Early Donors to Mater Dei Mater Dei High School continues to be supported by parishioners and parents committed to Catholic education Editor’s Note: This article is a continuation of an article published in the Winter 2013 Red & Gold that discussed how money was raised to build a Catholic high school on the west side of Evansville. We continue to share the efforts from 1985 to present that support the mission of Mater Dei High School.
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fter opening the doors to Mater Dei High School, the school continued to flourish over the next several decades with strong enrollment numbers and academic and athletic successes. Over these years, efforts to raise money for specific projects and upkeep continued. The building remained as built in 1949 until 1985, when the first addition took place. The first known capital campaign for Mater Dei took place in 1985 to raise funds for a “multi-purpose building” addition to the gym which included a full size basketball floor, practice wrestling room, a band/chorus room, a classroom for computer classes, Athletic Office, coaches office and restrooms. It was the first addition to the school building since constructed 35 years earlier. Sister Mary Carmel, who had completed her tenure as principal in 1981, commented about the new additions in 1985: “The need for both expansion and renovation is obvious and long overdue. No thinking, reasonable individual can regard these as luxuries. If Mater Dei is to attract students, it must give evidence that it plans to be in existence for many years. Mater Dei must manifest in word and fact that it is a viable Catholic educational institution.” The necessary funds were raised and the first building addition project was completed in its entirety, adding much needed space in the athletic area. Twelve years later, Treasure the Tradition capital campaign kicked off in 1997. The $11.2 million capital campaign raised funds for renovations and expansions at both Mater Dei and Memorial high schools. This campaign was lead by general chair, Mr. Greg Kempf and co-chairs of the Planning Committee, W. C. “Bill” Bussing and Melvin “Butch” Feulner ’66. The Most Reverend Gerald A. Gettelfinger, Bishop of Evansville, served as the honorary chair. The impetus for this campaign was a 1995 building study of
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Red& Gold Summer 2013
Cutting the ribbon for the new gym addition is Bishop Francis Shea, and standing in the background left is Principal Walter Bowman and Harold Kempf, right.
both Mater Dei and Memorial conducted by Indiana State University that assessed enrollment trends, curriculum and facility needs. The study concluded that in order for continued enrollment growth, facility expansions and renovations were necessary at both schools. Mater Dei’s enrollment was 114% of capacity and the mobile classrooms outside the gym entrance attested to the overcrowding at the school. Increased enrollment, additional sports programs and a greater need for computer courses increased the need for facility upgrades. As a result of this campaign, Mater Dei’s expansion provided the Koch Science facilities, the Kempf Auditorium, Monsignor Michael Wolf Chapel, computer labs, a new main office suite, a new main entrance to the school, new windows and air conditioning. By 2005, plans for another capital campaign, Continue the Tradition, was introduced to the Evansville Catholic community to once again raise money for both Catholic high schools. James Muehlbauer and Andrew Goebel provided leadership for this campaign serving as cochairs; Butch Feulner and Wayne Henning served as associate co-chairs; and Bishop Gettelfinger once again