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Newman Oxford Scholars

Cultivating Leaders

Newman Oxford Scholars are dedicated to making a positive impact on the world. Inspired by the legacy of St. John Henry Newman, they are passionate about intellectual exploration and committed to addressing real-world challenges.

Through rigorous academic study and symposium-style presentations, our Scholars develop the critical thinking skills, leadership qualities, and moral compass necessary to become influential thought leaders.

Like Newman during his time at Oxford, our Scholars are encouraged to engage with a wide range of historical and contemporary issues. By examining these topics from multiple perspectives, they gain a deeper understanding of the world and develop the ability to find innovative solutions.

Newman Oxford Scholars: Spring 2026

 

The Spring 2026 Oxford Scholars papers offer a comprehensive examination of how artificial intelligence intersects with human responsibility, education, and the search for meaning. Drawing on the core pillars of responsibility, cooperation, and education, the scholars argue that AI should be a supportive tool for human progress rather than a replacement for organic learning. While AI can master the mimicry of humanity's greatest feats, the collection emphasizes that it cannot replicate the "divine spark" or the lived experience essential to true wisdom. We invite you to read their work and be inspired by the ideas and insights these students have uncovered.

  • Alena Bardashova – AI: What’s Our Responsibility?
    Explores whether AI undermines the value of human struggle and personal responsibility in the pursuit of knowledge. She argues that while AI can increase productivity by handling routine tasks, its primary risk is replacing the "true learning experience," which could harm a developing brain's ability to think critically.
     

  • Summer Binder – The Three Pillars of Beneficial AI Usage
    Highlights responsibility, cooperation, and education as the essential principles for directing digital innovation toward the common good. Argues that without strict accountability and global cooperation, technology may be misused, citing rising cyberattacks as a consequence of unregulated growth.
     

  • Ella Bernstein – Guiding Artificial Intelligence With Intention 
    Emphasizes the need for humans to remain at the center of technological innovation. Argues that responsibility and education together ensure that AI serves to uplift the human spirit and increase creativity rather than diminishing or replacing it.
     

  • Madeleine Bugbee – Knowledge and Wisdom 
    Contrasts AI's incredible capacity for knowledge retention with the unattainable nature of true wisdom, which requires human experience, emotion, and moral responsibility. Argues that while AI can process information and simulate responses faster than humans, it cannot "feel" the emotional weight of decisions or the consequences of its actions. Drawing on examples of figures such as Nelson Mandela and on a Catholic perspective on "fear of the Lord," she posits that wisdom is a uniquely livedintelligence formed through adversity and empathy. Ultimately concludes that because AI lacks an inherent moral compass, it must remain a tool guided by human reasoning rather than an independent decision-maker for society.
     

  • Abigail Edwards – The Human Mirror: AI and the Search for the Human Original 
    Presents AI as a "hall of mirrors" for civilization, reflecting human language and creativity with unprecedented clarity. Warns that this reflection can be disorienting, making it harder to find the "human original" and the irreducible values that exist beneath the surface of our data.
     

  • Thomas Gaskill – Increasingly Capable AI Will Defend The Common Good 
    Discusses the rapid advancement of "frontier models" and their unpredictable impact on security. He posits that as AI surpasses human coding and technical capabilities, highly advanced "aligned" AI will be necessary to defend society against digital threats.
     

  • Brody Hansel – Can AI Have Wisdom?
    Contrasts the rapid computational power of machines with the organic development of human wisdom. The author argues that wisdom is a "earned" quality derived from hard experiences—such as grief, failure, and physical exhaustion—that a computer cannot download or replicate. By framing AI as a "modern day library" or a "smart resource" similar to an encyclopedia, the paper concludes that while AI can reflect humanity’s knowledge, it lacks the consciousness, real-world stakes, and emotional depth required for genuine wisdom.
     

  • Sofia Kerrigan – AI: Knowledge vs. Wisdom 
    Argues that AI’s ability to process massive data in seconds makes it a powerful tool for knowledge, but one that lacks emotional capacity. This shift places a greater "moral responsibility" on humans to use their wisdom to interpret AI-generated answers ethically and fairly.
     

  • Gabriella Macias – Keeping People Safe: Battling AI Misuse Through Responsibility and Education 
    Focuses on the ethical risks of AI, specifically regarding deepfakes and criminal misuse. Argues that without robust digital literacy and regulatory frameworks, AI can become a weapon for fraud and deception. Ultimately, she maintains that education and accountability are the primary defenses against technology diminishing the human spirit.
     

  • Chase Mandel – Knowledge & Wisdom: An Investigation Into Artificial Intelligence 
    Investigates the interplay between vast technical knowledge and organic wisdom. He concludes that while AI is a "master of knowledge," it lacks the consciousness and moral ideology required for wisdom, which remains a uniquely human capacity rooted in lived experience.
     

  • Reagan McIntosh – The Transformation of Human Knowledge
    Examines the tension between the convenience of artificial intelligence and the necessity of human effort. While acknowledging the risk that AI might tempt users to bypass the "toil" of learning—a concern echoed by Pope Leo—the paper argues that AI does not eliminate struggle but rather evolves it. Instead of repetitive tasks, human effort is redirected toward strategic analysis, ethical oversight, and complex problem-solving. Ultimately posits that AI is a tool to elevate human potential rather than replace it, asserting that the human spirit, defined by lived experience and perseverance, remains the irreplaceable core of authentic achievement and progress.
     

  • Elizabeth Negri – Simulated Empathy 
    Explores the limitations of AI in providing emotional support, noting that while chatbots can "simulate" empathy, they lack the "divine spark". Maintains that human judgment remains essential in therapeutic and ethical settings where true compassion is required.
     

  • Kaylin Suacci – Beyond Intelligence: Why Artificial Systems Cannot Possess Wisdom 
    Argues that while AI is highly proficient in processing information, it cannot replicate true wisdom, which depends on emotional depth, ethical judgment, and lived experience. Notes that "Artificial Wisdom" (AW) is a conceptual reframing of AI designed to simulate empathy, but it lacks the underlying consciousness required for genuine wisdom. Concludes that humans must remain the primary agents of ethical reasoning and moral judgment.
     

  • Grace Thumhart – Art and AI 
    Examines the growing reliance on generative AI in creative fields and high school settings. Explores the tension of being a creator in an era where machines can mimic human creativity, noting that the pursuit of Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) challenges our understanding of what it means to be a conscious artist.
     

  • Johnny Ybarra – Education, Cooperation, and Responsibility in the Age of Artificial Intelligence 
    Focuses on the foundational role of education, and discusses how AI literacy is essential for navigating a world shaped by algorithms. The author suggests that education must go beyond technical use to include critical thinking, enabling people to resist the emotional manipulation often found in AI-driven social media.

Newman Scholars Gallery Fall 2025

Spring 2026: Newman Oxford Scholars Explore Artificial Intelligence

  • On the Importance of Values: "The future need not depend on technology but on human values and experiences." — Gabriella A. Macias
     

  • On the Nature of Reflection: "It is not one reflection, it is every reflection produced in one place bouncing off each other to form a hall of mirrors for civilization as a whole." — Abigail Edwards
     

  • On Wisdom vs. Knowledge: "Wisdom, however, is defined as a distinctly human trait that involves social judgment, emotional awareness, empathy and compassion... and an openness to spiritual meaning." — Elizabeth Negri

Students chosen to be Newman Oxford Scholars are expected to:

  • Enroll in a challenging course of studies including Honors and Advanced Placement classes;
  • Achieve a cumulative GPA which places them in the top 10% of their class at the end of their junior year, students must have attended two years at CN to qualify;
  • Maintain the highest standards of behavior as prescribed by the school and affirmed by the Dean of Students;
  • Actively pursue co-curricular, extra-curricular, and service opportunities;
  • Serve as models for fellow Newman Oxford Scholars and for students in the entire community;
  • Participate in workshops and enrichment activities.

Fall 2025: Newman Oxford Scholars Explore the Many Facets of Peace

"True peace comes through unity, nonviolence, and courageous conviction — building bridges, not walls.”
–Grace Thumhart

This fall, Cardinal Newman High School’s Oxford Scholars presented their annual symposium, sharing compelling research and insights on peace with parents, students, and faculty. The students explored peace from global diplomacy and humanitarian work to education, empowerment, and societal and technological challenges.

Johnny Ybarra examined the United Nations’ role in sustaining peace, emphasizing that “Peace is not a final destination, but a continuous, collective effort, one that depends on courage, cooperation, and the will to build a better future together.” Abigail Edwards and Summer Binder highlighted Malala Yousafzai’s advocacy for girls’ education, showing that lasting peace requires opportunity, equality, and resilience. Binder noted that “Peace isn’t always about stopping wars; it’s fighting for normalcy in times of utter disaster in order to maintain basic human needs.”

Read More about Fall 2025: Newman Oxford Scholars Explore the Many Facets of Peace

The Scholars and Their Papers