The Great Ignatian Challenge

This November, let's give #TheSpartanWay

De Smet Jesuit is excited to join a proud tradition: the Great Ignatian Challenge! This friendly holiday food drive competition among 18 Jesuit schools encourages students to raise awareness of hunger and address those needs in their communities through food drives and collections.

Why We Give #TheSpartanWay

Video by Kalle Evjen '23, interview assistance by Matthew Noonan '23

students build pyramid of canned food items

 

Gratitude & Giving

Combining the Great Ignatian Challenge with our Giving Tuesday campaign that culminates on November 29, De Smet Jesuit dedicates November to gratitude and giving back to our community.

Poster with many school seals advertising the Great Ignatian Challenge food collection.

A key component of a Jesuit education is caring for the wider community, which allows students to gain first-hand knowledge of local, national, and global issues. Through service to the community, the students prepare for the day when they will participate in their world as competent, concerned, and responsible members who are committed to social justice. The Great Ignatian Challenge

How To Give #TheSpartanWay

About St. Patrick Center

Why We Support the Great Ignatian Challenge

Nolan Chickering
  • Class of 2023
Nolan Chickering

The Great Ignatian Challenge gives us an opportunity to show how strong we are as a Jesuit community. We can use this challenge to motivate and compete with each other while giving to those in need. I encourage you all to donate so we can meet our goal and get a day off!

Ian Thomas
  • Class of 2026
Ian Thomas

Generosity means to me that you are giving for the right reasons, and that you’re being a great person not just for something in return. I feel that the challenge is a great thing to participate in because it shows great character and is a great way to be men for others.

Will Ortbals
  • Class of 2025
Will Ortbals

To me, generosity means donating something of yours to someone else without expecting anything in return. Whether it be time, food, or something similar, generosity is a sacrifice. It’s something that helps others with their struggles, and makes us feel good about our actions, hopefully enough that we feel the need to promote generosity so a larger impact can be made.

Ben Alexander
  • Class of 2024
Ben Alexander

Being men for others, it is our duty to care for those in need in our community. The Great Ignatian Challenge is a great way to achieve this. Giving to others makes you feel good. You are helping the bigger picture outside of yourself.

Sherrod Tate
  • Class of 2023
Sherrod Tate

We have a moral obligation to help people who can't help themselves. We need to be there for people who need extra assistance.

Spartans Give Back

student hands cans to man in back of St. Patrick Center van
students load cans into van
students weigh cans in Emerson Lobby
students weigh cans in Emerson Lobby
students weigh cans in Emerson Lobby
4 students stand near cart full of canned goods
students weigh cans in Emerson Lobby
students weigh cans in Emerson Lobby
students and teacher weigh cans in Emerson Lobby
students weigh cans in Emerson Lobby
students and teacher weigh cans in Emerson Lobby
students weigh cans in Emerson Lobby
students weigh cans in Emerson Lobby
students carry cans into Emerson Lobby
students weigh cans in Emerson Lobby
students stack cans in lobby with Fr. O'Dwyer
students weigh cans in Emerson Lobby
students weigh cans in Emerson Lobby
students weigh cans in Emerson Lobby
students weigh cans in Emerson Lobby
students weigh cans in Emerson Lobby
students weigh cans in Emerson Lobby
students load cans into van
students weigh cans in Emerson Lobby
students load cans into van

Combining the Great Ignatian Challenge with our Giving Tuesday campaign that culminates on November 29, De Smet Jesuit dedicates November to gratitude and giving back to our community.