seeding possibilities
Table of Contents
Possibilities
Excellence
Assistance
Onward
Ways to Support
Frequently Asked Questions
Board and Cabinet Members
Naming Opportunities
Preparing students for a world that requires curiosity, passion, and the ability to lead
Through a bold five-year plan, Summit will ensure our students and faculty develop their full potential for decades to come.
The comprehensive campaign will raise $17 million to:
Construct the SEED (Science, Engineering, Entrepreneurship, and Design) Center, driven by innovative, rigorous, and robust programs.
Invest in teachers and students by growing our endowment for the Center for Excellence and Innovation (CEI).
Increase endowment for financial aid for students.
Ensure resources to fund our strategic priorities, maintain excellence, and foster multi-disciplinary program innovations.
Providing students with a universal and exible
$ 8M CONSTRUCTION OF NEW SEED CENTER
10,000 square foot Science, Engineering, Entrepreneurship, and Design (SEED) Center
Why are we building the SEED Center?
Our commitment provides students with active learning experiences to help them solve real world problems and work together toward solutions. The SEED Center will allow students to watch and wonder in unique learning spaces that encourage opportunities for di erent disciplines to collide, innovate, and collaborate across divisions and grade levels.
The SEED Center will accomplish this by:
Housing the disciplines of science, engineering, entrepreneurship, and design under one roof.
Replacing the aging Upper School science building to better support our growing SEED programs and curriculum.
Increasing Summit’s ability to attract and retain exceptional faculty.
Creating adaptable classrooms and flexible meeting spaces for teachers to plan, connect, and engage in productive interactions.
Summit makes learning fun but it also helps children find their voices and passions—and equips each child to use them.
Proposed SEED Center Layout
An exceptional school is rooted in exceptional teachers
The Ebeling Center for Excellence and Innovation in Teaching and Learning (CEI) is a beacon for high-quality professional development, both for Summit teachers and for prospective educators from around the world. The CEI demonstrates a commitment to the professional growth of teachers. At Summit, we believe the single biggest variable in the quality of the classroom teacher is the excellence of their professional development.
Raise $1 million for the Center for Excellence and Innovation in Teaching and Learning (CEI) Endowment
The Ebeling Center for Excellence and Innovation in Teaching and Learning (CEI) empowers
educators and inspires student success
The CEI provides professional learning for the wider world, positioning Summit as a leader in educational pedagogy. By creating opportunities for educators to increase their knowledge and skill set, we are simultaneously equipping them to do their best in the classroom.
Summit provides the opportunity for professionals to become strong second career educators. Through the CEI, Summit will provide its faculty the state-of-the-art collaborative programming that the SEED Center a ords—with new pedagogies and strategies that directly enhance the student experience.
$1M of additional endowed funds to the Ebeling Center for Excellence and Innovation in Teaching and Learning (CEI) will:
Attract, hire, retain, and develop exceptional educators.
Support faculty programs with monetary awards and professional study opportunities.
Provide enrichment experiences for teachers to further cultivate and employ thought-provoking ideas.
When we create opportunities for professional growth where teachers are able to share best practices with other teachers, every child benefits.
Tom Gething Director of Lower School
Enhancing the Summit School community by supporting exceptional students and their families
Raise $1 million for Financial Aid Endowment $ 1M INVESTMENT IN THE SUMMIT COMMUNITY
At
Summit, we believe every student benefits and thrives when the school community is comprised of students from varying backgrounds
We are committed to providing an education to those who may not be able to a ord the full tuition investment. This is evidenced by the Board of Trustees’ allocation of 10% of gross tuition revenue for need-based financial aid.
Thanks to historic generosity from alums, families, and friends, 15% of the $1.4 million annual financial aid budget is funded by revenue from endowed funds and donor directed gifts. The remaining $1.2 million is allocated from the operating budget each year, as a part of conservative budget planning.
However, as operating budgets tighten, the philanthropic support of financial aid becomes more important. By raising $1 million, we will double the amount of endowed support for financial aid for all divisions of Summit, including the Triad Academy.
Financial aid is not a cost; it is an investment. When a child does not return to Summit because of the expense, all of our families suffer because the experience of all children is diminished.
Michael Ebeling Head of School
7M OPERATIONAL SUPPORT
Raise $7 million for The Summit Fund and Strategic Priorities
The Summit Fund
The Summit Fund is the primary way for alums, parents, grandparents, past parents, and friends to support the annual operations of our school and bridge the gap between tuition revenue and the operating budget needs of the school.
Like all private independent schools, Summit must raise additional funds beyond tuition revenue every year to balance the budget and provide additional resources for programs to thrive. Even families who pay full tuition receive a subsidy of approximately $2,300 annually toward their child's education through philanthropic gifts to The Summit Fund. Gifts to The Summit Fund allow our school to continue to provide a first-rate education for students while keeping tuition increases modest.
Gifts to The Summit Fund support every student, every faculty member, and every academic program including:
Cutting-edge classroom equipment and technology.
Resources for visual and performing arts.
Robust upper school athletics.
Experiential travel, field trips, and museum learning.
Strategic Priorities
By deepening our roots and extending our reach, Summit will foster the ongoing development of students’ full potential, both in the present and the future. This endeavor is reinforced by our dedication to support our strategic goals and their corresponding action steps outlined in our strategic priorities including:
Establish a reputation as the preferred employer in order to attract and retain top talent.
Execute a comprehensive master plan to guide the development and growth of the campus.
Implement a curriculum grounded in research to guarantee a high standard of academic rigor.
Broaden the scope of the Idea Shop to involve the external community, enriching the Summit student experience.
Summit’s Strategic Priorities have roots traced throughout our school’s 90 year history with a reach well into the future. The Campus Master Plan ensures our campus remains a treasure of the Summit experience, providing dynamic spaces and innovative educational opportunities for future generations of students.
Sandlin M. Douglas ’94 Board of Trustees, Campaign Cabinet, Parent
Summit is a dynamic school today, committed always to being the innovative school for tomorrow
Leading into the future with a new Science, Engineering, Entrepreneurship, and Design Center; robust faculty support and development; additional resources to o er financial assistance; and healthy growth of The Summit Fund, Summit will remain the premier school for families seeking a learning environment that truly embodies our core competencies of being prepared, honorable, curious, accepting, and socially responsible.
Ways to support the Summit Comprehensive Capital Campaign
As members of the Summit Board of Trustees, we are proud to lead our $17 million campaign to expand opportunities for our students in the SEED Center, support faculty and sta with state-of-the-art professional development, and increase access to a Summit education through financial aid.
Here’s how you and your family can support Summit:
Cash or Personal Property.
Cash gifts are attractive because they are simple, immediately e ective, and easily directed to the greatest needs. Cash contributions are tax deductible and can be made by check, credit card, or wire transfer.
Pledged Gifts.
We accept pledges to support the campaign that are payable over three to five years. In special circumstances (over $1 million), pledges may be paid over a longer period.
Gifts of Securities.
These gifts may provide tax deductions and may allow you to avoid capital gains taxes. To make a stock transfer to Summit School, contact the Development O ce at 336-722-2777 to arrange for Summit School’s DTC and account numbers to be sent to your financial advisor.
Company Matching Gift Programs.
Check whether your employer has a matching gift program to double or triple the value of your donation. Let us know and we'll help with the paperwork.
Gifts of Real Property.
The value of property can be converted into a gift to the campaign. Donors may take tax deductions following the tax laws for donated property and also may benefit from no capital gains on appreciated property.
IRA Distributions.
If you are age 70½ or older, the IRS may require you to take required minimum distributions (RMDs) from your tax-deferred retirement accounts. To eliminate or reduce the impact of RMD income, consider making a qualified charitable distribution (QCD).
Planned Gifts.
As a part of this campaign, we encourage you to consider making a planned gift to support Summit. Because of the nature of the need for cash to build the SEED Center, planned gifts are encouraged for other purposes, especially Endowment Funds to support the Center for Excellence and Innovation (CEI) and Financial Aid for incoming students.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many students are at Summit? What is the plan for growth?
The 2023-2024 school year welcomed 545 students in Early Childhood through 9th grade. There are no current plans for growth of the student body beyond full capacity, which is 575.
What is the timeline for the Campaign?
The Seeding Possibilities Campaign began on July 1, 2022, and will continue through a public celebration in December 2025. While some pledges may extend beyond December 2025, the campaign will o cially end in December 2025. Summit Fund gifts and pledge payments will be included through June 30, 2027.
What is a comprehensive campaign?
A comprehensive campaign is an organized fundraising e ort that incorporates goals for annual fundraising and campaign priorities for capital, endowment, and operating needs. As such, a comprehensive campaign includes all dollars raised during a predetermined time period. During the Seeding Possibilities Comprehensive Campaign, all gifts to The Summit Fund, including those to the Triad Academy, the SEED Center, the CEI, Financial Aid Endowment, and support of strategic initiatives, will be included.
Why is there not a designation for the Triad Academy in the Campaign?
The Triad Academy is a program within Summit School and is completely integrated into the Summit education experience. Therefore, all dollars raised through the campaign will benefit all Summit students, including those who participate in the Triad Academy programs.
What is SEED?
SEED is an acronym for Science, Engineering, Entrepreneurship, and Design. The concept reflects a vision that will provide students with a universal and flexible space for inquiry, research, exploration, and creativity that will a ord students an opportunity to work flexibly across disciplines. The new construction will complement the existing Arts and Technology Building.
What is the connection between the CEI and the SEED Center?
The SEED Center will attract world-class educators who want to teach in this environment. Those teachers will contribute to the professional development of Summit teachers—and teachers in the wider world who come to Summit for the unique professional development we o er.
With professional development funds from the CEI, our world-class teachers can be paid to further develop and share unique SEED programming.
The CEI pays Summit teachers to professionally develop other Summit teachers. This is crucial when thinking about the unique programming our SEED Center provides. No one else—anywhere—will have the SEED Center programming that we have for all Summit students.
CEI funds will allow us to bring on campus high-caliber professionals and educators from around the world who can help us make the most of our unique facilities. Imagine bringing engineers, entrepreneurs, scientists, and designers from all over to present to our teachers —using our facilities to do it.
Does Summit have any debt?
What is the debt reduction plan?
In 2008, Summit School acquired bond financing to support the Learning that Lasts Forever Campaign, which built the Arts and Technology Building, the Dining Hall, the Second and Third Grade Building, and the Athletic Center. As of the 2023-2024 school year, the total bond debt being serviced was $8.9 million and cash reserves on hand totaled $5.5 million.
In 2015, the Board of Trustees adopted a debt reduction plan to ensure that 100% of the debt would be retired by 2028. A fundraising goal of $1 million annually was established to designate toward bond debt retirement. Strategies for raising the $1 million annually include gifts from the biennial Gala, New Parents’ Campaign, and any Summit Fund surplus each year. Likewise, operating surpluses are allocated toward bond debt retirement.
Summit is on track to retire all bond debt by 2028, as outlined in the debt reduction plan. Thanks to financially advantageous interest rates, the Board of Trustees has maintained the debt reduction plan through 2028 rather than depleting reserves to retire the debt.
Is my Playground of Dreams gift part of my campaign gift?
Yes! All gifts received to support Summit between July 1, 2022, and June 30, 2027, are included in the Comprehensive Campaign. Summit is eager to acknowledge those early gifts from generous donors to the Playground in 2022 (even a few before July 1) in the Seeding Possibilities Campaign, and therefore, they will be counted in our campaign totals.
The SEED Center will provide flexible classroom space for all Summit students. Will all grades benefit from the SEED Center or is it only for the Upper School?
Is there a minimum gift for a named endowed fund?
In keeping with other similar private secondary schools, named endowed funds may be established at Summit for a minimum of $50,000. Gifts to fund an endowment fund may be paid over time. Proceeds will not be distributed until the fund is fully funded at the $50,000 level.
What percentage of students receive need-based financial assistance? How is financial aid funded?
The Board of Trustees allocates 10% of gross tuition revenue to support financial aid for students who otherwise would not be able to a ord tuition at Summit. This is a philosophical commitment on the part of the school to encourage diversity and to ensure that finances are not a barrier to families who wish to attend Summit. In short, Summit believes that families from a variety of di erent financial backgrounds enhance the environment on campus for all.
During the 2023-2024 school year, approximately 22% of students on campus received some form of need-based financial aid which equates to approximately 113 students and 80 families.
How many alums does Summit have?
Summit has 4,200 alums with active contact information in our database. As an intentional part of our alum outreach work, the Advancement Team looks to build relationships with these alums, and also works hard to ensure that we have the most current contact information for all.
I have heard that we are “doubling” the financial aid at Summit? Are we doubling the number of financial aid students at Summit?
No, we are not doubling the number of students who receive financial aid at Summit. We are, however, doubling the amount of dollars that fund financial aid through philanthropic gifts versus being allocated from the operating budget. By building endowment support for financial aid, our donors are ensuring that resources will always be available to fund financial aid at the level that we desire, without being a burden to the operating budget.
How
is the CEI a
student and faculty retention tool at Summit?
As Michael Ebeling, Head of School, often states, the best indicator of a student’s success is the quality of their teacher. And the best indicator of a quality faculty member is their access to professional development. Summit has always been committed to ensuring that all faculty are equipped with the most current educational pedagogy and techniques to support the delivery of the highest quality education. Likewise, faculty often identify access to professional development as one of the most important factors in coming to Summit—and staying as a part of the Summit family.
Will there be naming opportunities within the SEED Center?
Naming opportunities to honor and memorialize donors, faculty and sta , families, and community leaders exist through the SEED Center. Request a list of all naming opportunities from a member of the Advancement Team or contact Margaret Turner ’93 at 336-722-2777 ext. 1030.
Likewise, endowment funds may be named with a donation or pledge of $50,000.
How much money is raised by The Summit Fund each year? Is The Summit Fund significant to the operating budget?
In 2022-2023, Summit School raised $1,675,201 with $828,418 directed through The Summit Fund, the school’s annual fund. Other dollars raised that may not be a part of The Summit Fund include support for financial aid, and strategic initiatives as outlined in the Master Plan. The Summit Fund provides invaluable resources that bridge the gap between tuition revenue and what it costs to operate Summit School.
There are no plans to make any changes to the current enrollment, including expanding to high school grades. What is the plan for 9th grade at Summit? Are there plans to expand to high school grades?
Will the SEED Center increase the operational costs at Summit?
The Lewis Science Center was built in 1962 and has since had very few enhancements. Thanks to improved building methods, it is estimated that the operating cost of new construction will actually be more e cient than operating the Lewis Science Center today. The campaign will provide resources to equip the space with state-of-the-art technology but operating costs should not increase.
How will the community at large benefit from the addition of the SEED Center on the Summit Campus?
Summer programming via Summit Summer will feature unique SEED experiences that will be available to children from the wider community. With community funding, we could provide summer programming for large numbers of students from lower socioeconomic backgrounds—specifically focused on SEED.
Our faculty will continue to develop and extend our connections in the wider community, attracting engineers, entrepreneurs, scientists, and design experts to work with our teachers and students to develop unique programming—elements of which we will share with the wider community.
The presence of Summit’s SEED Center will push the wider educational community to raise the bar in the areas of science, engineering, entrepreneurship, and design. Research tells us that the presence of high quality independent schools tends to improve the quality of surrounding public schools. A rising tide lifts all boats.
As part of our CEI professional development, Summit will o er training to educators (locally, regionally, and nationally) in our SEED programs. While our facility will be unique, the kind of thinking and the approaches we use/develop/refine can be done (though not as well!) at other schools.
Schools of education throughout the country will want to send their pre-service teachers to the SEED Center to learn how to do what we are doing.
Economic drivers such as the Greater Winston-Salem Chamber of Commerce should invest in the SEED Center—as it will attract the professional talent Winston-Salem wants and needs. The “creative class,” who can often live wherever they want, are looking for areas that feature the types of schools they want for their children. Summit is that.
Board of Trustees 2023 — 2024
David Ahn
Catherine Allen, Treasurer
Ben Baker ’89
Jennifer Byrne
Ben Carson
Kami Chavis
Melissa Combes
Wesley Davis ’87, Chair
Sandlin Douglas ’94
Eric Flow ’01
Ashley Givens
Sirena Hargrove-Leak
Libby Whitaker Kelly ’91
Elisabeth Lovett, Secretary Rick Maloy
Honorary Campaign Cabinet
Sandra and Fred Adams
Marie Flow Arcuri ’77 and Guy Arcuri
Suzanne and Bud Baker
Patty and Malcolm Brown
Mary Louise and John Burress
Jennifer and Austin Byrne
Joyce and Ben Carson
Susan and Mark Conger
Terrie Allen Davis ’60 and John Davis
Marian Millaway Douglas ’69 and James. W. Douglas
Robbin and Don Flow
Campaign Cabinet
Laura and Je Allen
Catherine and William Allen
Alyson and Ben Baker ’89, Co-Chairs
Joan Balderamos *
Charlotte Chandler Broughton ’87 and David Broughton
Kathleen Cannon
Marina and Wesley Davis ’87
Hunter and Sandlin Douglas ’94
Meghan and Eric Flow ’01
Shelley and David Holden ’92
Libby Whitaker Kelly ’91 and Jonathan Kelly, Co-Chairs
Kay D. Burress King ’83 *
Matt McChesney ’93
Chris Ohl
Matt Petronzio
Coleman Team
William Woltz
Ann and Borden Hanes ’60
Laura W. Hearn
Liz and Stan Kelly
Bingle Lewis
Janice and Charlie Lovett ’77
Betty P. Sutton
Betty and John Whitaker ’52
Leah and Benjamin King
Elisabeth and Peter Lovett ’85
Carrie and Richard Malloy
Heather and Rick Maloy
Pam and Mark Oliver *
Kelly and Matt Penley *
Stacy and Matt Petronzio
Jill and Michael Rogers
Emily Brown Rostlund ’97 and Olle Rostlund *
Lorre and Jim Ru n ’77
Fowler and John Ru n ’74 *
Forrest Stephens Staton ’95
Sarah and Coleman Team
* Advisory Cabinet Member
Naming Opportunities
