Our Common Bond Dedication Ceremony
Following three years of generous contributions from the community, and 15 months of extensive construction, the community dedicated the newest Our Common Bond facilities on the afternoon of Monday, Aug. 27. The entire USM community was invited to celebrate the opening of the Jack Olson ’67 Commons, Palermo Hall, the performing arts center, and related spaces. All of the new spaces were completed in time for opening day on Tuesday, Aug. 28, and were fully supported thanks to everyone who invested in the Our Common Bond capital campaign. This event followed the dedication of the Lee Community Room in fall 2016 and the Lubar Center for Innovation and Exploration in fall 2017.
“This is an exciting day for all of us,” said Head of School Laura Fuller. “It is our culture of generosity, and the fact that so many of you stepped up with your very best gift to USM. We know this is a direct reflection of what this school means to you. We are grateful to our donors and the leadership of the Board of Trustees in providing these new facilities for our students, faculty, and entire school community, staying true to our mission and our traditions.”
Members of the families whose significant contributions to—and leadership within—the campaign were invited to cut the ribbon to symbolize the opening of all of the new spaces. Following the ribbon cutting held in the Jack Olson ’67 Commons, guests toured the new spaces and visited with other families over refreshments and hors d’oeuvres served in Palermo Hall. The dedication intentionally welcomed families, students, and faculty to come together in the afternoon, providing time for everyone to prepare for the first day of school the following morning. In addition, the Our Common Bond donor wall was unveiled, recognizing families who committed $25,000 or more to the campaign as of June 30, with future leadership commitments to be added to the wall at a later date.
“This is a wonderful day for our school, following five years of planning and the generous support from our community,” said Board of Trustees President Andrew Petzold. “It is wonderful to be witnessing firsthand how an early vision has become reality. This vision was based on our commitment to providing our students with the best possible education, and I believe these new spaces will allow USM to continue doing just that.”
USM’s Chief Advancement Officer Patrick Tevlin shared his appreciation for the tireless work of the Our Common Bond campaign cabinet, and in particular, cabinet co-chairs Rick Stratton ’92 and Karin Werner. He also shared his appreciation for the support of the USM community. “This ribbon cutting is for all of us,” he said. “It’s our common bond, for all of the families who have supported us. We are so thankful to all of you.”
The school’s five-year Our Common Bond campaign continues to make great progress, with 85 percent of the overall $27 million comprehensive campaign goal committed. Thanks to the school’s strong culture of generosity, the capital projects’ $15 million milestone is achieved, with the campaign focusing on the endowment and the USM Fund, the other priority initiatives, for the remaining two years of Our Common Bond.
Watch a video of the dedication ceremony below and view a photo gallery of the event.
