![“[Building nerf blasters] became this outlet of creativity for me that hasn't been matched by anything else. The process [of] making a build complete to your desire is such a painstakingly difficult process, but I've had to learn from [the skills needed from] soldering to proper painting. There's so many different options for everything, if you think about it, it exists. The best part is [that] if it doesn't exist, you can build it yourself," Ishaan Parate said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/DSC_8149-900x604.jpg)
![“When I came into high school, I was ready to be a follower. But DECA was a game changer for me. It helped me overcome my fear of public speaking, and it's played such a major role in who I've become today. To be able to successfully lead a chapter of 150 students, an officer team and be one of the upperclassmen I once really admired is something I'm [really] proud of,” Anvitha Tummala ('21) said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Screen-Shot-2021-07-25-at-9.50.05-AM-900x594.png)
![“I think getting up in the morning and having a sense of purpose [is exciting]. I think without a certain amount of drive, life is kind of obsolete and mundane, and I think having that every single day is what makes each day unique and kind of makes life exciting,” Neymika Jain (12) said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Screen-Shot-2017-06-03-at-4.54.16-PM.png)
![“My slogan is ‘slow feet, don’t eat, and I’m hungry.’ You need to run fast to get where you are–you aren't going to get those championships if you aren't fast,” Angel Cervantes (12) said. “I want to do well in school on my tests and in track and win championships for my team. I live by that, [and] I can do that anywhere: in the classroom or on the field.”](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/DSC5146-900x601.jpg)
![“[Volleyball has] taught me how to fall correctly, and another thing it taught is that you don’t have to be the best at something to be good at it. If you just hit the ball in a smart way, then it still scores points and you’re good at it. You could be a background player and still make a much bigger impact on the team than you would think,” Anya Gert (’20) said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/AnnaGert_JinTuan_HoHPhotoEdited-600x900.jpeg)
![“I'm not nearly there yet, but [my confidence has] definitely been getting better since I was pretty shy and timid coming into Harker my freshman year. I know that there's a lot of people that are really confident in what they do, and I really admire them. Everyone's so driven and that has really pushed me to kind of try to find my own place in high school and be more confident,” Alyssa Huang (’20) said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/AlyssaHuang_EmilyChen_HoHPhoto-900x749.jpeg)
Challenge to $10 million: New Events Center
Administration releases details about new Events Center construction and donations
Harker
The new Events Center construction plans have begun with the fundraiser launch for the project, for which Upper School parents Jeffrey and Marieke Rothschild committed to matching donations up to $10 million.
Head of School Christopher Nikoloff publicly announced today that a generous donor would match up to $10 million for contributions to the new Upper School Event Center.
A week ago on April 21, Upper School parents Jeffrey and Marieke Rothschild committed to matching donations towards the Event Center project, which includes constructions for a new gym and performing arts building. The family is willing to contribute up to $10 million for every dollar raised in the fundraiser.
Nikoloff initially mentioned this offer at the teacher’s faculty meeting and Head of School Celebration Wednesday night.
The $10 million proposal would be the largest gift to the capital campaign in the school’s history, apart from the Nichols family donation of the Saratoga campus.
“People will hear it and perceive this as a gift, but it really is a challenge,” Executive Director of Advancement Joe Rosenthal said.
The Rothschilds chose to propose the idea not only due to their beliefs in Harker’s whole-mission approach as a school to educating students, but also to inspire everyone to contribute to this important cause.
An email sent out to all faculty, students, and parents this morning outlined the details of the plan and addressed the process of donations. It included a video communicating the opinions of members of the community on the new Event Center.
“This exciting and historic matching gift validates Harker’s whole-mission approach in preparing our students for success,” wrote Nikoloff.
If the challenge is met, the project will reach completion a year in advance, allowing availability for the new facilities to the current freshmen, who may then utilize the constructions during their senior year.
The new buildings affect primarily athletes and performing arts students who are currently required to travel to the Blackford campus for gym and theatre use. Performing Arts Director Laura Lang-Ree commented on the convenience of the new facilities and their simplification to student life on campus.
Similarly, Head of Upper School and basketball Coach Butch Keller also recognizes the benefit that this will have on the entire school as a whole.
“The entire community is going to be so positively effected by this gift and because it’s a challenge it brings everyone together,” he said. “As a basketball coach, I couldn’t be happier.”
Basketball player Jordan Goheen (9), who will get the opportunity to practice in the gym during his senior year, showed enthusiasm for the upcoming new facility.
“It’ll be really cool,” he said. “The gym now is too small so we can’t really practice here.”
Pledges can be made here from now until the beginning of the upcoming 2014 to 2015 school year. These amounts can be paid off all at once or throughout the given time period of the 2014, 2015, and/or 2016 tax years.
Shannon Su is the Managing Editor and Executive News Director of Harker Aquila. She joined the program as a reporter her freshman year and has held many...