Mount St. Mary launches Higher Ground: Phase II

$8,193,260 raised of $11.5 million capital campaign goal

Fundraising at Mount St. Mary Catholic High School may be redefining the term “fast start.”
Mount St. Mary announced the public launch of Higher Ground: Phase II on Feb. 8 at its annual Magic at The Mount Gala. The project is an $11.5 million comprehensive capital campaign addressing long-term campus facility needs, along with growth of school endowment funds and annual giving.

Before nearly 400 gala attendees at the Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, Mount St. Mary Principal Laura Cain and Director of Operations and Athletics Rich Henderson announced The Mount community has already raised $8,193,260 in the leadership stage during the initial three months of fundraising.

This phase is Mount St. Mary’s second stage of the school’s four-step master plan, striving to make The Mount sustainable for future decades. The first phase of Higher Ground culminated with the building of the school commons in 2018.

“Higher Ground: Phase II is more than bricks and mortar, it’s a testament to our unwavering commitment to forming young men and women of faith, mercy and intellect,” Cain said. “By investing in our facilities and programs at Mount St. Mary, we are ensuring that current and future students have the resources, inspiration and opportunities to grow into leaders who will shape the world with compassion and integrity.

“This is a bold step forward, securing the legacy of The Mount’s mission for generations to come.”

A major element of the current second phase focuses on the school’s outdated athletic facilities. Phase II will provide: three buildings surrounding its outdoor athletic fields; a fieldhouse in the south endzone area of Glass Family Field, providing locker rooms for both girls and boys; an athletic training room for care and prevention of injuries; a new fitness space; coaches offices; a lecture hall; and a safe room for students, families and visitors.

In addition, a hospitality center will be built in the location of the current concession stand, featuring expanded restrooms, an enlarged concession area, an accessible facilities entry and ticket area and a merchandise store where school spirit wear can be purchased year-round. Also, a sports annex building will be built on the north end of the campus between the football and baseball fields.

This sports annex will provide a year-round indoor training area for baseball, softball, soccer and golf; additional locker rooms for both boys and girls; coaches offices; and a visitors’ locker room. When completed, this campus expansion provides spaces to meet the growing needs of most of the current school’s enrollment of 420 students who participate in extracurricular activities. The facility upgrades also provide an opportunity to engage future students and their families, bringing them to The Mount’s campus.

In addition to the growth of campus facilities, the school will continue growing endowment funds for tuition assistance to serve its demographic population. The campaign will provide school leadership with resources, meeting the needs of today’s expenses of teacher pay, student programs and faith formation by strengthening the school’s annual giving program, The Mount Fund.

For information on this campaign and on how to make an impact, visit mountstmary.org/higherground or contact MSM Director of Advancement, Chris Stiles at [email protected].

Photos provided.