Brophy College Preparatory
Encyclopedia
Brophy College Preparatory is a Jesuit high school located in Phoenix, Arizona
. The school is currently limited to all-male enrollment of approximately 1,200 students. It is operated independently of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Phoenix
. The school's web site states that Brophy historically has produced more National Merit finalists and semifinalists than any other school in Arizona, and reports that 97 percent of Brophy's graduates attend four-year institutions.
The school has four campuses: the main academic campus in north-central Phoenix at Central Avenue and Camelback Road, a retreat campus called Manresa near Sedona
, the new Brophy Sports Campus east of the academic campus in Phoenix and contiguous to the campus of Xavier College Preparatory
, and The Dottie Boreyko/Brophy East Swim Campus, located near 28th Street and Campbell Avenue. Brophy is entirely self-sufficient, with no diocesan or government financial assistance.
Its chapel
was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
in 1993.
put a major financial strain on the institution, forcing it to close in 1935. Most of the male students who previously attended Brophy transferred to another local Catholic high school, St. Mary's, which had become an all-girls school once Brophy opened. The boys brought their athletic gear from Brophy with them to St. Mary's, causing St. Mary's to change its colors from red and white to green and white, the previous Brophy colors. In 1952, 17 years after its closing, Brophy College Preparatory reopened exclusively as a high school. They purchased used athletic equipment from Santa Clara University, whose colors happened to be red and white, the old St. Mary's colors. This is also how they became the Brophy Broncos, using the Santa Clara Mascot. Brophy expanded its downtown Phoenix campus by adding Loyola Hall (1959), Robson Gymnasium (1967), Keating Hall and the Steele Library (1986). In recent years Brophy's president has been able to raise a lot of capital through the major gifts campaign which has allowed for the construction of the Information Commons (2001), the Eller Fine Arts Center (2003), the McCain Colonnade (2003), the Piper Center for Math and Science (2005), and the Harper Great Hall (2006). The Ethel and Kemper Marley Information Commons replaced the Steele Library as the information source on campus.
In November 2002, Brophy acquired the former Phoenix Swim Club for use as a sports campus. It is now called The Dottie Boreyko/Brophy East Swim Campus. The facilities of this 10 acres (40,468.6 m²) campus include two outdoor swimming pools (one of them Olympic and equipped with two underwater viewing rooms), a 400-meter training track, a soccer field, a running track and locker rooms. The school now leads the state in football, lacrosse, and swimming.
In 2010, Brophy completed construction on the state-of-the-art Brophy Sports Campus, featuring a synthetic turf field, a track formed with material used at the 2009 World Championships in Athletics
, and an expansive natural turf practice field. The completion of the Brophy Sports Campus marks the first phase of a plan to upgrade all of the school's athletic facilities to a state-of-the-art.
principles and Roman Catholic theology
. Honors and Advanced Placement sections exist in each of the curricular disciplines. Brophy offers 22 Advanced Placement subjects. For the class of 2009, Brophy's average SAT
was a 1767 and its average ACT composite score was a 26.2. Admissions are selective and are based on grades, an entrance exam, essays, and a required interview. Students may also take classes at Xavier College Preparatory
, a Catholic girls' college preparatory that is adjacent to Brophy. It is the only Jesuit high school in Arizona.
, which is a laptop on which the user can both type and write. The tablet allows students to keep their books in one place and, therefore, has resolved previous complaints about having to carry books around. Unfortunately, the policies of some publishing companies regarding digital textbooks has not allowed for Brophy to become completely "bookless" at this time. To support the PCs, the entire campus has been retro-fitted, with Wi-fi
access points in most classrooms and in all buildings. The school administration plans to continue the program which supports its goal of a paper-free campus. Additionally, since the 2007-08 school year, the school has become completely Wi-fi
accessible and available for all students to use. As of the 2009-2010 academic year, the school completed its Tablet conversion and all students now participate in the program.
medalists. The 2004-05 Brophy swim team won the National High School Championship with captains Chris Voigt, Alexander Righi, Ryan Key, and David Pursley.
Brophy football won the 2005 and 2007 5A-1 Football State Championship. The 2005 football team finished ranked 3rd in the west and 21st in the nation by USA Today
and ranked 23rd in the country by Sports Illustrated
. The baseball and volleyball programs also took their state championships respectively in 2006.
In the 2007-2008 season, the Brophy Bronco Soccer Team won the 5A-1 State Championship and finished the season with a # 2 rank on the west coast and a #8 rank in the nation. During the 2010-2011 season, the Brophy soccer won its second 5A-1 State Championship in four years ending the season as National Runners-up.
The Brophy Lacrosse team has won the Arizona Division I State Championship three times, in 2007, 2008, and 2010.
In addition, Brophy is one of three high schools in Arizona that has a rowing
team. They have rowed at some of the best known regattas in the United States, such as Head of the Charles. They compete in the South West Junior region.
In the 2010-2011 year, Brophy added a rugby club team, the Brophy College Preparatory Rugby Football Club, becoming one of only several schools in the state to sponsor its own rugby team.
of Duke University
-- recently disputed by the Duke Blue Devil Mascot: an alumni of Hamilton High School in Chandler, Arizona.
Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix is the capital, and largest city, of the U.S. state of Arizona, as well as the sixth most populated city in the United States. Phoenix is home to 1,445,632 people according to the official 2010 U.S. Census Bureau data...
. The school is currently limited to all-male enrollment of approximately 1,200 students. It is operated independently of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Phoenix
Roman Catholic Diocese of Phoenix
-History:The Roman Catholic Diocese of Phoenix in Arizona is a particular church of the Roman Catholic Church in the United States. It was established on December 2, 1969 when it was split off of the Diocese of Tucson...
. The school's web site states that Brophy historically has produced more National Merit finalists and semifinalists than any other school in Arizona, and reports that 97 percent of Brophy's graduates attend four-year institutions.
The school has four campuses: the main academic campus in north-central Phoenix at Central Avenue and Camelback Road, a retreat campus called Manresa near Sedona
Sedona, Arizona
Sedona is a city that straddles the county line between Coconino and Yavapai counties in the northern Verde Valley region of the U.S. state of Arizona...
, the new Brophy Sports Campus east of the academic campus in Phoenix and contiguous to the campus of Xavier College Preparatory
Xavier College Preparatory
Xavier College Preparatory is a Catholic, all-female private high school in Phoenix, Arizona. It is located in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Phoenix, drawing students from 120 local schools and transfer students from around the world.-History:...
, and The Dottie Boreyko/Brophy East Swim Campus, located near 28th Street and Campbell Avenue. Brophy is entirely self-sufficient, with no diocesan or government financial assistance.
Its chapel
Brophy College Chapel
The chapel at Brophy College Preparatory, a high school and former college in central Phoenix, Arizona, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places in that state. It was listed on the NRHP in 1993.-History and architecture:...
was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 1993.
History
The school was founded in 1928 by Mrs. Henry Brophy in memory of her late husband as a Jesuit high school with first year college courses. The Regis Hall building (re-named Frank C. Brophy Jr. Hall in 2006), the Jesuit Residence and the Chapel were completed in 1928, and the school began operating that same year as a college and high school. The school operated successfully for a year but the subsequent Great DepressionGreat Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
put a major financial strain on the institution, forcing it to close in 1935. Most of the male students who previously attended Brophy transferred to another local Catholic high school, St. Mary's, which had become an all-girls school once Brophy opened. The boys brought their athletic gear from Brophy with them to St. Mary's, causing St. Mary's to change its colors from red and white to green and white, the previous Brophy colors. In 1952, 17 years after its closing, Brophy College Preparatory reopened exclusively as a high school. They purchased used athletic equipment from Santa Clara University, whose colors happened to be red and white, the old St. Mary's colors. This is also how they became the Brophy Broncos, using the Santa Clara Mascot. Brophy expanded its downtown Phoenix campus by adding Loyola Hall (1959), Robson Gymnasium (1967), Keating Hall and the Steele Library (1986). In recent years Brophy's president has been able to raise a lot of capital through the major gifts campaign which has allowed for the construction of the Information Commons (2001), the Eller Fine Arts Center (2003), the McCain Colonnade (2003), the Piper Center for Math and Science (2005), and the Harper Great Hall (2006). The Ethel and Kemper Marley Information Commons replaced the Steele Library as the information source on campus.
In November 2002, Brophy acquired the former Phoenix Swim Club for use as a sports campus. It is now called The Dottie Boreyko/Brophy East Swim Campus. The facilities of this 10 acres (40,468.6 m²) campus include two outdoor swimming pools (one of them Olympic and equipped with two underwater viewing rooms), a 400-meter training track, a soccer field, a running track and locker rooms. The school now leads the state in football, lacrosse, and swimming.
In 2010, Brophy completed construction on the state-of-the-art Brophy Sports Campus, featuring a synthetic turf field, a track formed with material used at the 2009 World Championships in Athletics
2009 World Championships in Athletics
The 12th IAAF World Championships in Athletics were held in Berlin, Germany from 15–23 August 2009. The majority of events took place in the Olympiastadion, while the marathon and racewalking events started and finished at the Brandenburg Gate....
, and an expansive natural turf practice field. The completion of the Brophy Sports Campus marks the first phase of a plan to upgrade all of the school's athletic facilities to a state-of-the-art.
Academics
Brophy Prep's courses rely on a combination of liberal artsLiberal arts
The term liberal arts refers to those subjects which in classical antiquity were considered essential for a free citizen to study. Grammar, Rhetoric and Logic were the core liberal arts. In medieval times these subjects were extended to include mathematics, geometry, music and astronomy...
principles and Roman Catholic theology
Theology
Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...
. Honors and Advanced Placement sections exist in each of the curricular disciplines. Brophy offers 22 Advanced Placement subjects. For the class of 2009, Brophy's average SAT
SAT
The SAT Reasoning Test is a standardized test for college admissions in the United States. The SAT is owned, published, and developed by the College Board, a nonprofit organization in the United States. It was formerly developed, published, and scored by the Educational Testing Service which still...
was a 1767 and its average ACT composite score was a 26.2. Admissions are selective and are based on grades, an entrance exam, essays, and a required interview. Students may also take classes at Xavier College Preparatory
Xavier College Preparatory
Xavier College Preparatory is a Catholic, all-female private high school in Phoenix, Arizona. It is located in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Phoenix, drawing students from 120 local schools and transfer students from around the world.-History:...
, a Catholic girls' college preparatory that is adjacent to Brophy. It is the only Jesuit high school in Arizona.
Tablet program
In the 2006-07 academic year, Brophy implemented the Tablet PC program for all incoming Freshman. Under the mandatory program, all incoming Freshman must buy a Lenovo Tablet PCMicrosoft Tablet PC
A Microsoft Tablet PC is a term coined by Microsoft for tablet computers conforming to a set of specifications announced in 2001 by Microsoft, for a pen-enabled personal computer, conforming to hardware specifications devised by Microsoft and running a licensed copy of Windows XP Tablet PC Edition...
, which is a laptop on which the user can both type and write. The tablet allows students to keep their books in one place and, therefore, has resolved previous complaints about having to carry books around. Unfortunately, the policies of some publishing companies regarding digital textbooks has not allowed for Brophy to become completely "bookless" at this time. To support the PCs, the entire campus has been retro-fitted, with Wi-fi
Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi or Wifi, is a mechanism for wirelessly connecting electronic devices. A device enabled with Wi-Fi, such as a personal computer, video game console, smartphone, or digital audio player, can connect to the Internet via a wireless network access point. An access point has a range of about 20...
access points in most classrooms and in all buildings. The school administration plans to continue the program which supports its goal of a paper-free campus. Additionally, since the 2007-08 school year, the school has become completely Wi-fi
Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi or Wifi, is a mechanism for wirelessly connecting electronic devices. A device enabled with Wi-Fi, such as a personal computer, video game console, smartphone, or digital audio player, can connect to the Internet via a wireless network access point. An access point has a range of about 20...
accessible and available for all students to use. As of the 2009-2010 academic year, the school completed its Tablet conversion and all students now participate in the program.
Athletics
Brophy fields 26 teams in 11 sports competing in Arizona's Class 5A Division I. The swim team is considered one of the best in the nation and has won 26 out of the past 27 state titles in addition to producing several OlympicOlympic Games
The Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...
medalists. The 2004-05 Brophy swim team won the National High School Championship with captains Chris Voigt, Alexander Righi, Ryan Key, and David Pursley.
Brophy football won the 2005 and 2007 5A-1 Football State Championship. The 2005 football team finished ranked 3rd in the west and 21st in the nation by USA Today
USA Today
USA Today is a national American daily newspaper published by the Gannett Company. It was founded by Al Neuharth. The newspaper vies with The Wall Street Journal for the position of having the widest circulation of any newspaper in the United States, something it previously held since 2003...
and ranked 23rd in the country by Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated is an American sports media company owned by media conglomerate Time Warner. Its self titled magazine has over 3.5 million subscribers and is read by 23 million adults each week, including over 18 million men. It was the first magazine with circulation over one million to win the...
. The baseball and volleyball programs also took their state championships respectively in 2006.
In the 2007-2008 season, the Brophy Bronco Soccer Team won the 5A-1 State Championship and finished the season with a # 2 rank on the west coast and a #8 rank in the nation. During the 2010-2011 season, the Brophy soccer won its second 5A-1 State Championship in four years ending the season as National Runners-up.
The Brophy Lacrosse team has won the Arizona Division I State Championship three times, in 2007, 2008, and 2010.
In addition, Brophy is one of three high schools in Arizona that has a rowing
Sport rowing
Rowing is a sport in which athletes race against each other on rivers, on lakes or on the ocean, depending upon the type of race and the discipline. The boats are propelled by the reaction forces on the oar blades as they are pushed against the water...
team. They have rowed at some of the best known regattas in the United States, such as Head of the Charles. They compete in the South West Junior region.
In the 2010-2011 year, Brophy added a rugby club team, the Brophy College Preparatory Rugby Football Club, becoming one of only several schools in the state to sponsor its own rugby team.
Student life
Brophy is known for a very engaging and active student life. The student council as well as over 90 student-led clubs and organizations regularly coordinate activities that involve the whole student body. Its Science Bowl and Quiz Bowl teams have also had recent successes. Both in 2008 and 2009 Brophy sent a team to the National Science Bowl competition. The school prides itself on its student cheering sections at athletic events, which are often the largest and most effective in the state. The basketball cheering section, known as the 6th Man, has recently been compared by Arizona sportswriters to the famous Cameron CraziesCameron Crazies
The Cameron Crazies are the student supporters of Duke University's basketball teams, named for Duke's Cameron Indoor Stadium. Crazies stand courtside in a 1,200 seat student section and begin cheering during warmups...
of Duke University
Duke University
Duke University is a private research university located in Durham, North Carolina, United States. Founded by Methodists and Quakers in the present day town of Trinity in 1838, the school moved to Durham in 1892. In 1924, tobacco industrialist James B...
-- recently disputed by the Duke Blue Devil Mascot: an alumni of Hamilton High School in Chandler, Arizona.
Notable alumni
- Kevin Kilb (1984) - Colonel Kevin J. Kilb Commander 62nd Airlift Wing, U.S. Air Force
- Dana Wells Jr. (1984) - Former University of ArizonaUniversity of ArizonaThe University of Arizona is a land-grant and space-grant public institution of higher education and research located in Tucson, Arizona, United States. The University of Arizona was the first university in the state of Arizona, founded in 1885...
and National Football LeagueNational Football LeagueThe National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
player; President, CBS OutdoorCBS OutdoorCBS Outdoor is the outdoor advertising division of media conglomerate CBS Corporation. It is the third largest outdoor media owner in revenue terms... - Mark AlarieMark AlarieMark Steven Alarie is a retired American professional basketball player in the NBA. He is 6'8", 217 lb....
(1982) - Former Duke UniversityDuke UniversityDuke University is a private research university located in Durham, North Carolina, United States. Founded by Methodists and Quakers in the present day town of Trinity in 1838, the school moved to Durham in 1892. In 1924, tobacco industrialist James B...
and National Basketball AssociationNational Basketball AssociationThe National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...
player - Keith Blanchard II (1984) - MaximMaxim (magazine)Maxim is an international men's magazine based in the United Kingdom and known for its pictorials featuring popular actresses, singers, and female models, sometimes pictured dressed, often pictured scantily dressed but not fully nude....
magazine's Editor-in-Chief - Chris Cummiskey (1983) - Arizona legislator and government official
- Scott GarlickScott GarlickScott Garlick is a retired American soccer goalkeeper who last played for Real Salt Lake of Major League Soccer.Garlick went on trial to Waterford United in 1994...
(1990) - Professional soccer player - Gary Hall Jr. (1993) - Olympic swimmer
- Klete KellerKlete KellerKlete Keller is an American freestyle swimmer who won medals at the 2000 Summer Olympics and the 2004 Summer Olympics in the 400 m freestyle and the 4x200 m freestyle relay. In the 4x200 m freestyle relay, Keller held off a charging Ian Thorpe in the anchor leg to win the race by 0.13 seconds...
- Olympic swimmer (attended but did not graduate) - Cris KirkwoodCris KirkwoodChristopher "Cris" Kirkwood is an American musician who is the bassist and a founding member of the Meat Puppets, an alternative punk rock band.-Biography:...
- founding member of The Meat Puppets, along with brother Curt - Curt KirkwoodCurt KirkwoodCurtis Matthew Kirkwood is an American singer, guitarist, and songwriter. He grew up in Phoenix, Arizona, but currently resides in Austin, Texas....
- founding member of The Meat Puppets, along with brother Cris - Bob KohrsBob KohrsBob Kohrs was a defensive back and linebacker in the NFL for the Pittsburgh Steelers. He was a 2nd round draft pick in the 1980 NFL Draft out of Arizona State University.-Football career:...
(1972) - Former linebacker and defensive for the Pittsburgh SteelersPittsburgh SteelersThe Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team currently belongs to the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Founded in , the Steelers are the oldest franchise in the AFC... - Richard MahoneyRichard Mahoney (Arizona politician)Richard D. Mahoney was the Democratic Secretary of State of Arizona from 1991 until 1995.Mahoney, the son of William P. Mahoney, a Phoenix lawyer and United States Ambassador to Ghana, was born in 1952...
(1969) - Political scientist and writer, former Arizona Secretary of State - Ryan McNamara (1996) - Artist
- Michael MurphyMichael Murphy (actor)Michael George Murphy is an American film and television actor.-Career:Murphy played Woody Allen's duplicitous friend Yale in the film Manhattan...
(1956) - Film/TV actor - Sean O'HairSean O'HairSean M. O'Hair is an American professional golfer who plays on the PGA Tour.-Early life:O'Hair was born in Lubbock, Texas...
, professional golfer; PGA Tour Rookie of the Year in 2005 - Ted PurdyTed PurdyTheodore Townsend Purdy is an American professional golfer.Purdy was born in Phoenix, Arizona. He graduated from Brophy College Preparatory in 1992. He went to the University of Arizona as a finance major and was inducted into its Sports Hall of Fame in 2005. He has won one PGA Tour tournament,...
(1992) - professional golfer - Stephen J. PyneStephen J. PyneStephen J. Pyne is a professor in the School of Life Sciences at Arizona State University, specializing in environmental history, the history of exploration, and the history of fire.-Education and academic activities:...
(1967) - natural historian; recipient of the MacArthur "genius award", a Fulbright Fellowship, and two National Endowment for the HumanitiesNational Endowment for the HumanitiesThe National Endowment for the Humanities is an independent federal agency of the United States established by the National Foundation on the Arts and the Humanities Act of 1965 dedicated to supporting research, education, preservation, and public programs in the humanities. The NEH is located at...
Fellowships - John Simons (1979) - Olympic swimmer, President & COO of ConAgra
- Paul Lo DucaPaul Lo DucaPaul Anthony Lo Duca is a television personality and a former Major League Baseball catcher. Previously, Lo Duca played for the Los Angeles Dodgers , Florida Marlins , New York Mets , and Washington Nationals...
- Professional baseball player (attended but did not graduate) - Justin SpeierJustin SpeierJustin James Speier is an American professional baseball pitcher who is currently a free agent. He attended Brophy College Preparatory in Phoenix, Arizona. Upon graduation from Brophy Prep, Speier attended the University of San Francisco where he played catcher for the Dons. He also attended...
- Professional baseball player - J. J. JansenJ. J. JansenJeffrey Richard "J. J." Jansen is an American football long snapper for the Carolina Panthers of the National Football League. He was signed by the Green Bay Packers as an undrafted free agent in 2008...
(2004) - Former University of Notre DameUniversity of Notre DameThe University of Notre Dame du Lac is a Catholic research university located in Notre Dame, an unincorporated community north of the city of South Bend, in St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States...
snapper and professional football long snapperLong snapperIn American football and Canadian football, the term long snapper refers to a player who is a specialized center during punts, field goals, and extra point attempts. His job is to snap the ball as quickly and accurately as possible....
for the Carolina PanthersCarolina PanthersThe Carolina Panthers are a professional American football team based in Charlotte, North Carolina. They are currently members of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Panthers, along with the Jacksonville Jaguars, joined the NFL as expansion... - Dean WintersDean WintersDean Winters is an American actor, who has portrayed Ryan O'Reily on HBO's Oz, Johnny Gavin on FX Network's Rescue Me, and Dennis Duffy on NBC's 30 Rock...
(1982) - Actor on 30 Rock30 Rock30 Rock is an American television comedy series created by Tina Fey that airs on NBC. The series is loosely based on Fey's experiences as head writer for Saturday Night Live...
, plays character of Mayhem in AllstateAllstateThe Allstate Corporation is the second-largest personal lines insurer in the United States and the largest that is publicly held. The company also has personal lines insurance operations in Canada. Allstate was founded in 1931 as part of Sears, Roebuck and Co., and was spun off in 1993...
commercials - Justin RobinsonJustin Robinson-Early life:Robinson played for the Brixton TopCats before moving to the United States to attended high school at the Blair Academy. As a junior he would lead Blair to a Mid-Atlantic Prep League title and was named to the All-MAPL first team.-College career:...
(2007) - Founder of Likuid Sound and Zeph Life - Matthew McConnellMatthew McConnellMatthew "Matt" McConnell is a professional rugby league footballer who at representative level has played for Ireland, and at club level for Barrow Raiders, playing at , i.e. number 11 or 12.-International honours:...
(2007) - Investment Banker