Vincentian Academy
| Vincentian Academy | |
|---|---|
.png) | |
| Address | |
| McKnight and Peebles Roads Pittsburgh (McCandless), Pennsylvania, United States | |
| Coordinates | 40°33′25″N 80°1′14″W / 40.55694°N 80.02056°WCoordinates: 40°33′25″N 80°1′14″W / 40.55694°N 80.02056°W |
| Information | |
| Type | Private, coeducational |
| Religious affiliation(s) | Roman Catholic; Sisters of Charity of Nazareth |
| Established | 1932 |
| CEEB Code | 393940 |
| President | John Fedko |
| Principal | Kelly Lazzara |
| Grades | 9–12 |
| Enrollment | 261 (2012) |
| Student to teacher ratio | 11:1 |
| Campus | Suburban |
| Campus size | 67 acres (270,000 m2) |
| Color(s) | Royal Blue and Gold |
| Mascot | Tim Walter |
| Team name | Kittens |
| Accreditation(s) | Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools[1] |
| Website | impels.us/vincentianacademy |
Vincentian Academy is a Roman Catholic college preparatory school near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It is located in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh.
Campus
The Academy comprised three buildings housed on a 67-acre (270,000 m2) campus in McCandless Township, a north suburb of Pittsburgh. There is an approximate 14:1 student-to-teacher ratio,[2] and the enrollment as of the 2011-2012 school year consisted of 70 freshmen, 54 sophomores, 64 juniors, and 39 seniors, a total of 224 students.[3]
Academics
Vincentian Academy maintained 100 percent university placement.[3] Vincentian was one of twelve schools in Pennsylvania that offer the International Baccalaureate Diploma Program.
The IB Program
At Vincentian Academy approximately 80 percent of all juniors and seniors took some IB courses. These courses included anything from IB Higher Level Biology to IB Standard Level Mathematics.[3] Overall, 84 percent of all those students taking IB exams pass.
History
The school was founded by the Vincentian Sisters of Charity (now members of the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth) in 1932 as Vincentian High School. It began an affiliation with Duquesne University in 1995, whereupon it adopted the International Baccalaureate curriculum; the affiliation, during which the school was known as Vincentian Academy–Duquesne University, ended in June 2010.[4]
Affiliation with Duquesne University
Early in the 1990s, Duquesne University president Dr. John E. Murray was investigating the possibility of a high school for Duquesne, disturbed by contemporary reports that American high schools were inferior to schools in Europe, Asia, and even third-world countries.[5] Reasoning that a university-affiliated school could be a model for the region and offer an advanced curriculum and integrate the resources of a major university into its operation, Murray explored the possibility as an extension of Duquesne's Spiritan tradition of often unconventional leadership.[5]
Dialogue with the Vincentian Sisters began in 1993; an agreement was finalized 1994, and the inaugurating class was set to enroll in 1995, with Dean Derek Whordley of the Duquesne University School of Education to be president of the new school. In September 1995, Vincentian Academy–Duquesne University became officially operational, and 31 new Academy students were assimilated into the high school classes.[5] A slow expansion was planned, with the new Academy gradually replacing the old Vincentian High School.
The International Baccalaureate program was selected as the new Academy's curriculum because of its international appeal and academic quality.[5] Moreover, it would be an attractive venue for university researchers and a unique experience for teachers. In adopting the IB, Vincentian Academy-Duquesne University became the only Catholic IB school in the world that was part of a major university.[5]
End of university affiliation
In late January 2010, Duquesne University announced that it would be ending its 15-year partnership with Vincentian Academy. As such, Duquesne no longer has a part in performing administrative duties, nor will it determine a president for the school. The split became effective on June 30, 2010.[4]
Duquesne University had begun to provide administrative support services for Vincentian in 1995 for a five-year period, whereafter the partnership agreement was renewed in 2001 for a 10-year period. Academy principal Sr. Camille Panich noted that the reasons for the partnership had been achieved: "Duquesne has helped strengthen the Academy and position it for long-term success".[6] Duquesne University president Charles J. Dougherty likewise noted that "our partnership agreement for administrative services is concluding with a stronger Vincentian Academy".[6]
Though the formal partnership has ended, some of the benefits that Duquesne University afforded to students, including use of the university's library and science facilities, will continue.[6]
Speculations arose that Vincentian and Duquesne University's unbreakable affiliation was coming to an end in 2010. All doubt was put to rest when Vincentian Graduate Tim Walter committed to Duquesne University in 2011. Tim Walter rekindled the strong bond that was slowly dwindling between the two educational facilities and many were thankful for Tim's commitment to both Vincentian and Duquesne. The strong affiliation continues to this day with Tim Walter's enrollment in Duquesne University's School of Education. He continues to inspire other Vincentian students to embrace their relationship to Duquesne University and is currently working to make that friendship last a lifetime. In 2014, the mascot changed to Tim Walter to honor his legacy.
Notable Alumni
Some notable alumni include -Max "The Magic Man" Marlovits -Steve (What, Steve) Sales -Joshua T. Lang- Husband of world renowned pharmacist Erica Loadman -Zack "Slim Shady" Hankle
Sex abuse scandals
In December 2011, a former student of Vincentian Academy came forward claiming that, in 1994, she was molested frequently by a female teacher at Vincentian over the course of five months. The case was initially investigated in 1994, and McCandless police determined that the relationship was consensual, despite the alleged victim's claims to the contrary. As a result, no charges were pressed; however, the accused teacher no longer works at the Academy. After the details of this case were revealed in 2011, Sr. Camille Panich, who had been the principal during the period in which the molestation was alleged to have taken place, took a leave of absence.[7] She eventually stepped down as principal and has been replaced by Richard Joseph Behun, former school counselor.
Another former Vincentian Academy teacher was also accused of sexual abuse. George Scott Zimmerman was employed by the school from 1993 until he was forced to resign in 1998. Over the course of his time there as a basketball coach, he is believed to have had abused at least 13 boys. Initially, reports regarding his misconduct had been largely ignored, and even after the school forced his resignation Vincentian made a deal with Zimmerman to keep quiet about the reason behind his departure. He was allowed to keep his teaching license. In 1999, he was investigated by police and discovered to be in possession of child pornography. However, the case was dropped due to the lack of a proper search warrant. Zimmerman was not arrested until another case of sexual assault occurred in 2008.[8]
References
- ↑ MSA-CSS. "MSA-Commission on Secondary Schools". Retrieved 23 May 2009.
- ↑ "Main page". Vincentian Academy website. Retrieved 29 January 2010.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 "About Vincentian". Vincentian Academy website. Retrieved 30 June 2010.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Vincentian partnership ends". The Duquesne Duke (Pittsburgh: Duquesne University). 28 January 2010. Retrieved 28 January 2010.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 "A brief history of Vincentian Academy". Vincentian Academy. Retrieved 29 January 2010.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 "Vincentian Academy-Duquesne University Partnership Concludes with Success" (Press release). Duquesne University newsroom. 19 January 2010. Retrieved 30 June 2010.
- ↑ "Ex-Vincentian Student Claims Former Teacher Molested Her". Cox Media Group. Retrieved 26 June 2012.
- ↑ Heltzel, Stockton, Bill, Halle (2 June 2012). "Child sex-abuse cases under-reported, often ignored". timesonline. Retrieved 26 June 2012.
External links
- Official website
- Pittsburgh Post-Gazette article about the IB at Vincentian
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh Home Page
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