News
September 12, 2018Academy of the Holy Names Announces $2.5 Million Investment to Advance Educational, Career and Leadership Opportunities for Young Women
Academy of the Holy Names (AHN), today announced plans to launch one of the largest capital investments in its 134-year history: a $2.5 million initiative that will enhance and expand the exceptional education that prepares young women to be achievers in their chosen careers and leaders in their communities and society.
This forward-thinking project represents a significant transformation at AHN in creating and supporting a future-focused vision and model for educational excellence. It includes two primary components: construction of a new North Classroom Wing, with vastly updated and upgraded classrooms, technologies and resources, as well as a brand-new physics lab; and renovation of AHN’s main entry and building façade to provide safety and security improvements, as well as a vibrant gateway to showcase the beauty of the AHN campus.
The project will be privately funded through a Capital Campaign, “Invest. Inspire. Ignite,” which is AHN’s first such undertaking in nearly two decades. Work is expected to begin at the conclusion of the current school year.
“This exciting, transformative project is truly an investment in the young women we are privileged to serve at Academy of the Holy Names,” said David H. Hayes, Chairperson of the AHN Board of Trustees. “We recognize that preserving this very special institution requires continually enriching the well-rounded educational, cultural and spiritual foundation through which our students flourish. With stable enrollment and solid finances, we are well positioned to commence this initiative, and we look forward to building a legacy that will serve students, families and our community for many years to come.”
In creating and nurturing a contemporary educational setting – one that puts an active learner in an interactive, resource-rich learning environment – AHN plans to build a new North Classroom Wing on the existing footprint. The building will include cutting-edge classrooms, a fully equipped physics lab, and state-of-the-art technologies and resources, providing new opportunities for students to communicate, collaborate and innovate.
In addition, AHN’s main entry and building façade will be significantly renovated and enhanced. A covered, glass-enclosed corridor will replace the current breezeway, offering uninterrupted sightlines to the parking lot and circular drive, and improving control over visitor entry to improve security and safety. Also, an attractive enclosed courtyard will be created to establish a modern and inviting “front door” to the AHN campus.
“The educational landscape is undergoing a dramatic shift, one that is changing the way teachers teach and students learn,” said Mary Anne Vigliante, Head of School at AHN. “I am excited to embark on this important project that represents a critical investment in educational excellence, and in preparing our young women, both tomorrow and far into the future, to be high achievers and leaders in their careers, communities and society.”
“Academy of the Holy Names holds a very special place in my heart. This marvelous institution is woven deeply into the fabric of my family and my life,” said Mary Beth O’Brien, Honorary Co-Chair of the Capital Campaign, whose five daughters attended AHN, and whose sister, Sister Constance Casey, led AHN as principal and campus president for more than three decades. “I am thrilled with the vision and foresight that has gone into developing this vital project, and proud to support this transformation that will help young women turn their hopes and dreams into reality for years to come.”
“As a graduate and parent of a daughter attending AHN, and with numerous alumnae extending across each of our families, this is a particularly exciting day filled with optimism and opportunity,” said Alicia Dugan ’89 Lasch, who along with her husband Michael are serving as Honorary Co-Chairs of the Capital Campaign. “As a former AHN trustee, I am delighted to see this investment in our young women, one that will inspire their passion for learning and ignite their paths to career success and community service.”
More information on the project, as well as the “Invest. Inspire. Ignite.” Capital Campaign, may be found at www.ahns.org/capitalcampaign.
