The Matthew R. Johnson Memorial Scholarship Fund was established in the summer of 2017 to honor the life of Matt Johnson, a 2004 Jesuit graduate and “Man for Others” award recipient.

Matt embodied what it means to be a “Man for Others,” demonstrating the ability to give of himself selflessly in his dealings with others. He was caring, funny, loyal, inclusive, and selfless. Matt exemplified what it means to be a Jesuit student and had a way of making every person with whom he interacted feel important, special, and loved. When Matt passed away unexpectedly in 2016, he left behind a long, diverse list of people who treasure him. 

Once funded, the scholarship will be awarded to a student with a demonstrated financial need that might not otherwise be able to attend Jesuit. Matt was one of those students, and it is our hope that the scholarship will allow future generations of young men to attend the school he loved and preserve our brother’s memory.

The profile of the Jesuit graduate states: “at graduation, the Jesuit student, well on the way to establishing his own identity, has also begun to move beyond self-interest and self-centeredness in human relationships.” In this respect, Matt was a shining example of what it means to be a Jesuit brother. His education and experiences from Jesuit helped shape a man who left an indelible mark on the lives of everyone he met and, now, on future generations of young men.