For Ricky Austin, president of Aim Higher Foundation in St. Paul, Catholic school education is a vital component of the Church’s longevity — and something all children should have access to, regardless of a family’s economic status.

Those convictions are what drive the 39-year-old convert to Catholicism as he takes the helm of a foundation that awards $1,000 scholarships to children in families with demonstrated financial need who wish to attend Catholic schools.

“There was a report that (the University of) Notre Dame released in 2006 about the future of Catholic schools. That document asked a big question of whether our generation would oversee the demise or the closing of one of the most effective means for evangelization that the country’s ever seen, or would we respond to the call and write a new ending to the Catholic school story? It was that document that really spurred my connection with Catholic schools,” Austin said, just weeks after Aim Higher’s board appointed him president in August to succeed Jean Houghton, who was named director of mission advancement at the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis effective Sept. 6.

His own conversion to Catholicism also plays a role. Born and raised in southern California, Austin said he was surrounded by various faith traditions, including attending a Lutheran grade school and a Catholic high school. He went to Notre Dame, where he double-majored in liberal studies and computer applications.

During his senior year at the university in South Bend, Indiana, Austin entered the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults, and was on his way to joining the Catholic Church.

“I was raised in a mixed faith household and I was exposed to a variety of faith traditions as a kid,” Austin said. “And as soon as I got into middle school, in high school, I had a lot of questions. But at that time, I was getting answers that left me feeling unfulfilled. It was with a priest from my high school, Father Ricky Boyle, and while I was at Notre Dame where I got to know the Catholic faith, the Catholic tradition and the deep intellectual history of how the Church wrestled with these questions — and provided deeply fulfilling, meaningful and lasting answers to the questions of why we’re here and what we’re called to do.”

In an RCIA small group session, Austin met a man who worked for Notre Dame’s Alliance for Catholic Education, a program that according to its website seeks to provide “a Catholic education of the highest quality to as many children as possible.” That planted the seed in Austin to consider teaching combined with service. Ultimately, Austin threw his proverbial hat into the ring for ACE and was selected to teach second grade at a Catholic school in Oklahoma City, while meanwhile working toward a master’s in education at Notre Dame. Later, he moved to Chicago to further his teaching career.

About that time, Austin saw the Notre Dame report about the future of Catholic schools, and he became involved in ACE’s graduate network, which eventually brought Austin and his wife, Megan, back to South Bend. He worked for seven years in the ACE central office, initially in their effort to mobilize ACE alumni in support of Catholic schools across the country. Eventually, Austin led ACE’s communications team.

“There are too many children that don’t have access to a great Catholic education,” Austin said. “And yet, in each of those communities, there are Catholic schools with empty seats. Data shows time and time again, they’re more effective at educating disadvantaged children. In fact, the more disadvantaged a child is, the more Catholic school has an impact on them. And yet there’s a problem — they cost money. How is it that we can ensure Catholic schools are accessible to every family regardless of their household income?”

That’s where Austin’s role as president of the Aim Higher Foundation comes in. After spending seven years in South Bend, the Austin family, now with two children, headed to his wife’s home state of Minnesota to be closer to family. They joined St. Odilia in Shoreview, then moved to St. Paul, where they have become parishioners of Nativity of Our Lord.

Austin was hired in 2017 as the director of scholarships and communication at Aim Higher and promoted in 2020 to vice president of advancement and operations.

In the past five years, the number of $1,000 scholarships awarded by the foundation to families with Catholic school children in kindergarten through eighth grade has tripled, from 700 scholarships in 2017 to 2,152 scholarships this school year. The average family income for those receiving scholarships is $37,000. Once a child receives a scholarship and the family remains eligible, he or she can receive $1,000 through eighth grade.

“There are too many children, particularly in this community, that don’t have access to a quality education,” Austin said. “So, there’s an underlying urgency for us to spread the word about what we’re doing, to engage new friends to our mission and to continue to grow. The financial support we receive and the overall support for our mission is vital.”

Principals of Catholic schools, such as Bridget Kramer of Community of Saints in West St. Paul, have noted Aim Higher’s assistance, and the difference Austin has made.
“Thanks to the Aim Higher Foundation and the financial support they provide to many of our school families, we are able to live out our mission and vision to serve all,” Kramer said. “Since Ricky’s involvement with the Aim Higher Foundation, I have not only seen a significant growth and increase in financial support for more of our own school families, but for families across the archdiocese.”

Austin’s ability to listen to school leaders and understand challenges they face, and respond and collaborate has been helpful, Kramer said.

Jane Bona, principal at Immaculate Conception in Columbia Heights, said she gives credit to Aim Higher as Catholic schools, including Immaculate Conception, have increased enrollment in the last couple of years.

“It is one moment in time when a child receives a scholarship,” Bona said. “That moment becomes part of their educational career as they become an Aim Higher Scholar. Once families understand that this scholarship can be available to them for the child’s years through eighth grade, the gratitude is seen in their eyes and their hearts. Think of that impact in each one of our schools — it transforms lives.”