Sherman Washington ’05

For Sherman Washington ’05, the primary philosophy that he learned at the Prep (which he holds dear to this day), “is that you must seize each opportunity. In life, we are all offered two things, a chance and a choice. The choices we make with the chances we are given are in our control.” For Washington, those chances have led to his career as a biotechnician and vaccine manufacturer at Merck, the CGM management firm that he began with two fellow Saint Joseph’s University alumni and recently celebrated 10 years in business, as well as his passions with two nonprofit organizations, the Athletic Club of Fairhill and the Prep’s African American Alumni Association (A4).

When he first heard about the Prep, Washington recalls that his father sat him down to talk about the school. “I had never heard of the Prep before, and the tone of his voice immediately informed me that this was an important conversation,” Washington recalls. “It was then when he shared how he was born and raised in North Philadelphia, but it was never an option for him to consider attending the Prep. This conversation made me excited to become a Prep student, and planted a seed to have a personal mission for me to go to the Prep, exceed in my studies, and start the legacy there for the Washington name.”

He connected right away and found mentors. “I fell in love with the environment from the first day and enjoyed all four years, but Mr. (Bill) Conners (’80) and Dr. (Chris) Rupertus became voices for me to lean on,” Washington says. “They taught American Studies, and this was by far my favorite class at the Prep. It was unique, and their style of teaching was different from anything I’ve been exposed to. The classroom environment felt like a conversation. In addition to Mr. Conners and Dr. Rupertus, I appreciated the tough love from Ms. (Meredith) Morgan, Mr. (Michael) Dougherty (’93), and Mr. (H.L.) Ratliff (’78). They always held me accountable and pulled the best out of me.”

After graduating from the Prep, Washington attended Saint Joseph’s University earning a bachelor’s degree in biology with a minor in sociology. His positions as a pharmacy technician and a research lab technician were invaluable to his current position as a biotechnician, but Washington says that the time commitment involved also required him to be strategic about the extracurricular activities in which he would participate. He got active with the Black Culture Club, where he was president, the Office of Multicultural Life, the Peer Review Board, 1 in 4 (an organization that educates campuses on the issues of rape and sexual assault), and Up ‘til Dawn, a Saint Jude’s Hospital fundraising campaign, as well as being a Resident Assistant.

This time management plus the discipline and work ethic that Washington learned at the Prep allows him to give back through AC Fairhill and the A4.

“AC Fairhill is a philanthropic youth organization based in North Philadelphia, whose mission is to provide programming driven through youth fitness and development for low-income children, with its initial programming being youth soccer,” he says. “AC Fairhill is supported by private donors and partnering organizations, such as my business Common Ground Management, Inc. We provide support for coaching, equipment, training facilities, and curriculum. Through our programming, we have been able to send kids to soccer camps at the Prep and Saint Joseph's University. We were able to host our 7th annual two-day youth skills camp “Futbol is Life” on the Gesu rooftop. Additionally, we have been able to send three kids to the summer Limerick Cup in Ireland to experience soccer on a global level.” 

This year, members of the Prep Soccer Team assisted at the skills camp and Cape and Sword used their shows to collect items to be donated to players in the program. Washington sees the two organizations as easy partners. “The connection between AC Fairhill and the Prep is magical because the missions and goals align based on the initiatives that serve our children and the community,” he says. “The Jesuit values that I learned at the Prep come to life with the collaboration. It is the true definition of magis.”
 

That desire to do more moved Washington to take a leadership role in the revitalization of the A4 at the Prep. “Currently, I am the president of A4 and my goal is to provide each student with the experience and mentorship that I was awarded during my time at the Prep,” he says. “A4, which started in 1990, was my introduction to the Prep as my family attended a number of A4-sponsored events before I even stepped foot in the school. It made us closer as students, our parents knew each other and we were a family.” He notes that when he returned to the Prep some years later, that familial connection that he experienced with other students of color seemed to be missing, and he and his fellow alumni decided to revitalize the program.
 

“It was imperative that we bring back core pillars of the program: Kicking As monthly tutoring sessions, annual college tours, the Bakari Awards, new families night, participating in Open House, proctoring entrance exams, and more,” Washington says. “The goal is to be more visible within the building. Representation matters and the students must know that we are here to support them. They need to see themselves represented in the classroom and curriculum. Families must know they can lean on us as a resource. These small steps lead to mentorship and getting to know the students on a more personal level. From there, we can assist them in the college selection process and help them look at career paths that match their interest.”

Washington’s advice to current and future Prep Hawks is to understand the power of the Prep network. “At the Prep you will gain lifelong friends and relationships. These are people who will be your children’s godparents or the best man at your wedding.” He also adds about his hope for his involvement with the Prep: “I want to leave an impact and help put the Prep in a better position for future students, including my own boys.”