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The Program

 
Seton Hall Prep’s Griffin Bridges Program celebrates 30 years of success and excellence. The Program has historically provided resources for academically gifted students from The Greater Newark Area to attend Seton Hall Prep.  Scholars have responded in kind by their involvement in nearly every facet of our community as well maintaining impressive grade point averages.  
 
Since 1993, Griffin Bridges graduates have garnered every academic award The Prep has to offer. This includes a scholar earning class Valedictorian and another winning the Archbishop Thomas A. Boland Award for Most Representative Setonian. These young men appreciated the opportunities given to them at The Prep and worked hard to achieve success.  

We would like to congratulate the five incoming freshmen for the Class of 2028.

Andrew Kent
Director of the Thomas J. Griffin Bridges Program 
Seton Hall Prep

About Griffin Bridges

List of 3 items.

  • Vision

    The Griffin Bridges Program provides educational, financial, and social support to enable academically talented young men from the Greater Newark Area to attend Seton Hall Preparatory School. The Griffin Bridges Program is specifically designed to meet the needs of  young men, regardless of race or creed, by providing them an environment where they can learn, develop, and realize their full potential.
  • Impact

    With 100% of its Scholars accepted to four year colleges, Griffin Bridges is changing the paradigm for male students from the inner-city. Seton Hall Prep and Griffin Bridges wishes to continue its commitment to young men who want to succeed.

    Since its inception in 1993, Griffin Bridges continues to connect young men from the inner city to opportunity and success.
  • Results

    The Griffin Bridges Program has successfully enrolled and graduated over 125 young men in the last 29 years. Over this course of time every commencement and academic award that Seton Hall Prep bestows on graduation has been represented by a Griffin Bridges student—Valedictorian, the Award for Academic Excellence, subject area medallions for excellence in Calculus, History, Theology, Language, Humanities, Art, and Literary Achievement, among others.

    Graduates have attended the following universities: Princeton, Georgetown, Holy Cross, Lehigh, Pratt, Villanova, Duke, Kenyon, UPenn, Loyola, Rutgers, NJIT, Seton Hall, and more.

    As professionals, our alumni have given back to their local communities serving as sponsors, mentors, and General Advisory Committee members.

 Griffin Bridges Package

In addition to a four-year commitment in financial aid, scholars and their families are provided with a formal and extensive support network which includes:

List of 5 items.

  • The William A. Hagan Jr. ’50 Mentoring Program

    William A. Hagan ‘50 was born in Brooklyn, New York, on August 31, 1932.  The Hagan family moved from Brooklyn to Manhasset, Long Island, N.Y. in 1942.  Bill attended grade school and two years at Manhasset High School.  He then transferred to Seton Hall Prep. and graduated from there in 1950. Following Mr. Hagan's graduation from The Prep, he attended Georgetown, followed by a three-year stint in the US Air Force. He then earned a law degree from Columbia Law School, followed by a career at Shea & Gould, a well-known national law firm, ultimately becoming a partner there. William Hagan passed away in December 2013. He believed deeply in what The Prep had done for him as a young man and how it laid the foundation for his career success and his life of service. The mentoring he received at The Prep stayed with him his entire life. As a result of Mr. Hagan's generous gift, his name has been permanently memorialized through the naming of The Griffin Bridges Mentoring Program at The Prep to the William A. Hagan Jr. ’50 Mentoring Program.
  • Peer “Big Brother” Program

    Big Brothers provide day-to-day support for Freshman and Sophomore Griffin Bridges Scholars. Some of the specific responsibilities include: establishing a standing appointment with their "Little Brothers" twice a week, provide tutoring and academic support when needed, and keeping a positive outlook in order to help build self-esteem and confidence. Scholars become Big Brothers in the Program during their Junior and Senior Year.
  • Four-Year Counselor/Social Worker

    Griffin Bridges is fortunate to have a full time counselor who is also a social worker. His role is to support the Director in his efforts to promote the overall health and success of our Scholars. He provides four-year counseling, academic support, and college placement services. He also is a resource and support for the scholars' families, Big Brothers, and mentors.
  • Full-Time Program Director

    Mr. Andrew Kent is responsible for the day-to-day operations and overall vision of the Griffin Bridges Program. He facilitates all the activities necessary to ensure that the goals and objectives of the program are met. He maintains a relationship with non-profit and service organizations operating within the students' communities in order to expand the program's network, thus maximizing opportunity for students in the Griffin Bridges Program.
  • The Griffin Bridges Advisory Committee

    The Griffin Bridges Advisory Committee
    The Griffin-Bridges Advisory Committee is a group of committed individuals who volunteer their time to assist with all the aspects of the program. In addition to attending our functions, the group meets several times a year to work on program policy, fundraising, event planning, decision-making and plotting the future of the program. 

    Institutional Members
     
    Msgr. Michael E. Kelly ’57, President
    Michael G. Gallo '79, Headmaster
    Dr. James Incardona, Assistant Headmaster
    Chris Barnitt ’88, Director of School Counselor & Social Worker
    James Boyle, Director of Institutional Advancement
    Michael T. Zinsmeister, Director of Admission and Financial Aid
     
    Non-Institutional Members
     
    Co-Chair: Lt. Ronald S. Glover
    Public Information Unit Newark Police Department

    Co-Chair: Dorrie Gagnon
    Chief Executive Officer, Gagnon Inc.

    Richard Greene ’90
    East Orange Board of Education Social Worker

    Kelli Hutchinson H’08,
    Surviving Daughter of the late Thomas J. Griffin

    Samuel Stoia, Esq.
    Samuel J. Stoia, Attorney At Law, LLC

    M. Randall Strickland ‘80
    Director, Cornerstone Capital Group
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