“Acting Out” for Utah’s Catholic Schools

Over the Christmas break, students from all three of Utah’s Catholic high schools had the opportunity to participate in a television commercial at KUTV Channel 2 studios.

Students from Judge Memorial Catholic High School (Salt Lake), Juan Diego Catholic High School (Draper), and St. Joseph Catholic High School (Ogden) spent an entire day working with KUTV2 producer Ken Fall and his crew to gather footage for a 30-second commercial spot that will run from January 9 through mid-March promoting Utah’s Catholic Schools (UCS) as a unified entity and an “excellent option for value-based education.”  The commercial will feature students articulating some of the facets of the “Catholic education experience,” which they believe set it apart from other education alternatives.

KUTV2 will also provide UCS with advertising banners and a landing page on its website.  The page will link to UCS’ own website (www.utahscatholicschools.org) where viewers can find information on the organization, as well as the individual schools of the Catholic Diocese of Salt Lake City.

The advertising campaign, which is being underwritten in part by local businesses and foundations, is part of Utah’s Catholic Schools’ annual efforts to heighten awareness of both its presence in the community and its educational advantages.  In order to sustain these institutions, whose operating budgets come entirely from tuition and donations, Utah’s Catholic Schools is investing in marketing efforts like this one to increase enrollment at all grade levels with the objective of offering the solid, proven benefits of a Catholic education to all children whose families desire it for them. 

According to Sr. Catherine Kamphaus, Superintendent of Schools for the Catholic Diocese of Salt Lake City, Utah’s Catholic Schools have been working together to “maintain an important niche in our state’s education system for over 125 years.”  Kamphaus insists that, “aside from area high schools, few Utahns know we currently have 14 schools that enroll more than 5,500 students across the Wasatch front.  Additionally, 98% of our high school graduates go to college and give back to their communities at a much higher rate than non-Catholic school grads.” 

Kamphaus notes that growth in local communities has seen new Catholic schools built at the same time that many Catholic schools across the nation are closing.  James Hamburge, principal at Judge Memorial Catholic High School, agrees. 

“As the commercial marketplace becomes more and more competitive, we are seeing the same thing with regard to education,” says Hamburge.  “Parents are ‘shopping’ schools, comparing all combinations of public and private options.”

Kamphaus adds, “Our Diocesan schools are now competing with many private and charter schools, and more are opening each year.  The public perception of our schools is that our enrollment is full, and that we accept only Catholic students.  The truth is, most schools do have the ability to accept additional students, and would welcome students of all faiths into our school community.”

Perhaps the best perception, however, is from the students themselves: “I feel very fortunate to attend Judge,” says Will Leavitt, a senior involved in drama and sports, who also happens to be non-Catholic.  “We have great teachers and incredible academic and extracurricular programs, and it’s nice to have the spiritual aspect throughout all of that.  I feel I’ve had opportunities here that I might not have had at any other school.”

For more information on Utah’s Catholic Schools, visit their website, at www.utahcatholicschools.org, or the website of the Catholic Diocese of Salt Lake City, at www.dioslc.org.