Verbum Dei High School is proud to honor the following individuals at our Chairman's Gala

HONOREES NICK OSBORNE AND TREVOR ENGELSON

In 2010, when both Nick Osborne and Trevor Engelson, were owners of Underground, they found Verbum Dei High School and quickly got involved—creating a speaker series, co-moderating the film club, and soon becoming Corporate Work Study Partners. They’ve even hosted a salon at Nick’s home to raise funds for scholarships and film equipment. Yet, even more, every Wednesday for almost 12 years, Nick and Trevor would drive from Hollywood to Watts to co-moderate the film club in the middle of the afternoon. The commitment is real. Their goal is to open doors and give access to these amazingly talented students to a world they believe is beyond their reach. And, Nick and Trevor deliver—two Verb Alumni are currently employed as professional screenwriters, with one of them working with J.J. Abrams’ Bad Robot Productions. Never satisfied, Nick and Trevor started another film club at St. Mary’s Academy, our sister school in Inglewood, and a film club at our Cristo Rey School in Atlanta. Nick and Trevor embody “men with and for others.” They care about our students deeply and want the world to see their stories. Verbum Dei feels blessed to honor Nick and Trevor for all they do and the legacies they will leave and to honor them we have started the Trevor Engelson and Nick Osborne Scholarship Fund.

HONOREE STEPHEN PRIVETT, S.J.

In 2018, Stephen Privett S.J., became the 5th president of Verbum Dei High School. He brought with him a wealth of knowledge as the past president of the University of San Francisco and the vice president of Santa Clara University. Under Steve’s leadership Verbum Dei has experienced the highest fundraising levels in the history of the school as well as the Cristo Rey Network; increasing top-tier college acceptance rates; highest retention rates in both high school and college; and higher GPA’s, all in the middle of a pandemic, economic downturn, and localized civil unrest. Steve has been focused on continuous improvement in every area of the school through the development of a mission review; a comprehensive strategic priority planning process; and a schoolwide climate survey and response.  He has been the right leader at the right time and the school and the community are better for it. However, this year, Steve is celebrating his 50^th anniversary of ordination, turns 80 years young, and is now looking for a new challenge. And so, it is our sincere pleasure to honor a great man, leader, and friend, as he will be dearly missed. However, Steve’s presence will still be felt at Verb and the Watts community through the Stephen Privett S.J. Scholarship Fund for Verbum Dei Students.

Honorees The Verbum Dei Class of 2022

Since entering Verbum Dei in 2018, the class of 2022 has diligently applied themselves to their course work, their work study jobs, their personal development, and their quest to become men for others. In their junior year they have had to give it their all while learning remotely and mindfully prepare themselves for their senior year. 72% of the Class of 2022 are first generation college students however just as the 13 graduating classes preceding them, a 100% college acceptance rate is expected.