By: Chris Mayhew, cmayhew@communitypress.com
CovCath Colonels celebrate their Sept. 2 overtime victory over Sycamore High School. The regional Catholic school for boys in Park Hills was playing its first game under temporary lights to allow for night game play. CovCath plans to install permanent stadium lighting in December after football season is over.(Photo: Thanks to Bob Jackson)
PARK HILLS – Covington Catholic High School will put $7.6 million in private donations to work in December to construct new campus additions.
Northern Kentucky's only all-male Catholic high school will expand academic and athletic areas on its campus in Park Hills. CovCath has been in Park Hills since 1954 after moving from Covington.
New light towers at CovCath's athletic stadium will put Friday night football under the lights permanently. CovCath played their first night football game under temporary light towers Sept. 2. CovCath played home football games in daylight hours on Saturday in prior seasons. Permanent lighting will be added in December after football games are over this season.
CovCath will add new stadium bleachers and a press box.
For academics, CovCath will start work in spring 2017 on a south campus building addition. The addition will include room for CovCath's Science Engineering Technology and Math (STEM) program started in 2015.
South campus addition plans include expanding the school's cafeteria into a student center space for gatherings. Other improvements:
• A new 180-seat dual classroom/auditorium will be constructed.
• Space for alumni and advancement offices will be included.
• Parking lot improvements will also be made.
"We stand for excellence in fulfilling our mission at Covington Catholic High School to educate young men spiritually, academically, physically and socially," Principal Bob Rowe said. "The campus improvements in this plan are part of delivering that excellence, from supporting the expansion of our STEM program to providing the excitement of high school football on Friday nights."
CovCath announced Tuesday the Diocese of Covington approved its expansion plans after meeting Phase I of a capital campaign giving goal. The capital campaign was titled "Bright Minds ... Bright Future: A Blueprint for Success."
Class of 1961 alumnus Tony Zembrodt helped push the capital campaign to its $7.6 million goal with a $100,000 matching gift in June. Many "generous donors" had already pledged their support, said Judy See, director of advancement
"We challenged the CovCath community to help us finish our Phase I goal by June 30," See said. "They enthusiastically responded."
Phase I capital campaign money already covered two athletic projects already completed. New stadium artificial turf was installed in August 2015. The Yung Family Tennis Complex was opened in April 2016.
The capital campaign will have a second donation phase. An additional $2.8 million in donations for renovations and building a new multipurpose gymnasium will be needed.