Ten years ago, Shepherds and Notre Dame shared a dream – to offer a quality high school education to disadvantaged young men from the Greater New Haven areas, offering each of them hope for a brighter future. Over the past ten years, 43 young men have benefitted from the Shepherds Program at Notre Dame. From two students ten years ago, Shepherds’ student population has grown to a record high of 25 students, with “10 incoming Knights” accepted tothe Class of 2014 in honor of our Tenth Anniversary. Incoming Freshmen, hailing from Betsy Ross, Bishop Woods and St. Martin de Porres Academy, joined Upperclassmen Shepherds’ students from Amistad Academy, St. Rose, St. Francis and St. Martin de Porres through the generosity of benefactors, foundations, alumni and collaborators who work together to make these young men’s dreams a reality.

Shepherds’ Board of Directors is proud to announce the presentation of the Shepherds’ Founder’s Award to Brother James Branigan, President of Notre Dame of West Haven. Brother James’ selfless and tireless commitment to helping those less fortunate has ensured the success of Shepherds’ partnership with Notre Dame. In honor of his commitment to Shepherds’ mission and his devotion to the population Shepherds serves, the Board has created the Brother James Branigan Scholarship Fund, dedicated to creating scholarship opportunities for future Notre Dame of West Haven young men. The Founder’s Award was presented to Brother James at the May 19, 2011 fundraiser event.

Shepherds' Founder Barney Phillips with Brother James Branigan, C.S.C.

Students in the Shepherds Program have a Mentor who fills a void in their lives. At Notre Dame, most of the Mentors are Alumni who make a commitment to work with a young person, given their strong connection with their alma mater. Mentors work one-on-one with students over the four-year high school journey, helping their Students overcome three major life hurdles. The first is graduating high school. The second is earning college acceptances and the third hurdle is accessing ample financial aid and scholarship support to be able to attend. To-date, 18 Shepherds’ students, most of them pioneers in their families, have graduated from Notre Dame and enrolled in institutions of higher learning including Albertus Magnus, Central Connecticut State University, Gateway Community College, Ithaca College, Mount Ida, Purdue University, Quinnipiac University, Southern Connecticut State University, UCONN Storrs, Utica College and Western Connecticut State University.