Completion of Gym Renovation Celebration
Campaign Donor Reception, June 29, 2007
Morgan Park Academy had reason to celebrate in June. More than 150 alumni, parents, students, teachers and staff members turned out to attend a special donor reception on Friday, June 29 to unveil the newly renovated gymnasium. The reopened gym features new locker rooms and offices, and completely restored courts and recreation areas on the first and second floor. The renovation project, which began in September 2006, is part of a two-phase $6.7 million campaign that also includes plans for construction of a new gymnasium and lobby.
MPMA alumni were invited to a special gathering before the general reception, which provided the opportunity to honor Dick Duchossois, ’40, for his tremendous generosity to the Building on Tradition Campaign. A special presentation was made in appreciation of his gift of $1.5 million, the single largest gift ever received by Morgan Park Academy.
The main reception featured walking tours of the fully restored facility led by student volunteers, as well as presentations by Head of School Bill Adams and Campaign Chair Imre Boarden. Five students from the Lower, Middle and Upper Schools eloquently shared their individual reflections on what the gymnasium project means to them. Finally, special tribute was paid to individuals for whom efforts are being made to memorialize them in the new facility.
George Kumis ’66 shared reflections about the impact Andy Bitta made on students as a teacher and basketball coach in the 1960’s. Several members of the Bitta family, including his wife, Ramona and children and grandchildren were on hand to take part in the celebration. More than $500,000 has been raised by alumni to name the main court in his memory.
Bill Hickey ’71 paid tribute to Donald Coller, who was a teacher, coach and administrator who touched the lives of many prior to his sudden death in 1970. Mr. Coller’s wife, Alice, and two of their sons and their families were on hand to help promote the effort to raise funds to name the upstairs gym in his memory.
David Hibbs, Head of the Upper School, spoke about the impressive academic and athletic accomplishments of Christine Linnerud ’01, Christine, the daughter of long-time chemistry teacher Mark Linnerud, died of Leukemia in November 2006. Members of the MPA faculty and staff initiated an effort to name the upstairs multipurpose room in her memory.
Bob Eichinger, Director of Development and Alumni Affairs, noted that the boys’ locker room has been named in memory of Edwin Gausselin ’29, thanks to a generous gift from the family of his daughter, Mary and Tom Story and their son David, who attended the Academy.
The catered celebration provided the forum to celebrate the completion of the first phase of the campaign. It also delivered the message that the project is not yet complete. The challenge that lies ahead is to raise the remaining $2 million in order to begin the next phase of the campaign. The timetable for construction of the new gym and lobby will be based on fundraising progress. With the completion of Phase I, Morgan Park Academy has successfully preserved its oldest and most historically significant building. The tradition of MPMA and MPA lives on and will provide momentum for success with the completion of the campaign.
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