Boltuc the complete package: Studies, sports, service

Inspired, challenged by academy family, Subiaco standout excels across the board

Published: May 23, 2013

Joseph Boltuc of Fort Smith was inspired by his chemistry teacher to major in chemistry at Rhodes College in Memphis.

Joseph Boltuc of Fort Smith was inspired by his chemistry teacher to major in chemistry at Rhodes College in Memphis.

For Subiaco Academy senior Joseph Boltuc, “Be prepared” is both a personal and a Boy Scout motto. Despite a two-hour round-trip commute to school from Fort Smith and frequent 12-hour days where he often left for school at 6:45 a.m. and arrived home at 7 p.m., Boltuc appreciates the strong academic, spiritual and moral foundation he received.

“The academics in Subiaco really prepared me for a rigorous college setting,” he said. He graduated May 18 with Advanced Placement credit in language and composition, literature and composition, U.S. history, government, statistics, biology, chemistry and calculus. This fall, he will attend Rhodes College in Memphis on an academic scholarship, majoring in chemistry.

“Mr. (Larry) Perrault, my AP honors chemistry teacher, was the best teacher I ever had,” Boltuc said. “He was so devoted to his students and his passion for chemistry inspired me to focus on chemistry in college.”

Subiaco offered much more than academics to Boltuc. He played center and defensive line on the school football team, served as student council treasurer, was a member of the National Honor Society and a Blue Arrow student ambassador, giving tours to prospective students and their families.

Boltuc’s father, Army Lt. Col. Douglas Boltuc, is frequently deployed overseas. Currently stationed in Israel, Lt. Col. Boltuc watched his son graduate from Subiaco via live-streaming video. Involvement in Boy Scouts filled an important gap for Boltuc and his younger brother, Eric, who will start 10th grade at Subiaco this fall.

“My dad is in the military and he’s been overseas the majority of his life and having father figures has really helped out a lot,” he said. “Scouting provides a lot of knowledge about things everyone should know; there are a lot of life lessons in it.”

His mother, Marna Boltuc, Christ the King School principal in Fort Smith, also played an important part in his spiritual and moral foundation.

“I was an altar server from fifth grade until 10th grade, and since then I’ve been an usher at Christ the King,” he said. “For my Eagle Scout project I cleaned up water damage in the Christ the King administration building, scraping walls and repainting them with waterproof paint.”

Subiaco faculty calls Boltuc a “model for Christly behavior, with a positive attitude even when others aren’t.” His mother adds, “Joseph has such a good heart and truly makes me so proud.”

“I wouldn’t trade any other experience for the experience I had at Subi,” Boltuc said. “The academics and spiritual life … friends who become your brothers and a school that becomes your family. Graduations are usually really exciting for seniors everywhere, but at Subiaco everyone is crying because they have to leave one another.”

Click for the Catholic Graduates 2013 index