STEUBENVILLE, OHIO—On October 14, Franciscan University of Steubenville celebrated two milestones: the ribbon-cutting ceremony for Trinity Health System Field and the groundbreaking ceremony for Christ the Teacher Academic Hall and Conference Center.

Father Dave Pivonka, TOR ’89, president of Franciscan University, led the ribbon-cutting ceremony, which was attended by local dignitaries, including Jerry Barilla, mayor of Steubenville; Tony Morelli and Tom Graham, Jefferson County commissioners; Amber Kohler, field representative for Congressman Bill Johnson; and Laurie Labishak, Trinity Health System marketing director; as well as the University’s Board of Trustees, many benefactors, faculty, staff, and students.

“As we’ve celebrated our 75th anniversary this past year, we’ve also celebrated those whose love and sacrifices contributed to our success today,” said Father Pivonka. “Today, we are pleased to especially honor the Carapellotti family, whose members have supported Franciscan University in many ways from its beginning. It is my great pleasure that the newest athletic facility on our campus is the Carapellotti Fieldhouse.”

“Our family has had such a special relationship with the University,” said Nikki Carapellotti, accepting the honor on behalf of the Carapellotti family. “We are so humbled and so grateful and thankful to be a part of the University and especially athletics.”

David DeWolf ’99, an alumnus of Franciscan University and vice chairman of the University’s Board of Trustees, reflected on the deeper significance of the celebration.

“Today, we celebrate the opening of athletic facilities,” he told the audience. “But I think we celebrate something even deeper, and that is the commitment that Franciscan University has to forming human beings to be incredible disciples throughout this world.”

Trinity Health System Field is used by Franciscan’s NCAA Division III men’s and women’s soccer, lacrosse, and track and field teams, as well as for recreational and intramural games. The new athletic facilities located at the field include an eight-lane track, currently in the final stage of construction, men’s and women’s locker rooms, and a new scoreboard.

Guests then moved to the construction site of Christ the Teacher Academic Hall and Conference Center next to Egan Plaza, where Bob Hickey, vice president for Advancement at Franciscan, led the groundbreaking ceremony.

Father Pivonka explained the University’s decision to name the building “Christ the Teacher.”

“The more I reflect on it, the more appropriate it is,” Father Pivonka said. “We’ve had Christ the King Chapel here at the center of our campus for decades. But what this says is that Christ is not only the Lord of the chapel; he is also the Lord of academics.”

The new $59 million building, the first to be built at Franciscan in over 20 years, will be more than 110,000 square feet. It is the University’s largest construction project and will include two wings: one dedicated to students’ academic education, the other to their spiritual formation. This unprecedented expansion is in response to the consistent, annual increases in enrollment, and the need to expand and enhance the business, engineering, and nursing programs. The new building will also include a conference center, lecture hall, welcome center, boardroom, and state-of-the-art nursing and engineering labs.

“This is a glorious day for Franciscan University,” said Paul Michael “Mickey” Pohl, chairman of the University’s Rebuild My Church Capital Campaign. “We are taking Franciscan University to new heights as one of the world’s great Catholic universities.”

Construction of Christ the Teacher is funded by the University’s Rebuild My Church Capital Campaign. Pohl spoke to the audience about the impact of the campaign, calling it the University’s “most ambitious capital campaign in our history.”

“This campaign will allow us to get to the next level with new buildings, programs, scholarships, and resources,” he said. “We surpassed our $75 million original goal surprisingly quickly. But now we’re in a very difficult economy. A recession is upon us. The cost of everything is increasing. But with your help we can and will reach our new targets.”

The Phase II campaign goal of $10 million will cover the increased costs for Christ the Teacher due to inflation as well as other capital needs for campus infrastructure.

Dr. Chrissy Jungers, dean of the School of Professional Programs and professor of clinical mental health counseling, spoke on behalf of Franciscan’s faculty.

“This building speaks volumes about the mission of Franciscan University,” said Jungers. “It’s an opportunity for us to recommit ourselves to searching for faith, searching for reason in light of the truth that we already know, the truth from the Christian message.”

The building is a reminder that “we as a university are alive,” added Jungers. “We have not yet reached our fullest potential as an academic and faith community. We’re still imagining who we can become.”

Construction of Christ the Teacher Academic Hall and Conference Center is due to be completed in the fall of 2024.