For more than seven decades, the legacy of the Pottsville Catholic High School Class of 1955 has remained woven into the fabric of Catholic education in Schuylkill County. Now, that legacy is poised to inspire future generations in an even more powerful way.
The Pottsville Catholic High School Class of 1955 Scholarship Fund has officially been transferred to the Catholic Foundation of Eastern Pennsylvania as a permanent endowment fund, ensuring ongoing scholarship support for students attending Nativity BVM High School.
The Class of 1955 holds a unique and historic place in local Schuylkill County Catholic education history. They were the final graduating class of Pottsville Catholic High School before the school consolidated with St. Stephen High School to form Nativity BVM High School which opened on Lawtons Hill in the fall of 1955.
“Because of that pivotal transition, the Class of 1955 is fondly remembered as a bridge between two generations of Catholic education in Pottsville,” said Mike Grabowski, principal of Nativity BVM High School. “This dynamic group helped preserve the proud traditions of Pottsville Catholic while helping launch a new era through Nativity HS.”
In 2005, members of the class established the Pottsville Catholic HS Class of 1955 Nativity Scholarship Endowment Fund. It became the very first graduating class to create a scholarship fund to help deserving students pursue a Catholic education at Nativity.
Today, by partnering with the Catholic Foundation, the scholarship fund gains the long-term investment stewardship and growth opportunities that come with a permanent endowment — helping ensure that future students will continue benefiting from the generosity and vision of the historic Class of 1955. “Each year, these scholarships remember a class that played such an important role in the history of Catholic education in Schuylkill County,” Grabowski said. “The Pottsville Catholic High School Class of 1955 represents a pivotal moment in our shared history, and it is incredibly meaningful that their legacy continues to impact our community by providing scholarships for Nativity students today and for generations to come.”
About the Pottsville Catholic High School Class of 1955 Nativity Scholarship Endowment Fund
Jenn Daubert, who serves as Director of Development for Nativity BVM High School in Pottsville, Pennsylvania, said the partnership with the Catholic Foundation creates exciting opportunities for the future growth of the scholarship fund.
“Partnering with the Catholic Foundation allows us to continue to market and grow this scholarship fund in ways that will have a lasting impact on our students,” Daubert said.
“The Class of 1955 created something truly special, and this permanent endowment ensures their commitment to Catholic education will continue benefiting Nativity families well into the future,” says Daubert.
Through this enduring gift, the Pottsville Catholic HS Class of 1955 continues to do what it has done since that historic graduation year — help shape the future of Catholic education in Schuylkill County with faith, generosity, and vision.
