March 11, 2024
As the autumn leaves began to turn and the evenings grew darker and colder, friends of City Academy gathered on the school’s campus in North St. Louis, to celebrate a quarter-century of transforming lives through exceptional education and bold expectations.
The night’s theme was “Navigating Bright Futures” and guests began their journey with a short stroll up the winding path to the school’s main entrance, escorted by a recent alumni. Once inside, guests were treated to a student art showcase and an interactive gravity maze exhibit which showcased our fourth graders’ physics knowledge and problem-solving skills.
The heart of the evening took place in the school’s gymnasium which was hardly recognizable with banquet tables set for 300 guests, and four large projection screens flanking the room that a new promotional video, created by Friends Board Member Jake Brown, debuted on.
Ricco Martin Jr. (Class of 2021) took the stage and delivered a soul-stirring rendition of Stevie Wonder’s “Isn’t She Lovely,” adapted with the help of Music Teacher Laren Loveless to honor City Academy. Martin is a freshman at John Burroughs School and has appeared in two professional theater productions and voices a character in the Nine PBS animated series “Drawn In.”
The spotlight then shifted to Zuri Thomas (Class of 2012), whose post-City Academy journey led her to Mary Institute and Saint Louis Country Day School(MICDS) and then Texas Christian University (TCU) to study Strategic Communications. She now works in marketing for the Fabulous Fox Theatre and also owns her own boutique public relations agency.
“Because of City Academy, doors of opportunity were opened to me,” Thomas said in her remarks. “City Academy not only prepared me to be successful at the schools that I would attend thereafter, but 11 years later, I realize that they helped prepare me for life. Because I not only learned soft skills, such as time management and organizational skills, but I also learned how to advocate for myself and what it means to be a true leader. I’m happy that my journey began HERE.”
After remarks from City Academy President and Co-Founder Don Danforth, and Head of School Jarrett Young, attendees had the opportunity to make a gift to the school’s endowment fund to ensure City Academy will still be thriving when the 50th Anniversary comes around in 2049.
“Our 25th Celebration highlighted our outstanding alumni and beautiful campus in North St. Louis, introduced new connections to the school, and ultimately raised more than $600,000 for our endowment,” Young said. “This will ensure City Academy is able to navigate young scholars toward bright futures for decades to come through bold expectations and exceptional education.”
After the dinner and program, the celebration spilled outside, where guests were treated to one-of-a-kind live music performed by the talented Faculty and Staff band. As guests departed, they carried with them not just memories of a night of celebration (and a special candle!) but a renewed dedication to City Academy’s mission.
City Academy is grateful to the many generous individuals, corporations, and foundations that made the event such a success. The event committee, chaired by Heather Strahorn, was also instrumental in bringing the event to fruition.