Diocese of Greensburg to put $20M in pledged donations toward tuition assistance

The Catholic Diocese of Greensburg said Wednesday that pledged donations totaling about $20 million will help it provide tuition assistance to students in diocesan schools over the next five years, and contractors are doing about $300,000 in capital improvements at no cost to the diocese.

During an announcement at Mary Queen of Apostles School in New Kensington, Robin Mull, director of marketing for the diocese, said the donations were of “monumental importance to the Catholic schools of the Diocese of Greensburg.”

The diocese said an anonymous donor who last year offered $2.5 million in scholarship funds, marking the largest single donation in diocesan history, has agreed to extend a scholarship program for an additional five years, with the help of other new donors, including Jay W. Cleveland Jr., president and CEO of Cleveland Brothers.

The anonymous donor’s contribution last year allowed the diocese to launch the Saint Pope John Paul II Tuition Opportunity Partnership.

Now, that donor — along with more than 100 other businesses and individuals who have committed money through the Pennsylvania Educational Income Tax Credit program — have brought the five-year outlook for tuition assistance to about $20 million.

“It is truly a great day for us here in the Diocese of Greensburg with this historic and monumental announcement,” said Bishop Larry J. Kulick during a news conference Wednesday afternoon at Aquinas Academy in Greensburg.

Last year’s donation spurred a 20% enrollment increase at Mary Queen of Apostles School, Mull said. Kulick noted Aquinas Academy saw enrollment increase by 10%.

“When you add $2.5 million to the mix, it certainly makes a tremendous impact,” said Cathy Collett, the school’s principal.

Throughout the diocese, Catholic school enrollment jumped last year by 13.1%, in part because of scholarship funding, said Tom Dinga, principal at Divine Redeemer School in Ford City.

Maureen Marsteller, superintendent of Catholic Schools, noted that initial predictions show enrollment could grow by 80 students in the coming years because of the donations, about a 10% increase. She noted each of the diocese’s 12 schools already have started to see enrollment increases.

“This is a wonderful opportunity for our schools and families who want a Catholic education for their children,” Dinga said.

For students to qualify for a scholarship, they must demonstrate commitment to and enthusiasm for learning and service to their faith community. The student or their family must be registered members of a faith community — though they don’t need to be Catholic — and their family must demonstrate some financial commitment toward the cost of education.

The amount of money provided through the program will vary for each family depending on factors such as need, other financial aid options and the number of students a family has attending Catholic schools in the diocese, Collett said.

“Now is the time, now is the day of your child’s future,” Kulick said. “It is here for you. It is offered to you. It is a wonderful opportunity to ensure that every student who wants (one) will receive a Catholic education in the Diocese of Greensburg.”

In addition to the scholarship funds, the diocese announced more than $300,000 in capital improvement projects. That work is being done by Lindy Paving in New Galilee, Golden Triangle Construction in Imperial and Arch Masonry in Pittsburgh at no cost to the diocese.

Lindy Paving is sealing, restriping and repairing parking lots at Queen of Angels Catholic School in Irwin, Mary Queen of Apostles School, Mother of Sorrows School in Murrysville, St. Bernard Regional Catholic School in Indiana, The Divine Redeemer School and Geibel Catholic Junior-Senior High School in Connellsville.

Masonry, cleaning and repair work at St. Sebastian School in Belle Vernon, Geibel Catholic Junior-Senior High School, Aquinas Academy in Greensburg, Greensburg Central Catholic High School, Christ the Divine Teacher in Latrobe, Mother of Sorrows School and Marry Queen of Apostles School will be provided by Arch Masonry.

Golden Triangle Construction undertook major construction projects at Aquinas Academy, including removing and replacing the existing sidewalk and concrete pad in the front of the building.

“Catholic school is about to become more affordable to hundreds of families in our diocese, and the capital improvements made to our schools will be an investment in the beauty and care of our school environments,” said Sharyn Zalno, director of curriculum and instruction for Catholic schools in the diocese.