3 Students Make History at St. Joe's Inclusive Program

Shaun Sullivan, Cole Kenworthy, and Marcelo Delgado will walk across the stage at commencement this spring, making history as the first graduates of St. Joseph's University's Pathways to Authentic College Experiences (PACE) program.

PACE launched in fall 2022 with funding from a U.S. Department of Education grant. The program gives students with intellectual disabilities a full college experience, from taking classes alongside their peers to joining campus activities and building career skills.

"They're in fully inclusive classes," said Kaitlyn Martin, the program's director. "We don't do anything segregated."

The three graduating seniors started with the program when it had no track record to show. Their families took a leap of faith, and four years later, the bet has paid off beautifully.

Sullivan said the experience has transformed him. He won the George Nahodil Excellence in Peer Mentorship Award and made lasting friendships along the way.

Students in PACE can take courses for credit or audit them with modifications. They choose the path that fits their career goals, and every student has access to the same opportunities as any other undergraduate.

The Ripple Effect

The success of these first three graduates is already changing what's possible for others. PACE now serves 11 students total, and the classes keep growing bigger each year.

"I think these three are the trailblazers for everybody that's coming after them," Martin said. The program focuses on two main goals: helping students find paid meaningful employment after graduation and developing their social skills.

Jacob Chatten, the employment graduate assistant for PACE, said watching the students navigate everything a typical college student faces shows the program works. They've proven they can handle college life and are ready for what comes next.

Program coordinator Rosemary Theveny emphasized a crucial point about how PACE students are viewed. "They're not PACE students at St. Joe's. They're St. Joseph's students."

For Sullivan, the honor of being a trailblazer comes with a simple truth: "It has changed my life."