The third annual Great Ignatian Challenge is underway after an all school assembly set a goal of gathering 45,000 pounds of food with each student being encouraged to bring in 50 pounds each.

“It’s more than yourself,” Director of The Great Ignatian Challenge Kennedy Phillips said. “Take some pride in it. I think that the more you push each other and get on each other to bring in more food or at least challenge each other, it’s going to bring some good energy in the building.”

The Great Ignatian Challenge is a friendly holiday food drive competition that is held between Jesuit high schools all around the country to see which one can gather the most food by November 22nd, with all of De Smet’s gathered food being donated to the St. Patrick Center and Operation Food Search. 

“I think it’s a cool opportunity to be a part of something bigger than just you know your day to day, going to class and going home,” Phillips said. 

Collection dates will occur at least once a week, with some weeks featuring multiple collection dates. “Tackle Hunger” is a two day collection challenge against Cardinal Ritter with food from this event going to Operation Food Search.

“I’m most excited about the Great Ignatian Challenge because we have big events coming up,” said Great Ignatian Student Leader Jack Trout. “We’re competing against them not only in football, but with collecting food.”

Along with a goal of collecting more food for this year, Phillips is looking to put a greater emphasis on student leadership, hoping to let them take the lead of the challenge this year. 

“I think developing that leadership amongst those seniors, that way they can kind of teach these younger guys what it looks like,” Phillips said. “So not only are they serving a great cause but also kind of helping them grow and develop these young men.”

Encouraged collection items include canned vegetables, canned meats, and canned soups. A list of encouraged items will be distributed. Incentives for students this year include donuts and treats for homerooms, house points for each grade, and no school the day after the Super Bowl if the goal is met.

“What I love about the Great Ignatian Challenge is that it gives De Smet students a chance to be who they profess to be, that is men for others,” Fr. Ronny O’Dwyer said. “In a particular way, men for others who can take their faith into the public square, and be leaders in our city.”