150 Years and Counting

My alma mater (one of them, that is) is featured in the cover story of Small Business Times, a weekly publication with a readership throughout southeastern Wisconsin.

Noting the 150th anniversary of the founding of Marquette University High School, the article by Elizabeth Hockerman lists some of the prominent alumni of MUHS:

Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett; Milwaukee County Sheriff David Clarke; Milwaukee County District Attorney John Chisholm and former D.A. E. Michael McCann; multiple municipal and circuit court judges; Peter Bonerz, actor and director on “The Bob Newhart Show” and others; Terry Brennan, University of Notre Dame running back and coach; Rick Majerus, former men’s basketball coach at the University of Utah and current ESPN analyst; Spencer Tracy, Oscar winning actor (attended but did not graduate); Harry Quadracci, founder of Quad/Graphics Inc. in Sussex; James T. Barry III, president and chief executive officer of Colliers Barry, Milwaukee; John Cary, executive director of the MACC Fund, Milwaukee; Ward and Lincoln Fowler, founders of Alterra Coffee Roasters, Milwaukee; Bill Bertha, president of U.S. Bank’s Wisconsin division; John Shiely, president and chief executive officer of Briggs & Stratton Corp., Wauwatosa; Dr. Michael Dunn, senior vice president and dean of Medical College of Wisconsin, Wauwatosa; Jon Greenberg, president of the Milwaukee Admirals hockey team; Dan Meyer, publisher of Small Business Times; and Pat Dunphy, attorney at Cannon & Dunphy S.C., Milwaukee.

I wonder if the fact that the publisher of Small Business Times is an alumnus factored into this story making it to the cover of the February 2 issue? And why is Clement Zablocki, the local politician who defeated my grandfather in a 1948 congressional race and went on to become chairman of the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the U.S. House of Representatives, left off the list? (I am sure other prominent alumni are missing. A lot of people have graduated in 150 years!)

The article offers this thumbnail history of the school:

Marquette University High School was originally formed in 1857 as St. Aloysius Academy on what is now North Third and West Michigan streets. In 1864 a new building was constructed, and the school was renamed St. Gall’s Academy.

(I'm glad it didn't retain that name. I went to a college whose cheer was "Hoya Saxa" -- roughly translated as "what rocks!" That's bad enough, but can you imagine going to a school whose teams would be known, officially or unofficially, as the Gall Stones?)

Small Business Times continues its look back:

Marquette College was established on North 10th and West State streets, on top of a hill, in 1881, and its nickname was the Hilltoppers. Marquette College was a six-year schooling program where students entered at age 14 and graduated with a college diploma at age 20. For the next 20 years, Marquette College experienced steady growth in enrollment and split into two entities in 1907.

Education was divided into the four-year Marquette Academy, later to be named Marquette University High School, and a four-year college, later to be called Marquette University.

In 1922, the academy officially became Marquette University High School, and in 1925, the school settled into its current location at 3401 W. Wisconsin Ave. in the Merrill Park neighborhood of Milwaukee.

Guided by the Jesuits and inspired by its namesake, Fr. Jacques Marquette, the first European to travel through and map the northern portion of Mississippi River, Marquette University High School has created a tradition of community service, perseverance and discovery for its students.

In a sidebar, Hockerman reports that

Marquette High is undergoing a capital campaign to raise more than $22 million, which will cover a $17 million building project and establish a $5 million endowment for future teacher hires, training and continued education, according to Pat Dunphy of Cannon & Dunphy, S.C., Brookfield and chair of the capital campaign.

The money raised will finance a two-phased building project, as well as underwriting an endowment to attract faculty and staff to the college preparatory school:

The $5 million mission endowment will ensure for the next 150 years that Marquette High can hire new faculty and train them in Ignatian formation programs while offering professional development opportunities to existing faculty members, according to the Rev. Warren Sazama, president of Marquette University High School.

Currently, the capital campaign has raised $12.12 million of the $22 million goal.

Those interested in contributing to the capital campaign can visit this section of the MUHS web site. There is even an online giving form for those who don't like writing checks.

Marquette High is planning a huge celebration this summer, which I plan to attend:

Anniversary Celebration Day
Saturday July 21, 2007

Open House – The MUHS Mother’s Guild will be throwing out the welcome mat and hosting a special afternoon in the school. Visitors will be able to reminisce as they walk the hallways of the school while enjoying historical displays that will be throughout the building.

Special Anniversary Mass – What speaks to the mission of Marquette High more than a Eucharist celebration? This special Liturgy, following the MUHS open house, will be held at the Marquette University Al McGuire Center. Every Jesuit who has ever taught at MUHS, along with any alumnus who is a Catholic priest, has been invited to concelebrate. To date, we have approximately 50 priests scheduled to concelebrate at the Mass. The school is honored that Milwaukee Archbishop Timothy Dolan will be in attendance at this special occasion. Fr. Tom Doyle, S.J., is coordinating the Mass and has arranged to have Fr. Marquette’s own Chalice available for use at the Mass.

150th Anniversary Celebration – Immediately following the Mass, the MUHS community will gather to celebrate the school’s 150th anniversary by heading down to the newest and most talked about venue in Milwaukee, Discovery World at Pier Wisconsin! Note, the celebration has been moved from the Milwaukee County Zoo to Discovery World. The entire Pier is reserved for the MUHS party where food and beverages, provided by Bartolotta’s, will be available as guests enjoy visiting and exploring the great exhibits at this interactive museum. A “front row” view of the Festa Italiana fireworks awaits us as well with the glimmering Lake Michigan as a fitting backdrop.

Readers, will any of you be there?