St. Mary's Academy Announces The Mary Shindler Boyle '67 Center For Women's Leadership, Entrepreneurship & Innovation - 10/16/24
Portland, Oregon — St. Mary’s Academy (SMA), Oregon’s only all-girls Catholic high school, is thrilled to announce the opening of The Mary Shindler Boyle ’67 Center for Women’s Leadership, Entrepreneurship & Innovation. The Boyle Center, funded by a lead gift from St. Mary’s Academy alumna, philanthropist, and community convener Mary Shindler Boyle ‘67, will help to prepare the women of SMA for a world that we cannot imagine — one filled with new possibilities, new experiences, and new professions. The transformational space and programming are a testament to St. Mary's legacy, longevity, and impact on the women of Portland and our educational landscape.
This new state-of-the-art space and groundbreaking program will offer both co-curricular and academic programming applicable to all St. Mary’s students. The Boyle Center is an active, engaging space, including a Digital Studio, Leadership Lounge, Innovation Lab, Heritage Gallery, and renovated Library. St. Mary’s is proud to offer many opportunities for our women to incubate ideas, engage with our community, and leverage the City as our Classroom.
Mary Boyle shared, “There is no better time to invest in women’s leadership. As a St. Mary’s Academy alumna, I am acutely aware of the power a St. Mary’s education has on changing the trajectory of young women’s lives. This gift represents my deep appreciation for the impact the Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary had on my life, the belief I have in this game-changing program for the young women of Portland, and the incredible pride and confidence I feel in the future of St. Mary’s Academy.”
For alumna, current parent, and President Emily Becker ’86, this transformational project has been a goal since entering her role in 2022, “I firmly believe in the importance of a St. Mary’s education and know that The Boyle Center will continue to solidify St. Mary’s as the leader in all-girls, Catholic education. Our women are the entrepreneurs, innovators, and leaders we need now more than ever. The power of The Boyle Center is that it can only be found at St. Mary's. “
On Friday, October 18th, St. Mary’s will celebrate the Blessing and Ribbon Cutting of the new space with an event open to the public from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. To attend, please email communications@smapdx.org.
For more information, interviews, or a tour of the space, please contact Director of Marketing and Communications Caroline Campana at caroline.campana@smapdx.org or by calling 248-840-3379.
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At St. Mary's Academy, We Believe.
St. Mary's Academy, located in the University District of Portland, OR, is the state's oldest continuously operating school and the only all-girls school in Oregon. Founded in 1859 by the Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary, St. Mary's Academy serves over 600 young women in grades 9-12. The school's college acceptance rate is 100%, and SMA students achieve, excel, and are recognized locally, regionally, and nationally in academic fields, leadership, STEM, the arts, athletics, community service, and extra- and co-curricular activities. To learn more, please visit www.stmaryspdx.org