A large crowd of benefactors, alumni, board members, community partners, staff and students came together on Sept. 23 for the unveiling and blessing of the new chemistry lab at Holy Name High School.
Attendees said they were amazed at the technology and clean white space in the new lab, along with the 7-foot Anatomage Table, which will enhance the student experience of understanding human and animal anatomy.
Unveiling the new, state-of-the-art $600,000 classroom and having Bishop Perez bless and dedicate the room in honor of 1944 Holy Name graduate and philanthropist -- Raymond Smiley -- was the culmination of the school’s two-year strategic initiative: Loyal Hearts Firmly United.
“We are called to leave a legacy that sets the example for generations to come. I am thankful to all who made the chemistry lab a reality,” said Terry Kenneally ’67, HNHS president, in his opening remarks.
Kenneally, along with Principal Shelbrey Blanc ’95, and students giving tutorials of the Anatomage Table, acknowledged and thanked representatives from the Lubrizol Foundation. The organization helped fund the interactive anatomy table, which is rarely found in high schools. Holy Name is just one of six high schools in Ohio to offer this experience to its students and the only diocesan-owned high school to have this as an educational resource.
The virtual tool provides 3D anatomy in life-size scale to generate dissectible, high-resolution body plans. The table is pre-loaded with a digital library of 1,200 pathological examples for students to view. These include donated MRI and CT scans of cadavers, the human heart, animal anatomy and skulls.
The table will be used across disciplines including forensics, nutrition and first aid, anatomy and physiology and biology. The chemistry lab also includes a transparent glass wall that provides a clean, modern learning and collaboration environment.
Smiley spoke to those in attendance prior to the blessing saying he was happy to help students develop a passion for careers potentially in science and the medical field.
“I hope that this classroom and the investment made by many is a catalyst to encourage students down this career path” he said.
Jared, a senior, said “I have enjoyed all that we’ve learned from our teachers’ instruction but I’ve also loved being able to use the table and explore questions that pop up on the spot.”
As Jared provided a demonstration, Bishop Perez asked him one of those impromptu questions: “Show us what we would see if we needed to start open heart surgery.” Within seconds Jared and his peers were slicing the screen with their fingertips and a cardiac 3D image displayed on the screen.
“I’m considering pursuing a career in the field of bioengineering, which is the use of artificial tissues and organs, and this anatomy table is an exciting way to learn and understand anatomy hands-on,” said Jared, who is ranked in the top 10 of his class.
In the blessing and prayer service, Bishop Perez said that from observing and speaking with the students he realized that what most people take for granted -- the movement of a hand and wiggling of fingers -- is exactly what the students will dive deeper into exploring.
“The students are seeing all of the complexities that we do not: what is underneath our skin as we lift our hand or point our finger. Anatomy is all a part of God’s design of man. We do not appreciate this until our circumstance is that we cannot. Everything happens by God’s will and design from our movement to the generous donors who helped build this space,” the bishop said.