Simeon Farquharson ’21
Serving others and giving back has always been important to Simeon Farquharson ’21.
The accounting/finance major from Nassau, Bahamas said those values have been further nurtured during his four years at Saint John’s University.
“I think the phrase community can sometimes be used as a cliché, but it’s a very real thing here,” he said.
“I know no place is perfect, but one of the reasons I really wanted to come here is that I could see it was a place where my voice would be heard, and I could make a real impact.”
He has certainly done that and far more.
Farquharson serves as the vice president on the Saint John’s Student Senate, and as president of the Saint John’s Club Volleyball team. He sings in a student-organized band known as the J-Walkers and regularly for MAGIS Ministry’s Praise in the Pub.
As a sophomore, he received the school’s prestigious Man of Extraordinary Service Award. This is an award that annually recognizes the work of four distinguished Saint John’s students characterized by personal commitment to service - which promotes community, justice, working with others to accomplish a greater good, and thoughtful reflection about service in light of the Benedictine Values and/or Catholic Social Teaching.
And recently, he was one of 20 students accepted into the Benedictine Volunteer Corps’ 2021-22 cohort. As a part of that group, he expects to spend 10 months to a year following his graduation, this May, volunteering in Guatemala.
Simeon Farquharson ’21
“I definitely feel there are opportunities that have been afforded to me at Saint John’s and Saint Ben’s that I would not have been afforded at a lot of other institutions of study,” he said.
“Recently, I was out with three of my high school friends and we all go to different universities. When I spoke about the sense of service that exists here, I remember them being awe-struck. They said that those kinds of opportunities were not afforded to them where they were.
“I do believe the overarching goal of college is to prepare you for a career and to make money. And CSB/SJU certainly does that. But it also really fosters a plethora of other skills, including a sense of service and giving back.
“And that is important to me.”
But Farquharson said his SJU experience would not have been possible were it not for scholarships.
He has received the CFMA Twin Cities Chapter Scholarship, the Thomas Murray Accounting Scholarship, the Gentleman’s Club Scholarship and an International Grant.
So he is grateful for the generosity of donors who make that assistance possible.
“I would say thank you,” he said. “A huge thank you. Because without them, quite frankly, I would not have been able to be here.”
“And I’d ask them to please continue being good stewards. I’ve seen the opportunities those scholarships provide to other Johnnies as well, not just me. It is an amazing gesture of kindness.”