Hugo Saltijeral recently witnessed a significant moment at Marmion Academy in Aurora. His daughter, Peyton, participated in her first After-School Formation. This event, a kind of parade for students in the Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (JROTC), holds special meaning for Saltijeral. It was a tradition he shared with his two sons and now his daughter is continuing it. ‘It was a little overwhelming,’
Saltijeral said. For years, Marmion was an all-boys school, but this year it opened its doors to female students. This change followed extensive discussions and more than a year of preparation, including updating facilities and adding sports teams for girls.
A Rich History and Recent Changes
Marmion Academy, with nearly a century of history in Aurora, started as a boarding school. In the 1930s, the U.S. War Department designated it as a military academy, requiring all students to enroll in JROTC. The school went through location changes, with resident students moving to the current facility on Butterfield Road in 1959 while day students remained at the old campus. By 1971, all students were on the Butterfield campus. In 1994, Marmion introduced an alternative to JROTC called the Leadership Education and Development (LEAD) program. The school has operated as a day school since 2003 when low enrollment led to the closure of its residential program.
The latest change involved transitioning to a co-educational model, announced in late 2024, with girls starting in the 2026-27 school year. Rev. Joel Rippinger, the school’s abbot, emphasized this was crucial for maintaining academic integrity and sustaining the school’s programs and facilities.
Adapting to Co-Education
Aaliyah Wiley, Lilly Swain, Vivian Von Drasek, and Cecelia Boatner are part of the 41 female students who joined Marmion. The change wasn’t solely due to enrollment issues, but the school’s total enrollment had dipped in recent years. From a pre-pandemic ‘sweet spot’ of 525 students, it decreased to 415 this year, including female students. The addition of girls led to updates to facilities, including new locker rooms and training areas, and the introduction of girls’ sports teams. This fall they can participate in volleyball, cross-country, and swimming, expanding further into basketball, wrestling, soccer, and track later.
Student Integration and Tradition
The school maintains some single-sex classes for freshmen and sophomores, while JROTC and other programs are co-ed. Upperclassmen will have mixed-sex classes as more females advance. According to Rippinger, the girls adapting quickly has been a positive influence, attributed partly to Marmion’s focus on leadership and hospitality.
Marmion plans to maintain its traditional ties with Rosary College Prep, the nearby all-girls school, while both schools adjust to their new settings in shared activities and programs.
Personal Journeys
Peyton Saltijeral, inspired by her family’s legacy at Marmion, eagerly joined the school upon learning the news from her father. She appreciates the challenges JROTC offers, drawn to achieve more than her brothers and motivated by personal goals. Peyton, reflecting on her father’s experience, embraces the demanding environment and looks forward to guiding future students, saying, ‘Because I experienced it first, I’ll be able to now help them navigate.’
Future Prospects
Marmion is conducting surveys to evaluate its co-education model and enhance facilities. It plans to maintain high standards in an increasingly competitive educational landscape. Two spiritual development frameworks, St. Benedict Brotherhood and St. Scholastica Sisterhood, have been introduced. Rev. Rippinger sees these changes as part of Marmion’s ongoing evolution, important for sustaining the school’s success.
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