York Catholic High School broke ground on the first phase of its “Grow Today, Impact Tomorrow” capital campaign, designed to provide resources for needed renovations and improvements to the high school with a focus on academic, student life, and extra-curricular experiences.
Bishop Ronald Gainer led the blessing of the site on May 29.
Phase one projects include renovated classrooms with facility wide air-conditioning; upgrades and modernization to science labs and lecture rooms; facility-wide safety enhancements, including an elevator; the creation of a new Student and Media Center which will also house a College and Career Readiness Center; student center, renovated chapel and lobby upgrade; and the installation of a turf athletic field for 12 athletic teams.
“STEM has been a focus of a YC education since the construction of the Brady Science Wing during the Cold War. While our building has remained much the same, our programs have continued to meet the evolving needs of our students into the 21st century. We are excited to revive the building of the late 1950s to match that of our outstanding 21st century spiritual, academic, and extra-curricular programs,” said principal Katie Seufert.
The goal is to raise $8 million, over three to five years, to allow for two separate phases of renovation. With a projected cost of $2 million needed to complete the first phase, plans are in motion to upgrade classrooms, including air conditioning, and to install the turf field by the upcoming 2019-2020 school year.
The second phase includes the conversion and modernization of the Brady Science Wing that serves seventh and eighth grade students, including air conditioned classrooms, science labs, central office, additional restrooms and safety upgrades. Other goals include home and guest grandstands at the new turf field, a concession stand, restrooms and locker rooms at the athletic field.
“The response so far has been overwhelmingly positive and we have found the capital campaign is energizing not only our current students and staff, but also re-energizing our alumni and friends in the York community,” said Seufert. “We have been presenting the current needs of the school to alumni as they gather for class reunions, sporting events and other events and each time we showcase the plans we have for the school the excitement seems to grow even more.”
For information, visit www.yorkcatholic.org.
(Lori Keith is the Director of PR and Marketing Communications for York Catholic.)
By Lori Keith, Special to The Witness
