Thirty years ago, Everest Academy opened its doors to 33 students. This year, Everest Collegiate High School & Academy celebrates its 30th anniversary. With a current enrollment of 427 students in grades preschool-12, Everest has impacted the lives of thousands of students and families. Fr. Lorenzo Gomez, LC, founding priest, returned for this week’s Founders’ Day activities and echoed what has been often said, “There is something special here.”
The celebrations began on Wednesday, September 16, with a Mass with all students and several priests concelebrated. Also present were Mrs. Mary Anne Williams and Mrs. Kay Browne who were among the founders of the school in the late 80s and early 90s. Everest’s admissions director of 23 years, Mrs. Maura Plante, was also present. During the Mass, Fr. Gomez recounted the generosity of the founding families, giving special mention to the example of the Thewes family. Mrs. Beverly Thewes could not be present. Five grandchildren of the founders presented the gifts during the offertory at the Mass.
After Mass, students were eager to greet Fr. Gomez. Many of our international students have had older siblings attend Everest and were eager to share with Father their older siblings names. The rest of the day was spent with Father visiting the high schoolers at lunch, where they enjoyed pizza. Fr. Gomez spent the rest of the day Wednesday and all day Thursday meeting with groups of faculty, staff, and students as well as the some members of the board of directors to share memories of the foundation of the school and also the vision that inspired the foundation.
As the school celebrates its 30th anniversary, it has chosen a theme: Recall. Reconnect. Refocus. Throughout the year, the school is delving more deeply into just what it is that makes Everest such a special place. Everest Collegiate High School & Academy shares in and passes on the charism of the Regnum Christi spiritual family to its students, faculty, and families. This charism is rooted in a love for Christ flowing from personal encounter with Him that urges an individual response of bringing that same love to others. Everest has a distinctly charismatic culture that is manifest in its classrooms, throughout the campus, and within the community.
Founders’ Day activities continue with Friday Masses for students, the Mountaineer home football game, and a community Mass on Saturday afternoon.
