Although it is already December and Prep is almost halfway through the school year, new changes are still happening every day to the evolving Seattle Prep campus. Two major new additions are the Mary and Jesus statue in the plaza, and the new turf field behind McDonnell Hall.
The new statue of Mary and Jesus is called “The Embrace.” This work of art was put in towards the end of October between Ignatius and Adelphia, until Prep realized it would better serve the campus in the rose garden. This specific arrangement was chosen according to Mr. Hickey because “Mary is a central figure in Catholicism and a big part of the spirituality of St. Ignatius. However, we wanted it to be very special and very different. “The Embrace” is not Mary on a pedestal, unreachable and distant. It is the love of a mother and her child, the child running into the arms of the mother a symbol of the kind of love that God has for us.”
The statue uses the talents of many Prep faculty members. Mr. Danielson took a picture of Mrs. Dold with her daughter, Harper, running towards her, which served as the model for the statues. When talking about “The Embrace,” Mr. Hickey showed its importance on the Prep campus by saying, “That love of parent for child and child for parent is something we wanted to emphasize as a school. The idea is that students don’t leave the love of their parents when they are on campus; they carry that love with them throughout the day. “The Embrace” is a tangible reminder of that love. It is personal, not distant.”
“The Embrace” was donated by Prep graduate Joe Shephard and his wife Elaine Shephard, who dedicated it to Mr. Shephard’s father and mother, as he is still grateful they sent him to this wonderful school.
The other new change to the Prep campus is the turf field behind McDonnell Hall, named Rudolf Field, which has been under construction over the summer and first few months of the school year.
Although not regulation for any actual games, the field is perfect for practices, PPD, or for students who may want to kick around a soccer ball with a friend during their free period. This field is named after John and Nancy Rudolf, former Prep parents, who helped through the construction process, and as Mr. Hickey puts it, “[Prep] wanted to share our gratitude to them through this gesture.”
With a goal and a view of Lake Washington, this turf field is sure to be a hit with the students. The additions of “The Embrace” and Rudolf Field continue to improve the beauty and usefulness of the Seattle Prep campus.