FEBRUARY 27, 2008
Villa Academy Celebrates Historic
Purchase of its Campus: It all started with spaghetti

In 1977 when the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart made the difficult decision to relocate Villa’s remaining resident Sisters and close the school, Bob Nyquist and four other current parents were importantly serving on the school’s spaghetti dinner committee. Faced with the loss of their children’s beloved school, their decision was a simple one: “What the heck,” Nyquist remembers suggesting, “let’s run a school!"

Thirty-one years and a lot of spaghetti later, on January 28, 2008, nearly 150 donors, past and current trustees, faculty and staff members, Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, and past and current Villa Parents celebrated the final purchase of the Villa Campus – three historic buildings and eight beautiful, tree-filled acres in Seattle’s Laurelhurst neighborhood.

The atmosphere was light and full of excitement for the future, as guests learned about Villa Academy’s historic relationship with the Missionary Sisters, its nascence as an independently-governed school in 1977, and the long and intricate purchase process, which included the Pope’s blessing, the schools first major Capital Campaign, and the completion of an intricate bonding process to secure additional funds to help with the purchase and much-needed renovations and repairs.

No pasta was served, but guests did enjoy hors d’oeuvres prepared by the school’s own Chef Don while listening to Nyquist regale the crowd with stories of Villa’s formative years as an independently governed institution. Sister Joan McGlinchey, a representative of the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart, who had traveled from Chicago to join the celebration – offered touching stories of some of the former resident sisters. Her presence, as well as that of several other Missionary Sisters from Seattle and the East Coast, served as a poignant reminder of the deep Cabrinian heritage upon which Villa Academy was established, and which continues to guide the school as it enters this next phase of its life.

The Sisters were clearly proud of the relationship Villa Academy has maintained with their order as the school has grown. More importantly, they seemed pleased with the school’s steadfast dedication to the core values upon which it was originally founded. “Villa Academy stands as a testimony to what can be accomplished through visioning and collaboration,” said Sister Arlene Van Dusen of Pennsylvania. “Our sisters are very pleased that this mission continues to do the good work they started more than one hundred years ago. The school’s administration and board have paved the way for the continuance and expansion of a rich Cabrinian legacy.”

Villa Academy had been working toward purchasing its campus for more than five years. In 2001-2002 the school’s Board of Trustees, led by Debra Ricci, first recognized the potential benefit the purchase would have for both Villa Academy and the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart. Board members instigated negotiations with the Sisters and, together with head of school Polly Skinner, began the intricate process of purchasing the campus. This involved securing approval from the Vatican in Rome, which was accomplished in June 2005. In November 2006, Villa Academy publicly launched the Creating Our Future, Honoring Our Past Capital Campaign, which raised $4.75 million, and in the summer of 2006 the school’s Board of Trustees and administration began negotiating the bonding process.

During the celebration, it became clear that the purchase had been achieved through the enduring dedication and collaboration of a great many school leaders and supporters. Sarah Hunter, Chair of the Board of Trustees, spoke to the focus and determination that had been necessary to sustain momentum throughout the years, and the headaches inherent in such an intricate process. From head of school Polly Skinner, to Hunter’s predecessors and compatriots on the board, to the committed administrators in Villa Academy’s development and business offices, Hunter commended the teamwork and persistence without which the purchase could never have been finalized.

Anne Knight, who, with her husband, Steve, served as chair of the family committee of the Creating Our Future, Honoring Our Past Capital Campaign, was beside herself with gratitude and awe for the generosity of the parent community and others who so generously gave to make the capital campaign a success. “I spoke with parents who were facing serious medical procedures, home renovations, and other major financial obstacles, but still they stretched and gave beyond their comfort level to make this purchase happen – to advance Villa Academy’s mission to educate the hearts and minds of children, teaching them to seek excellence in all they do.”

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