Pazzia '26 Receives Augustinian Scholarship at Merrimack

As an Augustinian school, Austin Prep is part of a much wider Catholic education community, and we work every day in common purpose with our sister Augustinian schools to shape Augustinian hearts that enter the world. Austin Prep is a member of the Augustinian Secondary Education Association (ASEA), which is a commission of the Federation of Augustinians of North America.

The ASEA was founded “to foster unity, efficiency, and continued development within the Augustinian ministry of secondary education.” Each academic year, Austin Prep sends students to participate in the Student Augustinian Values Institute (SAVI) and faculty and staff to participate in the Augustinian Values Institute (AVI) – hosted this year by Austin Prep. Through these institutes, students and staff deepen their understanding of Augustinian spirituality, Augustinian education, and the heritage of St. Augustine.

Austin Prep is one of the 11 member schools of ASEA. In addition to the ten Augustinian secondary schools in North America, there are also two Augustinian institutions of higher education: Merrimack College and Villanova University. Both Merrimack College and Villanova University are interested in recruiting students who exemplify the Augustinian values of veritas, unitas, and caritas and have scholarships available to advance that effort.

Each year, Merrimack College makes their prestigious Augustinian Scholarship available to incoming students who have attended secondary schools affiliated with the Order of St. Augustine. Recipients embody the values of St. Augustine—hospitality, community, and the pursuit of truth. This full academic scholarship is renewable for four years. The tuition for Merrimack College is currently set at $51,080. 

Austin Prep is proud to announce that Ava Pazzia ’26 was selected by the Merrimack College Office of Admissions as a recipient of the Augustinian Scholarship.  Ava stood out to the review committee for her strong leadership skills, community service, and enthusiasm for involvement, demonstrated through her role as a cheer captain, peer mentor, and organizer of inclusive service initiatives. 

Congratulations to Ava for this outstanding recognition and for exemplifying the Augustinian values of veritas, unitas, and caritas during her Austin Prep Journey.