© 2024
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations
An update has been released for the Android version of the WAMC App that addresses performance issues. Please check the Google Play Store to download and update to the latest version.

Albany Girl's School Launches Major Capital Campaign

An Albany Catholic girls school has embarked on a major fundraising initiative.

Academy of the Holy Names has launched a $2.5 million fundraising campaign for reconstruction of the North Classroom Wing and safety improvements to the entryway and facade.

Head of School Mary Anne Vigliante says the Invest. Inspire. Ignite Capital Campaign, is the 134-year-old school's first since 2001.  "From its etymology or its roots, invest means literally 'to clothe in.' Education of young women clothes them with the power of knowledge and of law. From its roots, inspire means, literally, 'to breathe into.' Education breathes into young women an animating, active spirit. From its roots, ignite means 'to set on fire.' Education enkindles in students a passion to set the world on fire. It did in us when we were young too, and hopefully still does."

David Hayes, chair of the academy's board of trustees, says the panel planned the campaign for five years. At a press conference Wednesday, he detailed the drive's two main projects:  "The first being the reconstruction of the north classroom ring on the existing footprint that's out there now, and it will include contemporary classrooms, a new physics lab, and state of the art technology and resources. The second part of the first phase of this master plan initiation is going to be making improvements to the main entry and to re-façade the building to give it a more high tech newer look and feel. You know buildings that are this old that are created such a long time ago always need a face-lift, and we're certainly gonna do that here at Holy Names. The project will create a covered glass-enclosed entry corridor to replace the breezeway, and an enclosed courtyard. We have two parts of this campaign and this master plan that are gonna give the girls a lot more space. The courtyards now are not really useful, but when they're enclosed they will be, and they'll be great spaces to relax, sit with your friends, eat, et cetera.

The plan includes safety and security enhancements for the main entrance to the school.

Albany Mayor Kathy Sheehan complimented the private school for its work in the community. "Educating an individual, particularly education a girl, is educating the entire person. And it's more than just math and science, but it is math and science. It is also creating citizens for a community who are going to be part of a community and who are going to see themselves as having a role to play in making sure that that community is a place that, as I fight so passionately for, is equitable, that it is a place of opportunity for everyone, and that it is a community we can all be proud of."

Hayes notes that more than half of the $2.5 million goal is already pledged.

Construction is expected to begin at the conclusion of the current school year.

Dave Lucas is WAMC’s Capital Region Bureau Chief. Born and raised in Albany, he’s been involved in nearly every aspect of local radio since 1981. Before joining WAMC, Dave was a reporter and anchor at WGY in Schenectady. Prior to that he hosted talk shows on WYJB and WROW, including the 1999 series of overnight radio broadcasts tracking the JonBenet Ramsey murder case with a cast of callers and characters from all over the world via the internet. In 2012, Dave received a Communicator Award of Distinction for his WAMC news story "Fail: The NYS Flood Panel," which explores whether the damage from Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee could have been prevented or at least curbed. Dave began his radio career as a “morning personality” at WABY in Albany.