Steven R. Mena, a 16-year-old resident of Hunts Point and a graduate of St. Ignatius School, has been chosen as a member of the National Society of High School Scholars, an organization that recognizes academic success among American students.
A junior at Xavier High School in Manhattan, Mena was nominated by his teachers there for the honor. Adriel Gutierrez, the director of graduate support at St. Ignatius School, helped him get involved in the program. Steven received his nomination in August.
Member benefits include scholarship opportunities and college preparation support, according to the organization’s website.
“My favorite subjects are Spanish and English,” Steven said. “I want to become a writer because I love stories. Also I want to study business and financing.”
Steven has a younger brother and younger sister in the sixth and seventh grades in St. Ignatius. His mother, Maria Peralta, said Steven keeps his grades in the 90s and does much of his work on his own without assistance.
“I feel so proud of my son,” Peralta said. “He’s quiet at times and very calm. He worked hard regularly in order to be recognized for this nomination. Also, he has a lot of fun with his siblings.”
Steven graduated from St. Ignatius School in 2012. The school, which is free for students, was scheduled to close last year for lack of funding from its parent organization, New York Nativity Schools. However, the school received a reprieve when a group led by a former school trustee provided a loan to help keep it open.
One of Steven’s former teachers, Richard Darrell, now the principal at St. Ignatius, remembered him well. He taught him social studies four years ago.
“He was a great kid. He always studied hard,” Darrell said. School at St. Ignatius runs from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. every day, and students are also required to participate in a summer camp where they practice leadership skills. “He was a top student in his class and he was always a team player,” Darrell added.
According to Steven’s mother, he recently received invitations to visit several colleges, including Rush University in Chicago and Georgetown University in Washington, D.C.
St. Ignatius School is a tuition-free middle school located at 740 Manida St. between Spofford and Lafayette. The school will hold an Admissions Open House on Saturday, Nov. 1, at 11 a.m. and Saturday, Jan. 24, 2015, at 11 a.m. Call 718-861-9084 to reserve a space or for more information.