Presentation Academy
Encyclopedia
Presentation Academy, a college-preparatory high school for young women, is located just south of Downtown
Louisville, Kentucky
in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Louisville
. Founded in 1831 by Mother Catherine Spalding
, foundress of the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth
, it is the oldest school in continuous operation in Louisville.
The school expanded, and in 1891 NLBI, the corporate arm of the religious community operating Presentation, bought a lot and house at the corner of Fourth and Breckenridge for $35,000. In June 1892, arrangements were made to replace the house which had been built in 1867 by Thomas Jacobs with a new building designed by D. X. Murphy. The building was to cost approximately $66,000. A gym and auditorium were added in 1938 and another class room addition to the rear was made in 1948.
The school initially offered primary and secondary education, but closed the elementary section in 1945 to accommodate an increasing enrollment in the all-girl secondary school. The building features a distinctive Richardsonian Romanesque
tower, which was rebuilt after a fire in 1977. It was designed by D.X. Murphy, who also designed the famous twin-spired clubhouse at Churchill Downs
. The building was listed in 2004 as one of Louisville's Ten favorites, according to the Courier-Journal. Generations of students have signed their names to the interior walls of the tower.
Enrollment was consistently around 800 students during the 1950s and 1960s, but by 1993 it had dropped to just 230 students, and the school was over $760,000 in debt. It was announced that the doors would close in May 1995. However, a successful grassroots campaign by alumnae, students, and parents paid off the debt; and the Sisters of Charity relinquished control of the school to nearby Spalding University
. The school became independent again in 2004, after becoming financially stable with a $6.2 million budget, and created its own Board of Trustees.
In 2006 the school purchased a 22000 square feet (2,043.9 m²) property across the street to serve as the current location of an Arts and Athletic Center that replaced the past gym/auditorium (built in 1938 and now owned by Spalding University). Construction of this new $5 million building at 900 South Fourth Street, cattycorner to the existing campus, formally began with the ground breaking on May 5, 2008. On Friday, January 23, 2009 Presentation Academy marked the placement of the final beam in the Arts and Athletic Center with a"Topping Off" ceremony. The center was dedicated on September 13, 2009 and awarded the Best New Landmark of 2009 by www.brokensidewalk.com.
Presentation's annual Walk-A-Thon is held every fall to raise money for students in need of financial assistance. Each year has a different theme and a different t-shirt designed by a student. After money is raised and a pep rally is held, the girls walk three miles around downtown Louisville to show their school spirit.
Building, the Louisville Hall of Justice, the Muhammad Ali Center
, and the Frazier International History Museum
.
The new $5 million 29,600-square-foot Arts and Athletic Center opened in August 2009, replaced the 1938 gymnasium, and houses the school's choral and arts programs and its Topper athletic teams. Designed by Gil Stein & Associates and built by Whittenberg Construction Co., the facility is a result of Tower Vision, Presentation Academy's first ever capital campaign. The Arts and Athletic center contains a 700-seat gymnasium, 300-seat auditorium, art & dance studios, and offices.
Downtown Louisville
Downtown Louisville is the largest central business district in the Commonwealth of Kentucky and the urban hub of the Louisville, Kentucky Metropolitan Area. Its boundaries are the Ohio River to the north, Hancock Street to the east, York and Jacob Streets to the south, and 9th Street to the west...
Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Kentucky, and the county seat of Jefferson County. Since 2003, the city's borders have been coterminous with those of the county because of a city-county merger. The city's population at the 2010 census was 741,096...
in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Louisville
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Louisville
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Louisville consists of twenty-four counties in Central Kentucky, USA, covering . It is the seat of the Metropolitan Province of Louisville, which comprises the states of Kentucky and Tennessee...
. Founded in 1831 by Mother Catherine Spalding
Catherine Spalding
Catherine Spalding , in 1813, aged nineteen, when no education for girls, no private health care, and no organized social services existed on the Kentucky frontier, was elected leader of six women forming a new religious community, the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth...
, foundress of the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth
Sisters of Charity of Nazareth
The Congregation of the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth was founded in 1812 near Bardstown, Kentucky when three young women responded to Bishop John Baptist Mary David's call for assistance in ministering to the needs of the people of the area. Nineteen year old Catherine Spalding was elected its...
, it is the oldest school in continuous operation in Louisville.
History
Catherine Spalding founded Presentation in 1831. The school began in a rented house, but in October of the same year moved to its own building on Forth Street where it would remain for over fifty years. Presentation was the second school founded in Louisville. A public school effort started in 1828 quickly failed due to lack of funds, and thus Presentation became the oldest school in continuous operation in the city.The school expanded, and in 1891 NLBI, the corporate arm of the religious community operating Presentation, bought a lot and house at the corner of Fourth and Breckenridge for $35,000. In June 1892, arrangements were made to replace the house which had been built in 1867 by Thomas Jacobs with a new building designed by D. X. Murphy. The building was to cost approximately $66,000. A gym and auditorium were added in 1938 and another class room addition to the rear was made in 1948.
The school initially offered primary and secondary education, but closed the elementary section in 1945 to accommodate an increasing enrollment in the all-girl secondary school. The building features a distinctive Richardsonian Romanesque
Richardsonian Romanesque
Richardsonian Romanesque is a style of Romanesque Revival architecture named after architect Henry Hobson Richardson, whose masterpiece is Trinity Church, Boston , designated a National Historic Landmark...
tower, which was rebuilt after a fire in 1977. It was designed by D.X. Murphy, who also designed the famous twin-spired clubhouse at Churchill Downs
Churchill Downs
Churchill Downs, located in Central Avenue in south Louisville, Kentucky, United States, is a Thoroughbred racetrack most famous for hosting the Kentucky Derby annually. It officially opened in 1875, and held the first Kentucky Derby and the first Kentucky Oaks in the same year. Churchill Downs...
. The building was listed in 2004 as one of Louisville's Ten favorites, according to the Courier-Journal. Generations of students have signed their names to the interior walls of the tower.
Enrollment was consistently around 800 students during the 1950s and 1960s, but by 1993 it had dropped to just 230 students, and the school was over $760,000 in debt. It was announced that the doors would close in May 1995. However, a successful grassroots campaign by alumnae, students, and parents paid off the debt; and the Sisters of Charity relinquished control of the school to nearby Spalding University
Spalding University
Spalding University is a private, co-educational university affiliated with the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth and located in Louisville, Kentucky.-History:...
. The school became independent again in 2004, after becoming financially stable with a $6.2 million budget, and created its own Board of Trustees.
In 2006 the school purchased a 22000 square feet (2,043.9 m²) property across the street to serve as the current location of an Arts and Athletic Center that replaced the past gym/auditorium (built in 1938 and now owned by Spalding University). Construction of this new $5 million building at 900 South Fourth Street, cattycorner to the existing campus, formally began with the ground breaking on May 5, 2008. On Friday, January 23, 2009 Presentation Academy marked the placement of the final beam in the Arts and Athletic Center with a"Topping Off" ceremony. The center was dedicated on September 13, 2009 and awarded the Best New Landmark of 2009 by www.brokensidewalk.com.
Traditions
A long-standing tradition allows only seniors to use the front carpeted staircase. The front entrance is used by freshmen on their first day at Pres and by seniors on their last day. Also on their last day of school, seniors sign their names on the inside of the tower.Presentation's annual Walk-A-Thon is held every fall to raise money for students in need of financial assistance. Each year has a different theme and a different t-shirt designed by a student. After money is raised and a pep rally is held, the girls walk three miles around downtown Louisville to show their school spirit.
Campus
Because Presentation Academy is located near the heart of Downtown Louisville, the students have after-school access to 4th Street Live!, the Main Library, and various Spalding University resources. Field trips are usually taken on foot, such as to The Courier-JournalThe Courier-Journal
The Courier-Journal, locally called "The C-J", is the main newspaper for the city of Louisville, Kentucky, USA. According to the 1999 Editor & Publisher International Yearbook, the paper is the 48th largest daily paper in the United States and the single largest in Kentucky.- Origins :The...
Building, the Louisville Hall of Justice, the Muhammad Ali Center
Muhammad Ali Center
The Muhammad Ali Center, a museum and cultural center built as a tribute to the champion athlete and his values, is located in Louisville, Kentucky's "Museum Row" in the West Main District of downtown....
, and the Frazier International History Museum
Frazier International History Museum
The Frazier International History Museum, formerly the Frazier Historical Arms Museum, is a museum in Louisville, Kentucky's "Museum Row" in the West Main District of downtown. It is named for the museum's founder Owsley Brown Frazier...
.
The new $5 million 29,600-square-foot Arts and Athletic Center opened in August 2009, replaced the 1938 gymnasium, and houses the school's choral and arts programs and its Topper athletic teams. Designed by Gil Stein & Associates and built by Whittenberg Construction Co., the facility is a result of Tower Vision, Presentation Academy's first ever capital campaign. The Arts and Athletic center contains a 700-seat gymnasium, 300-seat auditorium, art & dance studios, and offices.
Uniform
Like many other private schools, Presentation Academy has a dress code for their students. There are many different items of clothing the girls may choose from to wear everyday that are specific to the school. Uniform shirts include the white polo, white oxford, and light blue polo. The navy blue vest, v-neck sweater, and pants may be worn, as can the original navy blue skirt. Presentation also has the winter uniform, a navy blue jacket and pants set that may be worn during the colder months of the school year. New to 2010 is the navy blue sweater vest and the plaid skirt.Sports
Many athletic teams are open to the students at Presentation. These sports are volleyball, field hockey, soccer, cross country, golf, cheer leading, dance, basketball, swimming, softball, track, and tennis,.Clubs
There are currently many extracurricular activities at Pres, including the Spirit Club, Interact Club, Peer Leaders, Student Council, Crafty Critters, Photography Club, ATL Ushers, Podcasting Club, Environmental Club, Interact Club (KYA/KUNA), National Honor Society, National Art Honor Society, Creative Writing, Bowling Club, Mission Club, Drama Club, Anime Club, St. Joseph of Arimathea, Governor's Cup, and Prezettes.Recent events
Spalding University has demolished the old one-story, limestone-clad, art-deco Presentation gym and is making the remaining space, next to the historic Presentation building, a green space.Accomplishments
- In 2005, students arrived from over 85 Kentucky and Southern IndianaSouthern IndianaSouthern Indiana, in the United States, consists of the 33 counties located in the southernmost part of the state. The region's history and geography has led to a blend of Northern and Southern culture distinct from the remainder of Indiana. It is often considered to be part of the Upland South...
ZIP codes.
Notable Aaumnae
- Mary AndersonMary AndersonMary Anderson may refer to:*Mary Anderson *Mary Anderson *Mary Anderson *Mary Anderson *Mary Anderson...
, stage actress - Mia ZapataMia ZapataMia Katherine Zapata was the lead singer for the Seattle punk band The Gits.-Life and career:Zapata was born and raised in Louisville, Kentucky...
, lead singer for "The Gits", class of 1984