On March 16, 2026, SJR started off the Feast of Saint Joseph week with an assembly where students heard from MLB Agent Mark Leinweaver. Leinweaver graduated from Stonehill College with a degree in Communications, after which he pursued a career in TV and radio broadcasting. Later on, Leinweaver became an MLB Agent, representing over 75 professional baseball players and performing key responsibilities, such as managing off-the-field client services, negotiating contracts, and communicating with all clubs on behalf of clients and their families.
While his career is impressive, Leinweaver did not spend his time speaking with Green Knights about being an MLB agent. Instead, he talked about why character matters. He drove home the idea that SJR students have 1 client…themself, and that the way we manage our choices and the decisions we make shape our character and our future. Themes like choosing to be selfless and kind, a good school citizen and being brave is not easy, were all covered by Mr. Leinweaver.
He went into detail about the dangers of what teenagers consider their best friend in today's age: social media. From his experience working with public figures, Leinweaver knows how easy it is for a celebrity to lose his or her entire career over a mistake from decades ago! It has become increasingly easy for teenagers to make those mistakes that come back to haunt them through the widespread use of social media platforms like TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat, and X (formerly known as Twitter).
He cautioned students about how their digital footprints could have devastating effects on their college acceptances as well, citing an example of a girl who had her acceptance to the University of Tennessee withdrawn for an inappropriate comment made online. Leinweaver advised students to get ahead of any of their mistakes, telling them to be "proactive, not reactive."
Leinweaver also went to detail about bullying and how much it has expanded with the development of technology. Just as with inappropriate comments made online, bullying and cyberbullying can have serious backlash down the road. With the widespread use of cameras and security footage, being a bystander has become just as potentially dangerous as being the main abuser.
After addressing all four classes, Leinweaver hosted a brief workshop with a select group of SJR students identified as school leaders. Students in the workshop went around sharing their passions and what they found most important about the presentation. Each student had unique interests and takeaways, yet the one thing that connected all of them was their leadership skills. Administrators identified these students as leaders, and Leinweaver told these students to never lose that title.
The activities this week continue with a Saint Patrick's Day Dress Down Day in support of Sickle Cell Anemia and Mass on Thursday.
