What an incredible opportunity a group of Arrupe Jesuit students had this summer—our third consecutive year participating in the D-Day Leadership Immersion Program!
From walking the historic shores of Normandy Beach, where they connected classroom lessons to real-world history, to experiencing the beauty of French art, culture, and daily life, this journey brought learning to life in ways that simply can’t be replicated in a classroom.
Faculty leader Ty Smith shared how transformative the experience was:
“I was so impressed by our students’ desire to engage with a history and culture previously foreign to them and how they so perfectly modeled what it means to be ambassadors of our school and our country while abroad. Students grew in independence, cultural awareness, and appreciation for military heroism—past and present. Some encountered God in the courage of those who stormed the beaches on D-Day; others in the brushstrokes of Cézanne or Van Gogh; others still in the simple joy of a pastry enriched by Norman butter. Each discovered God revealed in a new way.”
Fellow faculty leader Patty Moncada reflected on the character of the group:
“Our students traveled with grace and maturity, persevering through long travel days without complaint and fearlessly practicing their French upon arrival. They represented Arrupe so well that our hosts praised them as the most open-minded, polite, and engaged students they welcome each summer. To me, this is what it means to be ‘of Arrupe.’”
We are deeply grateful to our dedicated teachers, the D-Day Leadership Academy, the Heider Family Foundation, and all partners who make this annual, life-changing trip possible.
Here’s to another year of growth, discovery, and the power of education beyond the classroom!
