The infrastructure at Kiski provides us with the facilities and tools to fulfill our mission, and we have our friends, parents, and alumni to thank. Our ongoing capital gifts program finances specific school projects designed to improve both the physical and human capital of our school, funding building projects, as well as professional development for faculty. To keep pace with the rapidly changing world, we must focus on providing premier programs and facilities for our students and faculty.
The School was proud to publicly announce that we are slightly over $2 million and more than 50 percent of the way toward our Second Phase goal of $3.5 million in new capital funding. The beginning and quiet phase of the campaign was very successful and now the School will be talking with and soliciting a new round of donors so that we can meet and exceed the goal allowing us to build the new Swank Student Center for Kiski. To view video of new Student Center click here.
The new Swank Student Center will enhance the campus environment by centralizing and expanding facilities to support student activities, academic services, community gathering and other important offerings. Located in the heart of campus, the Center will allow students from every grade to interact and socialize together, bringing a new dimension to the Kiski experience. Relocating and enlarging the bookstore and snack bar, both presently housed on the north edge of campus, will make these resources readily available to students, teachers, parents and other visitors. A state-of-the-art media center, several student meeting rooms and advisory offices will facilitate greater educational opportunity through hands-on learning and group study sessions. Most importantly, moving the College Counseling Office into the Student Center will enable our guidance staff to interact daily with each boy, while providing an appropriate location for college representatives to meet with our students. The Swank Student Center will quickly become the hub of student life and extracurricular learning on campus.
Along with the good news about the second phase of the capital campaign and the new Swank Student Center, Steve emphasized that in addition to the $3.5 million that will be raised for the new Swank Student Center, Kiski is also actively raising new funding to support scholarships, athletics, the arts, technology, and the endowment. He also commented that the Annual Fund Campaign which directly supports the School’s operating budget is running very strong this year – 100 donors and $64,000 ahead of last year’s pace.
Chairman of the Board Mike Yukevich thanked all of the early stage donors to the Second Phase of the capital campaign and commented that this is indeed an exciting time for the School. Mike explained that he, along with his sons who recently attended and graduated from Kiski, directly benefited from the School’s unique educational mission.
Capital Campaign Co-Chairman, Russ Swank commented on his and his family’s love of Kiski and his excitement about the new building and the positive impact it will have on the School. Russ expressed his profound enthusiasm about how the Board of Trustees is so actively engaged with the School and so generous in their ongoing financial support and dedication of time. Russ encouraged all alumni and friends to visit Kiski and to donate to the capital campaign at this time.
Headmaster Chris Brueningsen then shared an update and architectural drawings of the new building and he clarified that at the end of the second phase of the campaign, the School will have raised $10 million in new funding to support ongoing projects related to the campaign and school operations including building upgrades and renovations as well as financial support for critical and ongoing school projects such as scholarships and financial aid, faculty development, the arts, technology, and athletics.
Assistant Headmaster Bill Ellis shared an encouraging update regarding admissions with good news about the recruitment cycle for new students as well as the ongoing retention of current students. Bill also talked about the importance of alumni and parents in Pittsburgh and the surrounding area, as they continually help us to directly spread the good word about Kiski and recruit new students for the School.
Concluding the presentation was Trustee, Dave Conrad who shared his excitement about Kiski as well as a recent video from WQED’s On-Q Magazine which is covering his documentary film about Kiski and legendary Kiski teacher and coach Tamas Szilagyi. Dave explained that he is thrilled to be working on the film and excited to be making a leadership gift to the capital campaign. He encouraged alumni to return to Kiski this year on June 6 and 7 for Alumni Reunion Weekend during which time he will hold the first official public viewing of his documentary about Tamas Szilagyi and Kiski. The School is planning to hold the viewing on Saturday afternoon, June 7, at Kiski. More information will be forthcoming during the next few weeks. To view the KDKA vignette about Tamas, please click here.
Dave also noted that he is energized and excited about taking a new leadership role in a special project for the capital campaign supporting the new Swank Student Center. Dave will be leading a special fundraising project through which alumni will be donating and raising new capital funding to build and name the Great Hall in the middle of the new Swank Student Center in honor of Tamas and Brigitta Szilagyi. Tamas and Brigitta have been generously and graciously serving Kiski in many ways since 1963. More information about this special campaign project will be released soon.
Alumni and friends of Kiski interested in learning more about and supporting the Second Phase of the Capital Campaign should contact: Steve Szilagyi ’88, Associate Headmaster for Institutional Advancement at 724-639-8028 or steven.szilagyi@kiski.org.
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