Tom Burns of Immaculate High School Receives Prestigious Award

Tom Burns, Director of Admissions for Immaculate High School in Danbury, CT, recently received the prestigious William A. MacNeill Award from the Association of Catholic Admissions and Advancement Professionals (ACAAP) of New England. The honor was presented to him at the 2017 ACAAP Recognition Awards ceremony at The College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, MA on March 16, 2017.

The award is presented to a current ACAAP member whose contributions to a member organization and/or to the profession encompassed by the membership reflect honor on ACAAP, its mission and its purpose, according to the organization.  The ACAAP of New England is a local network of professionals and volunteers who staff the admissions and advancement programs of organizations in 11 dioceses in the six states of New England. Recipients of ACAAP awards are honored for their “extraordinary commitment to Catholic school, parish and institutional philanthropy….and for setting the standard for service and dedication.”

Tom Burns joined Immaculate High School as its Director of Admissions in 2010. There he directs all aspects of enrollment management including marketing, recruiting and admissions. A big believer in Catholic Education, Mr. Burns also believes that all students should use their high school experience to discover themselves. “Participation in academics, athletics, fine arts, student life and campus ministry while in high school results in a well-rounded individual with a healthy self-esteem,” he said.

“I am very honored to receive this award,” said Mr. Burns. “We work hard at Immaculate High School to provide the kind of education that will foster growth, learning and excellence. We believe that our students are happy with and enjoy their experience and thrive in the IHS environment,” he added.    

Mr. Burns received the award that honors William MacNeill, the first President of the New England Association of Catholic Development Officers (NEACDO), for Mr. MacNeill’s long-term commitment to Catholic school advancement and for the inspirational example of leadership and knowledge Mr. MacNeill has embodied to all in the profession.

“The prestigious William MacNeill Award recognizes Tom’s ability to work collaboratively with administration, teachers and staff coupled with his marketing acumen. Because of Tom’s authentic commitment to messaging the excellent faith-based college-prep program that Immaculate High School provides, the school has experienced a 24% increase in student enrollment over the past five years,” said Mary Maloney, IHS President.  “His dedication to students and their families extends beyond the recruiting stage. Tom is very involved with ensuring that once enrolled at Immaculate, students and parents experience a comfortable transition. His Join-A-Club Day and Student Ambassador Program are two of the many ways that Tom actively engages students so that they quickly become a member of the Immaculate High School community,” she noted.

Mr. Burns holds an MS degree in Hospitality Marketing from the University of Wisconsin-Stout and a BA degree in Sociology from Colorado State University. Before joining Immaculate High School, Mr. Burns worked for a diverse range of organizations including faculty positions at George Washington University and New York University. He also held analyst positions in the US Department of Commerce and the US Department of Defense. Mr. Burns’ consulting experience includes instructional design and change management with Chubb Insurance, Canon Computer Systems, the Library of Congress and Anderson Consulting. He resides with his family in Danbury, CT.

Immaculate High School is a private, non-profit Catholic college-preparatory institution serving students from 28 communities in Connecticut and New York. Founded in 1962, Immaculate High School also allows students to focus on their spiritual development, personal moral commitments and service to others.  Located in Danbury, CT, Immaculate High School is part of the Diocese of Bridgeport’s parochial school system.

 

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Submitted by Ridgefield, CT

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