The $100M Campaign for Jesuit

It was a $100 million night for Jesuit High School!

Saturday (Aug. 29) at the JW Marriott downtown, Jesuit president Fr. Vincent Giacabazi, S.J., before more than 600 of the school's biggest supporters, announced the public phase of Jesuit's transformational $100 million 'Excelsior!' campaign!

Better yet, Father announced that during the campaign's quiet phase, the school already has raised $69 million!

Father's special announcements were the culmination of a phenomenal evening. The annual President's Dinner showcased amazing student talent in robotics, engineering, music, and more during the cocktail hour, and then inside the ballroom, the Jesuit Duo – vocal sensation Juan Amador '27 and elite violinist Nicolas Quesada '29 – opened the event with a beautiful rendition of "Danny Boy," while Peter McCauley '27 deftly handled the evening's master of ceremonies duties.

'Excelsior!' which means “higher” or “ever upward” in Latin, will strengthen Jesuit in Tampa for generations by investing fully in its people, programs, and facilities.

"‘Excelsior!’ represents the largest investment we have ever made in support of our mission and the people entrusted to our care,” Fr. Giacabazi said. “This investment will strengthen the experience of every student by providing new resources and technology; it will allow us to invest in additional personnel and professional development; and it will expand opportunities for students to grow through service, faith formation, and immersion experiences.”

The campaign ensures the 127-year-old school will continue forming young men in the Tampa Bay area in the nearly 500-year tradition of Jesuit education.

“'Excelsior!' is an extraordinary investment in Jesuit’s mission and its future,'' said director of development Nick Suszynski '98. "The generosity of our alumni, parents, and friends reflects their belief in the transformative impact of a Jesuit education and ensures that this mission will remain strong for generations to come.”

View below photos from the President's Dinner, and below that is the press release about the announcement of 'Excelsior!'.

For many more photos please visit Jesuit's Facebook page, Jesuit High School of Tampa.
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jesuit High School announces historic $100 million
“Excelsior!” campaign at annual President’s gala

 

Tampa, Fla. – Aug. 29, 2026 – Jesuit High School president Fr. Vincent Giacabazi, S.J. made a historic presentation this evening, announcing the public phase of the $100 million ‘Excelsior!’ campaign to strengthen Jesuit in Tampa for generations by investing fully in its people, programs, and facilities.

The transformational campaign, for which $69 million already has been raised, ensures the 127-year-old school will continue forming young men in the Tampa Bay area in the nearly 500-year tradition of Jesuit education.

“‘Excelsior!’ represents the largest investment we have ever made in support of our mission and the people entrusted to our care,” Fr. Giacabazi said. “This investment will strengthen the experience of every student by providing new resources and technology; it will allow us to invest in additional personnel and professional development; and it will expand opportunities for students to grow through service, faith formation, and immersion experiences.”

Fr. Giacabazi made his presentation at the annual President’s Dinner gala before more than 600 of the school’s top supporters at the JW Marriott Tampa Water Street. Seventy years after moving from downtown, where the school was founded in 1899, to its current Himes Ave. campus in 1956, the campaign secures the legacy of Jesuit in Tampa for generations.

“‘Excelsior!’ is an extraordinary investment in Jesuit’s mission and its future,” said director of development Nick Suszynski ’98. “The generosity of our alumni, parents, and friends reflects their belief in the transformative impact of a Jesuit education and ensures that this mission will remain strong for generations to come.”

The campaign will support the school’s Strategic Plan developed in 2022, which emphasizes three priorities: advancing academic opportunities, forming a community of faith, and strengthening student life. It represents a $100 million renewal of school life, investing fully in Jesuit’s people, programs, and facilities – starting with a robust, sustainable financial aid program. Every year, about 30% of Jesuit’s student body receives about $2 million in financial aid.

The campaign also focuses on personnel and expanding school programs, committing resources to attract, develop, and retain the finest faculty and staff. It will further programs and opportunities to assist students in their total formation and growth as leaders, as ‘Men for Others’ who make a difference in their communities and especially in service of those most in need.

Jesuit currently is in the early construction stages of Phase III of its campus master plan, and ‘Excelsior!’ – which means “higher” or “ever upward” in Latin – will contribute to the successful completion of that ambitious project, which includes a state-of-the-art Science Center and an innovative Student Activities Center featuring a Dining Hall.

These phenomenal new facilities are made possible by generous capital gifts. The Jenkins Science Center is named in honor of Carole & Richard “Steve” Jenkins ’75, and the Schellman Student Activities Center is named in honor of Lauren & Chris Schellman, P ’20, ’24, ’27. Jenkins and Schellman made extraordinary gifts to Jesuit of $5 million each – the largest in the history of the school. The Leal Family Dining Hall, which will be part of the Schellman Student Activities Center, is named in honor of Stacey & Ron Leal, P ’09, whose longstanding commitment to Jesuit has included gifts of more than $1.2 million.

“This campaign is possible only through the remarkable generosity of our alumni and parents,” Fr. Giacabazi said. “It serves as a testament to the confidence of our key stakeholders in investing in the total development of our students at Jesuit.

“Now, future generations of young men in Tampa can achieve their academic, personal, and spiritual development at Jesuit.”

Jesuit High School in Tampa is a private, all-male, Catholic high school rooted in the Jesuit tradition of education. Jesuit has been educating young men in the Tampa Bay area since 1899.