At St. John’s Northwestern Academies, mentorship of all kinds is an integral part of student life. Mike Fink, the chief student affairs officer, embodies this aspect of the culture at SJNA, serving not just as an administrator but as a guiding force for students.
“Our qualified and dedicated staff are here for our students,” says Fink. “We offer our students a home away from home and we treat them like they are our own children.”
Lessons from the field
As a former football coach and athletic director, Fink instills in his students the values of teamwork, resilience and collaboration.
“Athletics teach lifelong skills that you can take to a job or college. When you play a sport, you learn how to deal with people, how to cope when things don’t go your way and you learn self-sacrifice to achieve a goal,” says Fink.
In his more than 30-year career in education, Fink has had the opportunity to mentor many athletes, including Dave Braun, current head football coach at Northwestern University.
“I am very fortunate to have had the opportunity to learn, grow and develop under Coach Fink,” says Braun. “Coach taught me what being a leader is all about. He taught me to love the game of football, the value of hard work and how to persevere. He also taught me the importance of making the right decision when no one is around watching you. Coach would often say, ‘respect everyone and fear no one.’ I can’t thank Coach Fink enough for helping me evolve into the person I am today.”
An SJNA alum success story: Brandin Podziemski of the Golden State Warriors
Brandin Podziemski’s journey illustrates the transformative impact of the education and mentorship offered at SJNA. Podziemski experienced incredible success under Fink’s guidance and was a 19th draft pick for the Golden State Warriors in 2023. However, his road to the NBA experienced a few hiccups, and Fink was there to encourage and support him.
“Brandin arrived as a promising athlete with aspirations of playing multiple sports ,” notes Fink, who mentored Podziemski from his first day at the academy.
Podziemski’s perseverance and dedication led to remarkable football achievements despite initial obstacles. For example, he led the conference in interceptions while at SJNA.
Following football, Podziemski found himself on the basketball court. Fink supported him in all areas as he shifted his focus. “Brandin was always asking me for gym time to practice,” he says. “He was a dedicated athlete, top student and exhibited exceptional character.”
Fink believes that SJNA’s commitment to excellence, both academic and personal, is a key to Podziemski’s achievements. “Brandin mentioned the role of St. John’s when he was drafted to the NBA,” says Fink.
A proud SJNA alum, Podziemski recently visited SJNA while in town and worked with the school’s elite basketball team. “Brandin is an example of our goal of student excellence: high achievement, personal character and giving back,” says Fink.
Tailoring mentorship at St. John’s Northwestern Academies to individual needs
One of the hallmarks of SJNA is its personalized approach, tailored to meet each student’s unique needs and goals; this is made possible due to an excellent staff/student ratio. With a diverse student body, Fink and the SJNA faculty embrace the challenge of addressing each student’s aspirations.
“We’ve got students from all over the country and international students from all over the world,” says Fink. “For example, on a given day, I’ll come across a group of friends who are diverse – one might be local, the other from Mexico and the next from Australia.”
Fink believes that exposure to a variety of cultures helps the academy to better meet every student’s needs. “Our students hold a variety of different perspectives, so we learn as much from them as they do from us .”
An environment that fosters leaders
In addition to academic achievements, an education at SJNA extends to personal and emotional support.
“The first thing I always say to parents is ‘thank you for trusting us with your most prized possession’,” says Fink. “We want parents to know that their child will be safe. However, we will give their child the opportunity to experience both good and bad things. With us, they have the opportunity to learn, mature and determine their future path, all with a team of caring staff and students behind them.”
The environment at SJNA’s military and prefect academies is structured, creating more than just a supportive space for students. They also learn leadership skills by not only receiving guidance from people like Fink but also their fellow students, and eventually get the opportunity to use these skills in real life and on campus.
“A really important part of St. John’s is that our leadership is student-driven. We have adult oversight, but the structured environment allows students to mentor each other, do good things to climb to the next rank and work to achieve their goals,” says Fink.
Fink believes that SJNA’s teaching and mentoring model helps each student achieve their full potential. “We have a motto at SJNA: ‘Leadership Lives Here.’ We create leaders and we do it through high expectations plus commitment to ourselves and others.”
For more information on St. John’s Northwestern Academies, visit sjna.org.
