things right: promoting a strong community, earning good grades, being involved, and showing up for practice with the right attitude. Chesney said, “This is the behavior we want to repeat, and to do this, we need to celebrate it and reward it.” In my time at Brophy, we continue to work on creating a student-centered community that provides opportunities for students to develop their God-given gifts and share them with the world.
Today, there are over 14,000 Brophy Alumni across Arizona, the country, and around the world. They are leaders in their professions, using what they learned while at Brophy to make a difference in their communities. This was so evident at the Career Fair hosted by the Brophy College Counseling Department in late March. The majority of the career hosts were Brophy Alumni who want to show Brophy students what they do for work and how they got there. Even more importantly, it was an opportunity for our alumni to meet the students, make connections, and possibly push a student forward in some way that will make a difference in their life.
Looking into the future, the Alumni Relations Office will continue to set up events on campus, around the Valley, and across the country to stay connected to you and to show all of you what is happening on campus. If you have not been back lately, set up a tour and see this place in action. You will be proud of what you witness and how you feel. We know that Brophy would not be in the position it is today without the help from families and all of you that attended; you laid the groundwork, and we thank you for supporting your school.
A special shout out to all of our “young” alumni that participated in the Alumni Golf Tournament at Papago Golf Club, and to our Alumni who helped at the Career Day. I also hope to see many of our alumni back on campus for Grand Reunion 2026 for all classes that graduated in years ending in 1 and 6, as well as celebrating Homecoming in mid to late October.
Make sure you stay connected to Brophy and all alumni news by updating your contact information on Brophy’s website and by following us on our @brophyalumni and @brophyprep social media platforms — Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and Twitter.
Stay safe and healthy, and have a wonderful summer! Go Broncos!
Mike Ward
Director of Admissions and Alumni Relations
