Alan Ratermann's journey from Alumni Service Corps volunteer to Director of Ignatian Service at Rockhurst High School embodies the school's mission of forming men for others. In this revealing conversation, Alan takes us behind the scenes of a comprehensive service program that transforms young men through meaningful encounters with community needs.
At Rockhurst, service isn't a checkbox requirement but a foundational experience woven throughout all four years. Freshmen participate in quarterly service days working alongside faculty, sophomores and juniors engage with nonprofits of their choosing, and seniors culminate with a three-week immersive service project. Alan shares how these experiences deliberately interrupt students' self-focus, inviting them to recognize Christ in others and respond with compassion.
The conversation explores distinctive aspects of Rockhurst's service immersion trips where students surrender their phones, live simply in community, and discover joy in human connection. Perhaps most moving is Alan's description of the St. Joseph of Arimathea Society, where students serve as pallbearers for those who pass away without family – a profound ministry honoring human dignity even in death.
What emerges is a portrait of service as transformative education. When students stand before classmates reflecting on their experiences, something remarkable happens. They articulate not just what they gave, but how profoundly they were changed. With Rockhurst students donating over 40,000 service hours annually, the impact extends far beyond graduation, creating lifelong connections to community organizations and embedding service into their identities.
Ready to see how service can transform your son's education? Visit rockhursths.edu to learn more about our Jesuit approach to forming men of competence, conscience, and compassion.