U. HIGHLIGHTS
HIGHER EXPECTATIONS, NO EXCUSES John Shipp ‘98 Courageously Carves His Own Path to Success BY BEN DUMONT ‘92
Nathaniel Shipp, against daunting odds, never gave up, and never gave in. He grew up before the Civil Rights movement and endured ridicule, including rejection from colleges, because of his skin color – yet he had dreams and persisted. Nathaniel went on to serve in the Korean War, became one of the first Black physical
40 | SLUH Magazine
therapists west of the Mississippi River and served the local Catholic community as a respected deacon. “During his most difficult times, my grandpa said it would have been easy to quit and feel sorry for himself,” says John Shipp ‘98. “But he always persevered and became a better person for it.” In addition to raising John in North St. Louis, where he attended St. Engelbert
Focus School (now Saint Elizabeth, Mother of John the Baptist), Nathaniel challenged his grandson to apply to St. Louis University High. John, however, had planned to attend Cardinal Ritter or a public school with his friends. “My grandpa had higher expectations for me,” says John. “He insisted I immerse myself in other communities, to get out of my own head and comfort zone if I wanted to grow and maximize my potential.” Nathaniel supported John throughout
