As the motto for Lancaster Catholic High School, generations of students have lived this in their academic pursuits as students. At the heart of our home on Juliette Avenue is the Library. As a student, I remember learning how to do research using the card catalog. I organized notecards, formatted bibliographies, and studied for tests
with my friends. I could count on Miss Martin for direction and support as I worked to turn the knowledge I sought into an academic product.
It is no surprise that technology has shaped our acquisition of knowledge, as well as the way in which we share the knowledge we have gained. Through the leadership and generosity of Stephen Smith ‘64, this project extends his personal commitment to Catholic education and innovation that began with the STEM Center in Phase 1 of our Cherish - Love - Honor Campaign. Steve’s daughter Shannon represents the family, which includes her siblings, Sean, Stephen, and Tonya, in designing the multipurpose hub in honor of their mother. The Dolores (Kirsch) Smith ‘65 Multimedia Learning Center will open in the Fall of 2025.
This transformation of the heart of our home will allow for both the acquisition of knowledge and the transformation of that knowledge into visual products, housing a traditional Library, a digital illustration lab, a 3-D design computer lab, and a broadcasting studio.
As Lancaster Catholic remains committed to ensuring that all of our students have access to curricular offerings that distinguish them in the marketplace, we recognize that skills in visual arts, graphic design, and video production are employed in almost every profession. This project will enhance current course offerings in broadcasting (dual-enrollment with the University of Pittsburgh), photography, and 3D design, while also opening up new opportunities in digital illustration, graphic design, film, and photo editing. Our Art students will be further supported with greater access to digital equipment that is unrivaled across Lancaster County, while our Photography students will be able to grow their skills as they continue their success in the Scholastic Art Awards.
This project will complete the construction phase connected to the Sursum Corda Student Life Center and has been advanced through the generosity of a few donors who knew of this dream. In addition to the multimedia center, which will be easily visible, we will also complete upgrades to our sprinkler system according to Manheim Township specifications. As of January 15, 2025, we have 1.25 million dollars committed specifically for this 2 million dollar project.
Written by Kyla Hockley ‘96
"We hope that our foresight and commitment
to Catholic education will inspire others within
the community to support the completion of
this worthwhile renovation project."
-Stephen Smith ‘64 & Shannon Smith
Please contact Kyla Hockley ‘96 or Joe Sahd ‘01 if you are interested in
supporting the completion of this project.