Father Judge High School last week dedicated the Francis W. Sullivan STEM Lab.
The “makerspace” provides Father Judge students with the opportunity to expand their knowledge in science, technology, engineering and mathematics while learning 21st-century skills that include critical thinking, problem solving and collaboration with their peers.
The Rev. Joseph Campellone, OSFS, a former president of Judge and currently a consultant for the Friends of Father Judge Inc. overseeing advancement and major gifts, blessed and dedicated the new space.
Among those speaking were principal James Hozier; Peter Gerace, a senior who is president of the National Honor Society and a member of student council; Trish Rigby, the archdiocese’s assistant superintendent of secondary schools; and Dennis Riley and Will Hagan, of wealth management firm Glenmede, which works with the Sullivan Foundation.
Others in attendance included Judge president Brian King and Jay DeFruscio, chief operating officer of archdiocesan schools.
Over the last two years, the Francis W. Sullivan Foundation has provided Judge with about $50,000 to support several of the school’s initiatives to expand STEM capabilities.
Riley, a 1982 Judge graduate, explained that Francis William Sullivan was a western Pennsylvania native who graduated from Penn and became a successful Philadelphia lawyer.
In Sullivan’s will, he left money to benefit Philadelphia Catholic elementary and high schools.
“Francis would love the term ‘makerspace,’ ” Riley said.
Interesting, Riley said, Sullivan had a twin brother, William Francis Sullivan, who left money for Pittsburgh Catholic schools. ••
