A Letter from the Chairman

Michael F. Henn H2016

Dear SJNA Community,

I have been privileged to serve our Board for over 17 years, and as Chair since 2019. I am pleased that our Academy is completing this academic year well, and I look forward to the achievement of our goals of operational and financial sustainability. Thanks to the tireless efforts of our dedicated staff led by President Lima and the continuing creative work of former President Stocks with fundraising, our progress has been strong, especially with regard to academics, enrollment, and fundraising.

Regarding enrollment, we began the current academic year with 181 students on campus, up from 163 at the end of last year. This was the first increase in enrollment in several years, and along with strong mid-term enrollment, this comprises a good start toward our goal to more than double enrollment over the next four years.

We have made significant upgrades in the Academic program with additional AP classes and dual college credit courses, as well as making critically needed renovations to our facilities. We also had great success in basketball and soccer.

Thanks to our many active and loyal donors, the Academy has raised critically needed funding over the past two years, including the successful Rick Leone Challenge Match Campaign that raised $3 million in 2021. We still have big challenges ahead, with a need to raise at least another $10 million over the next four years, and are working hard on plans to achieve that goal.

At our Board meeting last October, we approved a comprehensive new Strategic Plan that lays out the roadmap for our future. We expect that the execution of this Plan will carry us across the goal line in achieving our goals of operational and financial sustainability. We will match this with a new Strategic Plan for our Foundation that we expect will set the stage for substantial long-term fundraising success from a variety of new potential donor groups.

In short, onward and upward!!!

I feel blessed to be able to work with such a passionate and dedicated staff and such a committed and active Board of Trustees. And, as always, we owe a huge debt of gratitude to our parents, alums, donors, partners, and friends; without whom we cannot succeed.

Wishing all the best in the coming year to you and your families,

Michael F. Henn H’16 SJNA Board Chairman