Together We Serve: Celebrating Two Years of the Servant Leadership Institute

Two years ago, the Servant Leadership Institute (SLI) began as a new initiative with a simple but powerful vision: to help students discover that leadership is not about recognition or titles—it is about serving others, building relationships, and making a meaningful difference in the world around us.

As we close the 2025-2026 school year, it is incredible to reflect on how far we have come.

What began in 2024 as a new program has grown into an established part of Saint Joseph Academy's culture. Along the way, the Servant Leadership Institute has evolved from a program focused on service hours into something much deeper—a program centered on meaningful experiences that develop empathy, leadership, communication, compassion, and a lifelong commitment to serving others.

Over the past two years, our students have stepped outside the walls of Saint Joseph Academy and into communities throughout South Jersey and beyond. They have served meals, packed food, cleaned beaches, built relationships with senior citizens, supported individuals with disabilities, worked alongside nonprofit organizations, and learned firsthand what it means to encounter Christ in others.

While programs are often measured by numbers, the true impact of the Servant Leadership Institute can be found in the stories and reflections of the students whose lives have been changed through service.

A Culture Built by Students

During graduation, senior Brendan Ventresca reflected on how service became an integral part of the Class of 2026's experience:

"The four years were marked with personal growth in our appreciation of the world and our role in it. We looked beyond our school and reached out through the many trips of the Servant Leadership Institute, including the Sisters of St. Joseph Neighborhood Center, the Special Olympics, and the Ronald McDonald House. We expressed our gratitude for those who have given so much to us by giving back to those in need."

Brendan's words capture exactly what we hoped the Servant Leadership Institute would become. Service was never intended to be a box to check or a requirement to fulfill. It was intended to be an opportunity for students to discover their ability to make a difference and to better understand their responsibility to others.

Through every service trip, students were challenged to see beyond themselves, encounter people from different walks of life, and recognize the dignity and worth of every person they met.

Fellow graduate Katie Canova echoed this sentiment as she reflected on helping launch the program:

"We can also be proud of a culture, centered around service, that we helped create. Just two short years ago, we were helping launch the Servant Leadership Institute."

Katie remembered the uncertainty many students felt during those early days:

"Truthfully, I remember feeling unsure during those first few trips. I wasn't quite sure what I should be doing, and if the work I was putting in was even making a difference. I know that a lot of others shared these feelings, but we all kept showing up ready to work."

That willingness to keep showing up became one of the defining characteristics of the program. Students quickly learned that service is not about having all the answers. It is about being present, being willing to learn, and being open to the people and experiences placed before them.

As Katie beautifully shared:

"Through countless hours, conversations with those in need, and many meals served, we began to see the world in a new light. We learned that service was more than just giving up time, but being open-minded, compassionate, and eager to connect."

Learning Empathy Through Encounter

One of the greatest lessons our students learned was that meaningful service begins with relationships.

Katie recalled a moment at the Sisters of St. Joseph Neighborhood Center in Camden that forever changed her perspective:

"While at the Sisters of St. Joseph in Camden, I remember a few classmates and I having a conversation with a lady who was so excited to receive a boxed cake mix. It was her mother's birthday that weekend, and now they'd be able to properly celebrate."

What seemed like a simple item became something much more significant.

"Hearing that made all of my problems feel small. At that moment, I was able to put myself in her shoes."

Moments like these became the heart of the Servant Leadership Institute. Students discovered that empathy is not simply feeling sorry for someone. It is listening, understanding, and recognizing our shared humanity.

As Katie concluded:

"That conversation taught me that empathy was more than just a quality, but a necessary skill to carry throughout life. Wherever our future takes us, understanding and connecting with others will be what allows us to become better members of our community."

These experiences have transformed students in ways that cannot be measured. They have challenged assumptions, opened eyes to new realities, and helped young people discover the power of kindness, compassion, and human connection.

Recognition Beyond Our Campus

This year, the Servant Leadership Institute received the Most Outstanding Community Group Award from the Community FoodBank of New Jersey.

While the recognition was certainly an honor, it represents something much greater than an award. It reflects the commitment of our students to showing up, working hard, and serving others with compassion and humility.

This recognition belongs to every student who stepped onto a bus, every faculty member who supported a service experience, and every community partner who welcomed our students into their organizations. It is a testament to the culture of service that has taken root at Saint Joseph Academy and continues to grow.

Leadership Rooted in Faith and Service

Behind the growth of the Servant Leadership Institute is a vision rooted in faith, compassion, and a belief that young people can change the world when given the opportunity to serve.

Under the leadership of Program Director Jennifer LaRosa, a seasoned Catholic educator in the Diocese of Camden, the Servant Leadership Institute has grown from a new initiative into a respected and impactful program that has become an integral part of Saint Joseph Academy's identity. Known throughout the community for her dedication to service and commitment to forming young servant leaders, LaRosa has spent her career helping students understand that leadership is not measured by personal achievement, but by one's willingness to serve others.

Inspired by the example of Jesus Christ as the ultimate servant leader, LaRosa envisioned a program that would move students beyond simply completing service hours and toward meaningful encounters that foster empathy, compassion, and personal growth.

Reflecting on the program's growth over the past two years, LaRosa shared:

"I'm so proud of the work we are doing at Saint Joseph Academy and all we have accomplished in the two years since the launch of this program. These SJA kids are all heart and have a hunger and thirst to be out in the community helping other people. I am so grateful for them. They inspire me in so many wonderful ways.”

That spirit has become the foundation of the Servant Leadership Institute. What began as a new initiative has evolved into a thriving culture of service where students are eager to engage, lead, and make a difference.

Thank You

None of this would be possible without the support of our faculty, community partners, and families.

To our faculty: thank you for embracing this vision, encouraging students to participate, and helping create opportunities for meaningful engagement. The success of the Servant Leadership Institute is a direct result of your partnership and belief in our students.

To our community partners: thank you for welcoming our students and allowing them to learn through service.

To our families: thank you for embracing this mission alongside us. The success of the Servant Leadership Institute extends far beyond our students. Time and time again, our parents, siblings, grandparents, and family members have stepped up to volunteer, donate, chaperone, and serve alongside us. Your willingness to join us has transformed service trips into something even more meaningful—an opportunity to strengthen relationships, build community, and live out our shared values together.

Reflecting on the involvement of Saint Joseph Academy families, Program Director Jennifer LaRosa shared:

"One of the most rewarding parts of this program has been watching our school families become part of the mission. It's not just our students who are getting involved. Our families are showing up, serving alongside us, and building relationships with one another and with the communities we serve. It's really beautiful to be a part of it all."

And most importantly, to our students: thank you for saying yes.

Thank you for stepping onto buses early in the morning, serving meals, cleaning beaches, supporting families, building relationships, advocating for others, and choosing to care.

Two years ago, we launched a program.

Today, we celebrate something much greater—a culture.

A culture where service is not simply something our students do.

It is part of who they are.

As we look ahead to the future of the Servant Leadership Institute, one thing is clear: the foundation has been built, the culture is thriving, and the next chapter is only beginning.

The Servant Leadership Institute has become more than a school program; it has become a community effort. Together, our students, families, faculty, and community partners are creating a culture of service that extends far beyond the walls of Saint Joseph Academy. Two years ago, we launched a program. Today, we celebrate a community united by service.