You
Dear Academy Community,
At Academy at the Lakes, the Development Office exists to strengthen the bonds between our school and the community that loves it most. We connect parents, alums, grandparents, and friends through meaningful opportunities to stay engaged, give back, and celebrate all that makes Academy special!
From coordinating giving initiatives, like Week of Giving and our annual Gala and Auction, to supporting beloved events like Homecoming, Fanfare, and more, we help ensure that Academy at the Lakes continues to thrive.
Working with Academy’s partners, friends, and donors over the last six years has been a great joy and privilege. So, too, is witnessing the growing support from all who have joined us in giving.
It is my pleasure to share with you the 2024–2025 Impact Report for Academy at the Lakes. This report is a celebration of you—our generous donors, devoted families, alums, and friends—who believe in our mission and invest in our students’ futures.
This past year, your support has empowered extraordinary opportunities for our students and teachers, strengthened our programs, and helped us move boldly FORWARD! with initiatives that will shape generations to come.
Every gift, no matter the size, contributes to the vibrant and purposeful life of our school.
On behalf of our Head of School, Mark Heller, our faculty and staff, and most importantly, our students, please accept my heartfelt thanks for your continued generosity.
Together, we are shaping a future full of promise.
If you have any questions about this report or how you can stay involved, I welcome the opportunity to connect. Please feel free to reach out to me at 813-948-7600, ext. 310 or jfugate@aatl.org.
With gratitude, Jessica
Fugate, PhD, CFRE Director of Development
On behalf of the Board of Trustees, I’m grateful to share how far we’ve come since officially launching the FORWARD! campaign more than a year ago. Thanks to your generosity, we’ve made incredible progress, having recently completed Phase 1A — the construction of our new 18,000-square-foot building!
This is a milestone worth celebrating.
The continued momentum of this campaign is a testament to the generosity and vision of those who champion Academy’s future—you! Your support has laid the foundation for a stronger future, and we’re extremely thankful for your belief in our mission.
JOHN
FAITH,
P ‘13, ‘16, AND ‘22 BOARD OF TRUSTEES CHAIR
This year, thanks to your generosity, the new building on McCormick Campus has become a cornerstone of possibility at Academy at the Lakes! With vibrant, purpose-built spaces, we are now able to expand our programs, deepen interdisciplinary learning, and foster even stronger connections between students and faculty.
The building is more than brick and mortar—it is a living symbol of our community’s belief in the power of education and shared vision.
Thank you for helping us build another space where the joy in the journey is celebrated every day.
KATIE VARGAS, P ‘33 FACULTY MEMBER
I am deeply grateful to each of you for your support, which has enabled the remarkable progress made throughout the 2024–2025 school year. Your generosity during this past year has been truly transformative and will have a lasting impact on Academy at the Lakes for many years to come.
With your steadfast dedication, our students have benefited from enhanced learning opportunities—both within classroom walls and beyond. Your support has nurtured their growth, strengthened our community, and helped pave the way for a bright and promising future.
Thank you for being an indispensable partner for our school as we chart the way FORWARD! .
MARK HELLER, P ‘15 AND ‘24 HEAD OF SCHOOL
$983,068
$500,000 $200,000
Beginnings
Visit https://aatl.cc/timelapse to see our future take shape!
Behind every day at Academy at the Lakes are donors who believe in the power of education to shape not just students—but futures.
Thanks to your generosity, classrooms have become innovation labs, stages have transformed into spaces for bold self-expression, and outdoor areas spark imagination and play. Your support brings learning to life .
This past school year, donors like you helped move the needle on our historic FORWARD! campaign—an ambitious, multi-phase vision to reimagine the future of learning at Academy.
The first steps are already taking shape, with exciting new additions including classrooms, a Makerspace, Black Box theater, and a dedicated Video Production Studio.
And this is just the beginning.
At the heart of this transformation is a community of supporters who understand that meaningful progress doesn’t happen by chance. It happens when we move FORWARD! —together.
The future we imagine for our students is no longer just a vision. It’s becoming a reality.
And it all started with you .
Thank you for all your generosity. We are so pleased to be on this journey with you!