On Monday, community leaders, faculty, and students gathered at Aquinas Catholic Community School to cut the ribbon on the school’s $3 million expansion project. The additions increase campus safety, provide more space for teachers to serve their students, and raise accessibility for students with additional needs.
Construction on the project started last summer with contributions from Holy Martyrs Parish, an almost $2 million gift from the Dean & Barbara White Family Foundation, and support from Big Shoulders Fund Northwest Indiana. Prior to this expansion, Aquinas’s campus was broken into two buildings, and students would often have to brave the elements to move between the buildings. The expansion unifies the campus while also adding new classrooms and office space for teachers and faculty.
“For the first time ever we’re able to serve 10 grades, from preschool to eighth grade, in a beautiful building,” said Lisa Gutierrez, principal of Aquinas Catholic Community School. “We do not have to brave the weather to get back and forth. From this day forward, with this connection and all of the modern safety features, we’ll be safer and more secure than we’ve ever been. I cannot tell you the feeling of gratitude I have as the proud principal of this school.”
Under Mrs. Gutierrez’s leadership, the school experienced rapid growth since she took the role in 2017, increasing enrollment by 37%. Plans for the expansion existed for many years, and a blueprint even decorated Mrs. Gutierrez’s office wall when she moved in. The Dean & Barbara White Family Foundation, along with Big Shoulders Fund Northwest Indiana, saw the work she was doing and helped make those plans a reality.
“One thing you had on our first visit that you still have today, is a strong sense of community,” said Beth White. “That’s what we really recognized and brought us to support the school. A community doesn’t just happen, it takes a determined leader with a clear vision, a committed staff to support that vision, and bright, resilient young students who are very eager to learn.”
Most Reverend Robert J. McClory, Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Gary, spoke ahead of the ribbon cutting, noting that Aquinas holds a special place in his heart as it was the first school he visited after being named Bishop.
“To the families here, this is a commitment of service to all of you to provide a quality, meaningful, Catholic education,” McClory said. “This school has seen remarkable growth. We’ve seen that growth to be a sign of hope for the community, and a means of sharing the Good News that Christ is alive and has a plan for all the young people who are here.”
Students, their families, and community supporters were on hand to watch the ribbon cutting and tour the new additions. Joshua Hale, President and CEO of Big Shoulders Fund, saw the excitement and noted that the ribbon cutting does not only mark the end of construction – but the start of a new chapter for the Aquinas community.
“It’s like getting a present, like a shirt, it’s just the start of something,” he said. “Every time you wear that shirt, you think of the person that gave it to you. Cutting this ribbon is just like opening that present, but a lot of people and hard work went into making sure that this gift was just right.”
To learn more about Big Shoulders Fund Northwest Indiana, visit bigshouldersfund.org.
