EDS Capital Campaign Update
Phase 2 Launch
Campaign Goal: $1.1 Million
Dollars Raised to Date: $402,163
Message from the Head of School
It is so exciting to announce that we are ready to break ground on the south campus! I know many of you have wondered why it has taken so long. These past seven years were spent behind the scenes raising the needed funds. Your generosity has been overwhelming. The joy of giving is better than receiving, but it is not always easy. It is the result of faith, trust and a belief that the Lake Charles community will benefit from another Christian high school, especially in south Lake Charles.
Our founders often reminded me that their initial conversation about starting an Episcopal school included the addition of a high school one day. Advancing the Vision is the name of this phase of the campaign. It is a name with so much meaning behind it. It honors our founders' original vision and announces the fact that we want to expand our vision for each and every student. Today, when our students leave after eighth grade they are poised and ready to be launched. Each students' gifts and talents will be matched with the best universities with our personalized approach to teaching and the building of a great college counseling program. The course work in high school will be carefully mapped to achieve the goals set. Our outdoor education program and environmental initiatives can expand to meet the challenges of today's real world problems. Project based learning seeks to solve problems collaboratively, a teaching method for the twenty-first century learning and part of our curriculum for the past five years. We can use the lake and gardens for so many different activities and teachings.
This project will not only benefit our current students, but will boost all education in our surrounding southwest Louisiana. I am so thankful for each of you and for this opportunity to Advance the Vision.
Reverend Frances "Boo" Kay
How Close Are We?
In the first phase of the capital campaign, the Board of Trustees and EDS administration raised $5 million toward an overall goal of $7 million. With this goal achieved and the generous $1 million matching gift of an anonymous donor, EDS is now launching Advancing the Vision, the second phase of the south campus high school campaign. This phase aims to raise the last $1.1 million. This amount, in addition to the $5 million previously raised and the $1 million matching gift, will fund the campus buildings.
Dollars raised to date: $402,163
Middle School and High School Facilities
- 6 core classrooms
- 2 STEAM labs
- 1 band instructional space
- 1 choral instructional space
Campus Life Center and Gymnasium
- full size competition gym
- volleyball and basketball courts
- two additional classroom spaces
- seating for students, parents, and guests
Advancing the Vision Leadership
Meet the Campaign Chair: Dr. Steven Hale
As a previous alumnus of EDS, class of 1992, I am extremely honored to be able to give back to this tremendous educational institution. I graciously and humbly accepted the role of Chairman of the Advancing the Vision campaign after prayerful discernment. I felt compelled to participate at a deeper level due to my longstanding history with this school.
I began attending EDS in 1982 in Pre-Kindergarten. I graduated from EDS, along with my two younger brothers and my mother was a teacher at EDS for nearly two decades. Now, my two youngest children, Hines and Eliza, happily attend EDS and my wife, Nealie, is very involved in the school and serves on the Parent Guild. Further, my sister-in-law, Lori Hale is a 2nd grade teacher and her two children also attend this fine institution. At EDS, the faculty has always treated us like family. This is a primary reason three generations of my family have been so invested in the school's success.
When I reflect on my twenty-six years of formal education, EDS remains my fondest memories. I created friendships and bonds that persist to this day. I truly learned more during these formative years than any other time in my life. The learning style has remained personalized and hands-on and continues to surpass my expectations.
I have always envisioned Lake Charles providing more educational opportunities than have previously been offered. I have dreamed of a school that my children could thrive in similar to my previous educational successes. It is with these thoughts in mind that I am thrilled to see this project to fruition and create a longstanding legacy of exceptional learners in this community for generations to come.
Steven S. Hale, M.D.
100% Participation from Faculty and Staff
Advancing the Vision Committee Chairs
Executive Planning Committee
Chairman: Dr. Steven Hale
- Jenny Leach
- Matt Lundy
- Keith Portie
- Rob Price, III
- Lisa Rubino
- Somer Brown, Cultivation and Involvement Chairman
- Reverend Frances "Boo" Kay, Head of School
- Amanda Meche, Faculty and Staff Chairman
- Allison Schnake, Director of Advancement
- Margaret Wukovits, Direct Mail and Peer to Peer Chairman
Cultivation and Involvement Committee
- Amy Donald
- Lori Hale
- Jenny Leach
- Tammie Lebert
- Jay Marque
Prayer and Encouragement Committee
- John Black
- Angela Bulhof
- Gabe Fontenot
- Fr. Jack Myers
- Katie Simpson
- Pepe Vasquez
- Bobbie Yellot
- Tabitha Yokum
Faculty and Staff Committee
- Paula Clemmons
- Angela Doucet
- Alicia Goodwin
- Candace Marque
- Amanda Ogea
- Amelia Yakupzack
Thank you to all our generous donors!
Mr. and Mrs. Joey Ardoin
Mr. Beau Barbe
Mr. and Mrs. Rusty Begnaud
Ms. Susan Blake
Mr. and Mrs. Billy Blake
Mr. Jeremy Boudreaux
Mr. and Mrs. Shawn Broderick
Mr. and Mrs. Aaron Brown
Mr. Billy Buehler
Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Burke
William T. and Ethel Lewis Burton Foundation
Mr. and Mrs. Floyd Burton
Mr. and Mrs. Kevin Camel
Dr. and Mrs. Brett Cascio
Kevin and Chantal Castille
Ms. Joy Castle
Dr. Stephen Castleberry
Kelli Castleberry
Mr. and Mrs. Duane Clemmons
Mr. and Mrs. William Condos
Mr. and Mrs. Paul Cox
Mr. and Mrs. Earl Daigle
Dr. and Mrs. Jeffrey L. Davis
Rev. and Mrs. Seth Donald
Mr. and Mrs. Paul Doucet
Mr. and Mrs. Scott Duplechin
Mr. and Mrs. Phil Earhart
Mr. and Mrs. Frank Elliot
Mr. and Mrs. Rick El-Mogazi
Mrs. Lesli Ericson
Ms. Audrey Evans
Mr. and Mrs. Lane Farque
Mrs. Heidi Fisher
Ms. Christine Fontenot
Mr. Gabe Fontenot
Ms. Sally Fruge
Mr. and Mrs. Jason Fruge
Mrs. Elayne Gabbert
Dr. and Mrs. Richard Gilmore
Dr. and Mrs. Harry Goodwin
Mr. and Mrs. Peter Gover
Mr. and Mrs. Adam Grogan
David and Kathy Grubb
Corinne Grubb
Dr. and Mrs. Steven Hale
Mr. and Mrs. Taylor Hale
Mr. and Mrs. JD Hankins
Ms. Savannah Havard
Mr. and Mrs. Clayton Hebert
Mrs. Belinda Hebert
Mrs. Ashley Hughes
Ms. Gage Ibeck
JF Smith Group
Ms. Julie Robertson
Juliet E. Hardtner Trust
Reverend Frances "Boo" Kay
Mr. and Mrs. Don Kay
Dr. and Mrs. Mohammad Khan
Mr. and Mrs. Randall King
Mr. and Mrs. Jack Lawton
Mr. and Mrs. Buddy Leach
Mr. and Mrs. Claude Leach
Dr. and Mrs. Brad Lebert
Mr. and Mrs. Jeremy Leblanc
Mr. and Mrs. James Leubner
Mr. and Mrs. Matt Lundy
Mrs. Betty Manuel
Mrs. Candace Marque
Mr. and Mrs. Ben Marriner
Mr. Ed Martin
Dr. and Mrs. Butch Maze
Mr. and Mrs. Doug McElveen
Mr. and Mrs. Scott Meche
Mr. and Mrs. Todd Melton
Mrs. Missy Mickey
Mr. and Mrs. David Minton
Dr. and Mrs. John Moffett
Mr. and Mrs. Billy Navarre
Mr. and Mrs. Matt Nicholas
Ms. Kay Noble
Mr. and Mrs. Lonny (Amanda) Ogea
Mr. Keith Portie
Mr. and Mrs. JB Postell
Mr. and Mrs. Scott Potter
Mrs. Amanda Pousson
Dr. Alice Prestia
Price Family
Ms. Katie Quibodeaux
F. Warren Raggio
Ms. Jean Marie Rasbeary
Mr. and Mrs. Fred Rau
Mrs. Jody Reed
Mrs. Libby Richards
Mr. and Mrs. Joe Richardson
Mr. and Mrs. Henry Riquelmy
Mr. and Mrs. Billy Rose
Ms. Mandi Royer
Dr. and Mrs. Greg Rubino
Mrs. Stephanie Savoie
Mrs. Taryn Scarborough
Mr. and Mrs. John Schnake
Mr. and Mrs. Corey Scroggs
Mr. Tom Shearman
Ms. Pam Spears
Mr. and Mrs. Gray Stream
Southwest Beverage
Mrs. Anna Temple
Ms. Brittany Theriot
Mrs. Alisha Tumey
Ms. Julie Van Dyke
Mrs. Kim Vasquez
Ms. Kailey Venable
Mrs. Ada Vincent
Mr. and Mrs. Joel Werner
Glenda Williams
Mrs. Sandra Williams
Mrs. Kyra Williams
Mr. and Mrs. Robert Williamson
Ms. Amelia Yakupzack
List reflects gifts received as of February 2018. Please contact the EDS Office of Advancement if an error has been made.
How Can You Help?
We ask everyone to pray for and encourage our committees as we continue to raise funds for our new middle and upper school. If you would like to get involved in additional capacities please call the Advancement office at (337) 433-5246 and ask for Allison Schnake, Director of Advancement.