September 20, 2024
Dear Salpointe Lancers,
Today is another great day to be a Lancer! As students, alums, parents, past parents, faculty, staff, donors and friends, thank you for being a part of this grand Salpointe adventure!
It is with bittersweet emotions that I share with you that this will be my last year to serve as Salpointe’s president. Serving this sacred community has truly been the greatest honor of my life! I have cherished every moment since I began this journey in August 2001. I send gratitude to my colleagues here at Salpointe for their love, loyalty and support. I send gratitude to the Carmelites, especially Fr. Carl Markelz and Fr. William J. Harry, the two Prior Provincials with whom I have worked most closely since assuming the position of president in 2011. I send gratitude to Salpointe’s Board of Directors for their effective leadership and spirit of collaboration. I send gratitude to so many exceptionally generous donors who have made our strategic vision become reality. I send gratitude to my husband John for his patience and support of my career. Finally, I send gratitude to each of you for the confidence and trust you have placed in me and in Salpointe.
Salpointe is a high school of distinction, meeting its mission to provide a signature holistic, faith-based education to thousands of students across Southern Arizona. The school is in a position of strength: leadership, faculty/staff, enrollment, finances, human resources, technology, advancement, facility, operations, student services, campus ministry, athletics, fine arts and infrastructure systems are strong, stable and meet the needs of our Lancers. By the end of this 2024-2025 school year, we will have celebrated Kairos #302, completed our 2024-2029 Strategic Plan, finalized our six-year WCEA accreditation and hosted the Carmelite Secondary School Commission.
Salpointe started on this journey in 1950. As we launch the celebration of Salpointe’s 75th anniversary in 2025, we have a goal of raising $7.5M for financial aid endowment. I am pleased to announce that to date we have planned gift commitments of $2.2M. We welcome your support to help us provide a Salpointe education to students who could not otherwise attend.
I am so proud of our accomplishments over the past decade:
In 2015, we completed the construction of the Sayre Stevens Student Center, Foundation Hall, Our Lady of Mount Carmel Chapel, Jim Click Family Library and Technology Center, Cracchiolo Family STEM Center, Salpointe Spirit Store, O’Rielly Family Student Services Center and Nancy Roy Softball Field.
In 2019, we dedicated the Stearns Center for the Arts including Stevens Gallery, Ginny Clements Dance, Czarina and Humberto Lopez Visual Arts, Pocono Music, Foundation Choir, Corcoran Theater, Geddes Athletic Facility, Stevens Strength and Conditioning Center, Geddes Wrestling Room and Kalil Family Gymnasium.
In January 2025 we will dedicate the Stevens Wellness Center, Sniezek Activity Studio, Jaggi Meditation Studio, Pocono Nutrition Center, Ginny Clements Welcome Reception and eleven state-of-the-art English classrooms.
These facilities are world class, but most importantly, they provide the opportunity for student engagement in learning that could not take place without dedicated spaces. Thank you for partnering with us as we build Salpointe’s bright, debt free future!
They say that you should retire to something, not from something. I am retiring on June 30, 2025 to be an integral part of our first grandson’s life (with hopefully more babies to come). And, of course, John and I want to travel, maybe consult with Carmelite ministries, write a book and do the fun and crazy things you are supposed to do in your retirement!
Wish me well…and I wish you love, joy and gratitude.
Kay Sullivan
President