Menaul School receives $1.5 million gift

Donation to fund renovations and create a lasting endowment at PC(USA)-related school

March 28, 2017

Menaul School in Albuquerque much to celebrate in 2017. The day/boarding school, founded in 1896, recently received a $1.5 million gift from the Collie and Hill families, longtime supporters of the school.

Jim Collie (center) presents a $1.5 million donation to Menaul School representatives. (Photo provided)

“Given our desire to support excellence in education, it makes perfect sense to support a school that provides wonderful educational opportunities for children. Menaul School provides life-changing education to many underserved children, and we knew that the school didn’t have the extensive resources necessary to create an operating endowment and implement needed capital improvements. We are proud to create this legacy for Menaul School so it can continue its vital mission,” said Jim Collie, the representative of the Collie and Hill families.

Menaul School was founded by the Presbyterian Church in 1896, and although it is not run by the church today, the school has a relationship with the PC(USA) through agreements and covenants with the General Assembly, Synod and Presbytery.  As one of the PC(USA)’s Racial Ethnic Schools and Colleges  Menaul School is one of three schools in the country that receives donations from the Christmas Joy Offering. Donor Jim Collie, who serves on the Board of Trustees of Menaul School, has a 20-year relationship with the school. Collie also has a direct relationship with the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) as a former executive presbyter and as a retired Presbyterian pastor.

Since its inception, Menaul School has graduated more than 3,000 students. From the first graduating class in 1906, more than 90 percent of Menaul graduates have gone on to higher education. In more recent years, that number has increased to 98 percent. Menaul School is proud of its tradition of educating students in New Mexico. Today, it accepts students from all cultural, religious and socioeconomic backgrounds. Fifty percent of students receive need-based financial assistance, and more than 70 percent self-identify as belonging to racial-ethnic groups.

Jim Collie. (Photo provided)

The Collie and Hill families’ gift will help Menaul School continue its tradition of serving students of diverse backgrounds and supporting them through graduation and on to higher education by giving the school a stable, long-term operating base from which to plan for the future. It will also serve as a catalyst to continue improving Menaul School’s beautiful and historic campus.

“Following a 121-year-long commitment to education, we now step forward together into a strong future,” said the Rev. Drew Henry, Menaul School board chair. The generosity of the donors will help move us toward our goal of creating a significant operating endowment for the school that will transform the lives of generations of Menaul School students to come.” The gift includes funds for the creation of an operating endowment as well as a capital-matching fund that will provide one-third of the costs of capital improvements.

 The gift will allow Menaul School to embark on capital improvement projects that include:

• remodeling the cafeteria, which provides healthy, chef-prepared meals to boarding and day students
• upgrading Allison Hall, home of Menaul School’s middle school science, religion and art classes
• renovating Hart Cottage, which will be home to Menaul School’s new chaplain, the Rev. Takako Terino

“This gift is a beautiful legacy that reflects the donors’ generational commitment to education. This gift will help accelerate our growth and the quality of our transformational mission,” said Lindsey Gilbert, head of school for Menaul School.
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Menaul School is a faith-based, independent, college preparatory day and boarding school for students in grades 6–12. A 501(c)(3) organization, Menaul School has produced community leaders with a reputation for excellent values, ethics, and moral character since 1896.

2016 Menaul School Statistics

 Average class size is12 students.

• 99 percent of students graduate.
• 50 percent of students receive need-based scholarships.
• 22 percent of students are from 12 different countries.

Menaul School Mission Statement

 In mind, body and spirit, our mission is to prepare students to succeed. Menaul School develops excellence, confidence and integrity and provides the foundation for life-long learning and ethical leadership.

Today’s Focus:  Menaul School

Let us join in prayer for:

PC(USA) Mission Co-workers

Michael Weller, Ethiopia
Rachel Weller, Ethiopia
Ryan White, Germany
Alethia White, Germany

PC(USA) Agencies’ Staff

Susan Abraham, PMA                                                                 
Thomas Abraham, PMA                  

Let us pray:

Loving God, we pray for those who hunger and thirst for the gospel, for those who teach, for those who learn, for all who are called to your service. Amen.

Daily Readings

Morning Psalms 34; 146
First Reading Jeremiah 17:19-27
Second Reading Romans 7:13-25
Gospel Reading John 6:16-27
Evening Psalms 25; 91