Alex Gilges

St. Mary’s School Alumnus Alex Gilges was recently accepted into the U.S. Naval Pilot Program. He hopes to fly jets and will go to flight school after college graduation.
 
In catching up with Alex, he shares some of  his experiences and achievements since St. Mary’s School. 
 
What has been your educational path since St. Mary’s School?
 
Since St. Mary’s School, I graduated from McQuaid Jesuit High School in Rochester and am now at the University of California San Diego, where I am studying applied mathematics with a business minor.
 
What are your professional goals and what has led you to these pursuits?
 
I am in Naval ROTC at UC San Diego, and after I graduate this spring, I will be going to Naval Flight School in Pensacola, Florida, to become a fighter pilot.
 
What impact has St. Mary’s School had on your life?
 
St. Mary's gave me an extremely close-knit family of friends that I still meet up with regularly eight years after graduating. I am sure I will maintain friendships with them for the rest of my life. I am also a leading member of my fraternity at UC-San Diego where I have held multiple executive positions. I joined my fraternity because I was looking for something like the close-knit family I found at SMS to be with while I was in college.
 
SMS teachers were always prepared to recognize my specific interests and cater my education directly towards those interests.
 
Do you have a favorite St. Mary’s School memory?
 
My favorite St. Mary's School memory is exploring Philadelphia with my friends on our 7th-grade class trip, and also Mr. Meigg’s heartwarming speech at my graduation.