A brief history of vincentian academy
By: Dr. Timothy G. Rusnak, President
Vincentian Academy-Duquesne University
Vincentian Academy-Duquesne University was created in 1995 as a partnership between the Vincentian Sisters of Charity and Duquesne University. Yet, in order to better understand the current school, it is necessary to realize a short history of how the Vincentian Sisters have enhanced the lives of countless people through their mission of charity, and selfless devotion to others.
The New Land
At the turn of the century 20th century, immigrants from Eastern Europe streamed to America. Among these resilient folk were the Slovaks, who arrived from the eastern-most reaches of the then Austro-Hungarian Empire, a general area that is now the country of Slovakia.
Many small steel and coal mining towns, nestled throughout Monongahela
Valley of Western Pennsylvania, became home to these new Slovak-Americans.
Communities such as Braddock, Homestead, and McKeesport, to name a few,
emerged as their cultural epicenters-much to the distain of long-time English
speaking residents. Moreover, hatred and sometimes violence became part
of life in these ethnically diverse communities as “old country”
prejudices resurfaced, resulting in the self-segregation of ethnic groups
in even the smallest of towns. Most disturbingly, a parallel pattern of
discrimination was often repeated in the very churches that these people
relied on as a social support system. This led to particularly tragic consequences
for the newest and least organized immigrant groups, such as the Slovaks.
Realizing the rising crisis in the Slovak enclaves, in 1901, Father Adalbert
Kazincy, pastor of St. Michael’s Church in Braddock, Pennsylvania,
made the first attempt to respond to the needs of Slovaks living in the
region. He heard from one of his parishioners about a group of Slovak Sisters
in Palovce, Austra-Hungary, now Slovakia. Father Kazincy wrote a letter
to their Mother Superior, requesting that these Sisters consider sending
a group to Braddock to work with the poor Slovak immigrants and their families.
Not long after, the permission to send Sisters to Braddock was approved.
Five Sisters arrived in New York in the evening of November 14, 1902. The Sisters left the next day by train headed for their new home in Braddock, Pennsylvania. Soon after, the Sisters were moved to a temporary convent in Swissvale where the Slovak community warmly received them, and a few months later the Sisters moved back to their permanent convent in Braddock to begin their work.
The first spiritual commitment of the sisters was focused on education. They soon assumed control of St. Michael’s school in Braddock, which had been administered by lay teachers. Under the leadership of the Vincentian Sisters, the school rapidly grew from fifty-four students in 1903 to one hundred and fifty at the end of their third year. St. Michael School, in a short time, also became recognized as one of the finest academic elementary schools in the region.
By 1907, Father Valerian Janda, pastor of St. Michael’s Church in Homestead, asked the sisters to work among the Slovaks in his parish. In the fall of that year, the young community accepted the charge of establishing St. Michael’s school in Homestead, and a small mission house was built. Other mission homes were soon opened throughout the Mon Valley as the pastors of Slovak parishes called for the sisters to work in their communities.
St. Vincent Hill
With the assistance and direction of Bishop Canevin, in 1910, the sisters
purchased property, consisting of nine acres, on Babcock Boulevard in Perrysville,
Pennsylvania, some ten miles north of the City of Pittsburgh. The farm consisted
of a ten-room bungalow, a large barn, a hen house and a springhouse. The
farm belonged to Mr. Oetting, and the building on it had been built just
a few years before. On February 6, 1912 the sisters officially took ownership
of the property where the Motherhouse now rests calling the high-rising
land, “St. Vincent Hill”, in honor of the patron of their order.
Throughout the 1920’s the Sisters continued to acquire adjacent land around their Perrysville property. In 1922, they opened a small 24 bed capacity hospital on the grounds and called the facility, The Vincentian Home for Incurables. Father Hagel was appointed Chaplain and the Director of the institution. Later, in 1927 the home was expanded. Soon after, the Sisters began planning for a high school on the property to serve the needs of the families that continued to economically and socially struggle throughout the region.
Vincentian High School was founded in 1932 as, “A private, independent, Catholic boarding school for Girls.” The school catered to the education of young women from the working classes of some of the poorest of Pittsburgh neighborhoods. Families from throughout the region eagerly embraced the school, as it was seen as a safe harbor from the grime, vicissitudes and hopelessness of the many small mill towns that dominated the Pittsburgh region.
By the 1950’s, the school boasted an enrollment of almost 200 girls, including “day students” from the growing northern suburbs. The school’s popular Business Curriculum won acclaim from regional employers and colleges, and the mandatory study of Slovak was embraced by the large Eastern European communities that dotted the area. In 1958, a new high school building was opened, competitive sports teams such as field hockey and “stationary basketball” were introduced, and the school continued to enjoy popularity with the growing Catholic population in the northern area of the city.
In the 1960’s, the suburbs began to engulf the land surrounding the 78-acre grounds and for a time the school continued to grow. But, public high schools began to challenge Catholic education with expanded curricula, an array of sports opportunities, and facilities that seemed to offer what seemed to be a no cost, almost country club lifestyle for students.
By 1972, there were fewer than 150 students in the school and the Sisters realized that some hard changes had to be made. They first closed the boarding facility, and also admitted the first boys to the school. But, the high school faced the same daunting problem that surfaced with other Catholic schools of that era, which was the decline of young women entering religious life. No longer was there the abundant work force that taught for free. Each year more “lay” teachers were hired to replace retired Sisters, and with this reality came a rapidly increasing tuition. Likewise, enrollment began to decline as the popularity of public education began to soar.
After years of steady decline, by 1993 the school registered only 120 students. That year, the Vincentian Sisters undertook a systematic study to explore the viability of continuing the high school. Clearly, a miracle was needed to save the school…and one was about to happen.
Vincentian Academy-Duquesne University
In the early 1990’s, Dr. John E. Murray, President of Duquesne University, began to speculate about developing a high school for Duquesne University. Murray agonized over the appalling studies that almost weekly reported that American schools could not academically compete with their counterparts in Europe, Asia, and even some third-world countries.
President Murray reasoned that a university school could be a “model” for the region and offer an advanced curriculum that integrated the almost limitless resources of the university into the daily life of the school. Murray felt strongly that this was also within the great tradition of the Spiritan Fathers of Duquesne University who, over the last century, opened vast opportunities for people by their often-unconventional “can do” leadership style.
Talks with the Vincentian Sisters began in 1993 and an agreement was signed in 1994, with the first class to enter the new school in the fall of 1995. Dean Derek Whordley of the School of Education would also function as President of the new school, but a new curriculum cutting-edge in scope and international by design, had to be identified and implemented. There was much work to do before the opening of the new school to be named: Vincentian Academy-Duquesne University.
In September of 1995, Vincentian Academy became operational. The first class of 31 ninth grade Academy students were assimilated into the high school classes. The plan was to slowly expand the school, and after four years the Academy would gracefully assume the place of the old Vincentian High School. As a curricular platform, the International Baccalaureate was selected for adoption. The IB was selected because of its international appeal and academic quality. Moreover, it would be an attractive venue for university researchers, a quality experience for prospective and in-service teachers, and demonstrate the university’s commitment to high standards. By adopting the IB, Vincentian Academy-Duquesne University would also become the only school in the world that embraced the IB as its core curriculum, was part of a major university and Catholic.
In the summer of 1997, Dr. Timothy G. Rusnak, from the School of Education
was appointed the new President of the Academy. Over the next several years
enrollment began to increase. More teachers were added to the staff, and
new portable buildings were erected to accommodate the expanded staff and
students.
The Academy currently has a teaching staff of 28 teachers, almost all of
whom hold advanced degrees, have gone through rigorous teacher development
sessions and are skilled in working with other professionals. The school
also is a key member of the School of Education’s Professional Development
Schools Network as it hosts an array of prospective graduate and undergraduate
students from Duquesne’s Teacher Education Program.
The International Baccalaureate has enhanced the reputation of the school
throughout the country. The Academy now boasts a 100% college admissions
rate; almost 80% of students are members of the National Honor Society;
an award winning service learning program; an incredible 82% pass-rate on
the rigorous IB examinations; and a no-cut policy in sports that has promoted
a highly successful athletic program in which almost 85% of students participate
in 14 WPIAL sports. The Academy now sends students to some of the finest
and most selective schools throughout the country. Most importantly, it
is a great place for high school students to live, learn, and grow in a
faith-filled community.
