The Brendan Court ’06 Summer Enrichment Program celebrated its 20th year of welcoming local Dallas students to campus. For two weeks in June, 40 rising seventh- and eighth-grade boys from Dallas-area public schools spent their days refining their academic knowledge, discovering new interests, and developing leadership skills, all under the tutelage of St. Mark’s student-teachers.
The work of forming character is not confined to the classroom at St. Mark’s. Rooted in a program that develops responsibility over time, from engaging a community to serving it and ultimately leading it, this formation is both intentional and deeply lived. Every day, faculty and staff model lessons of character and leadership through their words and actions. It’s a practice that goes beyond the classroom — and beyond campus — long after the school day has ended.
For generations, community service at St. Mark’s has been integral to each boy’s education. The success of this program has been evident in the metrics; gifts counted, dollars raised, volunteer hours logged, measurable results of the positive impact Marksmen have on their communities.
As the nation pauses to honor the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., the St. Mark’s community reflects not only on his words, but on the responsibility they continue to carry. Dr. King’s vision of justice, service, courage, and moral leadership still echoes through classrooms, conversations, and the daily experiences of young people learning what it means to lead with purpose.
Associate Headmaster John Ashton spoke about St. Mark's comprehensive Character and Leadership Program at an Admission event in September 2025.
VIDEOS: SENIOR CHAPEL TALKS
Throughout the school year, Seniors are selected to share lessons with classmates drawn from personal experiences. These talks often illustrate how boys practice the lessons of Character & Leadership in everyday life.