Hundreds of friends, donors, alumni, parents, faculty, students and staff joined together on May 1 to mark recently completed enhancements to the school’s physical facilities and to celebrate the start of NDCL’s three final projects.
President Sister Jacquelyn Gusdane, SND, says, “Enhancements to our facilities over the past five years have been and continue to be a community endeavor. The planning, designing, fundraising and financing speak of the commitment of hundreds of supporters to the mission and vision of NDCL. This historic ceremony marked the legacy of Notre Dame Academy and Cathedral Latin and the living legacy of 3,600 NDCL alumni now represented by our students. They, more than anyone, are pivotal to this moment in time and to the future of Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin School.”
Two challenge grants played key roles to spur gifts and pledges. An early endorsement in 2008 for the capital campaign was the $1,000,000 challenge grant awarded by the Edward A. and Catherine L. Lozick Foundation. The Lozick Challenge was oversubscribed and completed in 2010. In early 2012, Pat O’Brien Chevrolet offered NDCL a $100,000 grant to motivate $300,000 of pledges to install a field and track - a challenge achieved in 10 weeks!
The May 1 ceremony showcased a litany of improvements, large and small, some completed, others in progress: technology upgrades in classrooms, renovation of the main entrance, brightening of the hallways, transformation of the cafeteria, upgrades to the phone and security system, lights on the Lion Stadium, six new tennis courts, expanded parking, artificial turf for the athletic field, replacement of the track, addition of a second gym, and creation of a functional space for the performing arts. Major gifts to endowment for tuition assistance have been a continuous and integral priority since 2008.
The new all-purpose athletic field and track project, dubbed the Lion Stadium Initiative, will be ready for kick-off by August. Meanwhile, construction of the performing arts space and the new gym will be completed by early fall.
"After careful thought, the Board of Directors decided that to sustain the level of excellence at NDCL, now was the time to move forward on these initiatives. Performing arts will continue to provide students with the opportunity to expand their goals and display their gifts. The Lion Stadium Initiative gives our school community the ability to demonstrate athletic talents on a state of the art field and track. The response for funding and generosity by many have been incredibly encouraging and humbling," adds Douglas J. Hogan, Chair, NDCL Board of Directors.