Mission Executive Council Member
With a 42-year tenure at St. Joseph’s Collegiate Institute, Mr. Robert T. Scott, AFSC has successfully advanced from religion teacher to vice principal to his current position as the school’s first ever lay president.
Bob’s numerous contributions to the school and community of Buffalo during his time have been substantial. The most recent of these contributions was the spearheading of SJCI’s 2009 capital campaign, entitled Pride in our Past…Faith in our Future. When the campaign concluded in August of that year, it generated in excess of $13 million to be used toward the construction of an all-weather, synthetic turf Athletic Complex (which the Board of Trustees unanimously voted to name in Mr. Scott’s honor), a state-of-the-art Science facility and residence for the Christian Brothers, and student financial aid.
In the last four decades, there is not a single student who has walked across the stage to receive his diploma who can tell you that Mr. Scott did not have a significant impact on his life. The man is present at St. Joe’s every day, all day, and you can tell by his actions, that the school, its teachers, and the young men who enter into it, mean the world to him.
Considering the variety of roles that Mr. Scott has fulfilled at St. Joe’s, the impact of his accomplishments crosses over all of the school’s major departments, from academics and athletics, to advancement and alumni relations, to spirituality and special events.
He has successfully increased St. Joe’s academic standing to record levels, and in turn, strengthened the already-prestigious reputation of the western New York landmark, all while doubling efforts to make quality education accessible to financially disadvantaged, inner city youths (i.e. the St. Augustine Scholar Program).
Additionally, Mr. Scott has worn the title of fundraiser almost as adeptly as he wears his educator’s hat, continually finding ways to provide new and improved buildings and programs for the school, ensuring that the young men of St. Joe’s are provided with the proper tools to succeed, today, tomorrow, and thereafter.