Nazareth Prep in Emsworth hosts ground breaking for athletics and arts facility

Nazareth Prep doesn’t have any home basketball or volleyball games, nor can it hold school functions such as graduation.

That will soon change.

The private Catholic school in Emsworth announced an $8.5 million expansion that includes a state-of-the-art facility for athletics and the arts, which will be able to accommodate fans and audiences.

A groundbreaking ceremony was held May 30.

“This was a promise made to offer cutting-edge high-quality experiences that are not always accessible for low-income students,” said Sen. Wayne Fontana, D-Brookline. “Every child deserves the opportunity to receive the best education possible regardless of their ZIP code.”

The school, which had 70 students in grades 9-12 this year, is a program of Holy Family Institute, which is a sponsored ministry of the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth. Holy Family Institute’s programs support the mission to serve children and families through education, utility assistance, family counseling and care for immigrant children.

Education is not just sitting in classroom and learning from a textbook, Fontana said. Having this new facility will prepare students for other life experiences after school.

“It is more than a building,” Fontana said. “It’s a promise and another way to help our young people prepare a path to success.”

State Rep. Arvind Venkat (D-McCandless) echoed the words of Fontana. Venkat said it is important for a student to have a sound mind and a sound body. The new facility will complement what they are learning in the classroom which strengthens their mind and now in the gym they will have the opportunity to build physical strength.

The school offers boys’ and girls’ basketball and girls’ volleyball. There is also football through a cooperative sponsorship with Cornell School District, coed bowling, boys’ baseball, with a cooperative sponsorship with Sto-Rox School District, girls’ flag football, and coed track and field.

The new 16,400-square-foot facility will include a regulation-size gymnasium for basketball, two volleyball assemblies, a modular stage, locker rooms, retractable bleachers and ADA-accessible amenities. The modular stage can be used for school activities such as graduation ceremonies.

The idea came from Chief Executive Officer of Holy Family Institute Sister Linda Yankoski and Nazareth Prep board chair John Putzier.

“A board’s responsibility is having a long-term vision and that includes facilities like this one,” Putzier said. “It’s about students’ wellness, team building and camaraderie.”

They are in the final stages of negotiating with the borough, Yankoski said.

Construction is expected to be completed in 2026.

This is one of Yankoski’s final projects. Holy Family Institute president Michael Sexauer will take over the CEO position on July 1. Yankoski will become president emeritus and director of mission integration.

Sexauer said they plan to keep the old gym to use for practices.

“The current gym is not WPIAL (Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic League) compliant so we can’t host games there but will be able to with the new gym because it will have bleachers to hold 300 people,” Sexauer said.

The facility is being funded through Nazareth Prep’s Pathways of Promise Campaign and backed by $4.25 million in Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program grants from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and additional support from regional foundations, families and corporate donors.

Pittsburgh-based companies Avon Design Group created the facility, which will be built by Burchick Construction Company, Inc.

“We’ll have a lot more room to practice in the new gym and it will be cool to host basketball games here at our school in a completely new building,” said Damarr Williams, a sophomore on the basketball team.

Nazareth Prep focuses on college and career readiness by partnering with local corporations and nonprofits for internships with students in all grade levels.

The internships expose students to professional environments and provides them with practical skills that help to enhance their employability, said Yankoski, and also allows the staff to align the education curriculum with industry needs and give students the chance to apply classroom knowledge in practical settings

This gymnasium gives students the same high-quality facilities that their peers at other schools enjoy, while also reinforcing the values of teamwork, leadership and resilience, Yankoski said.

“With the extra space, we’ll be able to have a student section at our games, which will make it more fun for everyone at the school,” said Arhianna Hale, a freshman on the cheerleading squad.

The new building will serve as a hub for sports, school events and physical education. By expanding access to extracurriculars, the hope is to foster stronger engagement and community among students, Yankoski said. Research shows that involvement in athletics and arts not only boosts academic performance and graduation rates, but also helps students develop discipline, confidence and social-emotional skills, Yankoski said.

“This new building will help our students to unlock their full potential and give them one more reason to be proud of their school,” said Sexauer. “It’s about more than sports — it’s about opportunity.”