Name: Julian & Blake Neely
Graduated: 2016
Julian |
Blake |
|---|---|
 |
 |
| Graduated from: Brebeuf Jesuit Preparatory School – July 19th Graduation | Graduated from: Cathedral High School – Graduate on July 26, 2020 |
| Where do you live now: I live in our family home I grew up in Indianapolis. Heading to Princeton University in the fall! | Where do you live now: I still live in our family home in Indianapolis but will head to Purdue in the fall. Accepted to Purdue University Class 2024 – major Aerospace Engineering |
| What have you been up to since graduating: Since graduating from STA in 2016, I have been an active student at Brebeuf high school. On July 19th I will graduate from high school which was a BUST because we missed out on doing all the fun crazy senior stuff because of COVID-19.I continued to play soccer after STA and I tried out and made the freshmen soccer team as a Wide Mid and played this position on JV and Varsity my senior year. I had fun going to football games and hanging out with my friends.In 2017 I was inducted into the National Honor Society and in 2019 was elected the President of our schools NHS Chapter. As President I had the opportunity to attend a three day leadership conference in Washington DC along with my NHS Executive Board members. It was pretty cool to represent Brebeuf and meet other leaders from all over the country. I also had the opportunity to study abroad my sophomore year where we went to Oxford England during spring break and my area of interest was law.
It was fun participating in Model UN and the other clubs at school like Key and French. The best club was the Chess Club that I was a co- founding member with another STA alum, Andre Novak. During the summer I worked, first with Keep Indy Beautiful and then Indy Parks as a Lifeguard, they paid $10 an hour. I also worked at the schools concession stand, which included free Chick Fil A! During my junior of high school I participated in a 21 week leadership and scholarship program called Beautillion Militaire, this program is a Rites of Passage for becoming a man for young African Americans who are juniors and seniors in high school. The 2019 class had 42 Beaus including my twin brother Blake who attends Cathedral High school. We attended weekly workshops that covered topics from personal responsibility, finance, cultural issues, respect for others, to community service, health issues and college experiences. This was put on by the 100 Black Men of Indianapolis and Jack and Jill of American, Inc. This was a transformational program for me and our class. I was selected to give the speech for our class at the celebration gala and at the end of the night was selected 2019’s Mr. Beautillion and my twin brother Blake was 2019’s Runner Up. I studied hard while at Brebeuf with a goal of going to an IVY league school. I applied to Princeton University and was accepted to study Molecular Biology. |
What have you been up to since graduating: Since graduating from STA in 2016, I have had a great high school experience at Cathedral High School. It was disappointing that we didn’t get to have our final senior celebration because of COVID-19.As an Irish, I was a member of the National Honor Society with a 3.7 GPA, a member of the Cathedral men’s soccer team where I played on the C team 2 years, JV and varsity my senior year as a goalie. Fun fact…former STA teacher Mr. Blanchet was my soccer coach freshmen year.
I enjoyed being a member of the Model U.N team, Young Democrats Club, all while serving over 100 hours through community service with the Cathedral three -day Soccer Mission trip being the most impactful experience. I really enjoy the schools Ski Club and hanging out with my friends. During my junior year in high school I participated in a 21 week leadership and scholarship program call Beautillion Millitaire hosted by the 100 Black Men of Indianapolis and Jack and Jill of America, Inc. Indianapolis Chapter. This program is for African American young men that are either juniors or seniors in high school. During the 21 week program we attended educational workshops that covered topics from personal responsibility, finance, cultural issues, and respect for others, to community service, health issues, communication and college expectations. This is a Rites of passage program for me becoming a man. This program was transformational for me and the other 42 Beaus. I learned a lot about myself and the world and how it sees me as a man of color. The night of the event I was selected to play my keyboard during the reception. Education is very important to me and my future success and this program ensured I continued on my goal to being the best person I could be. I never missed a session. At the end of the program I was Runner Up for Mr. Beautillion to my twin brother Julian. I applied to Purdue University, Rose Hulman and North Carolina A&T and was accepted into all three. This fall I am headed to Purdue University to major in Aerospace Engineering. |
| Tell us about your family: I have a great family that is strong in our faith and believe in giving back and serving the community. Every Christmas we volunteer and Kountry Kitchen and serve 2000 meals to families in need. This is a family tradition, I have been serving since I was five years old. We are a family of five, my mom, twin brother Blake and two older sisters. All STA graduates. Last year was tough for us in that my dad pass after after a three year battle with prostate cancer. I know he is still with us and we miss him. | Tell us about your family: I come from a family that puts God first in all we do who are committed to serving our community which is a family tradition. We are a family of five which includes my mom, my twin brother and my two older sisters, all STA alumni. We serve every Christmas Day at Kountry Kitchen delivering dinners to over 2000 families, giving back. In 2019 our family suffered a great loss , my dad George Raymond Neely passed after a three year battle with prostate cancer. Its been kind of tough as we live in our new normal without my dad. I know he is still with us even though he’s gone. We all have a commitment to finish college as our parents expect us to continue the tradition of having an education. |
| What is your favorite STA memory: My favorite STA memory is winning the 5th and 6th grade City Soccer Title | What is your favorite STA memory: My favorite STA memory was going to Sausage Fest with my family and friends. |
| What do you like to do in your spare time: In my spare time I play video games, chess on my phone and play with my dog and hang out with my family and friends. | What do you like to do in your spare time: In my spare time I like to sleep and play video games with my brother and friends. |
| What words of advice would you offer a current STA student: My advice: always make sure you work hard but don’t forget to have fun while doing it. | What words of advice would you offer a current STA student: My advice to students: study hard, listen to your teachers and value true relationship. I am excited about going to Purdue University. |
 |
 |
