A Place Like This

To everyone who helped make Phase II a reality,
from the donors to administrators to planners
From the construction crew to custodial staff,
anyone who helped…in any manner…

It may have started for you in a place like this
Where someone inspired you to reach higher
Or a teacher encouraged an ember in you
That, when nurtured, ignited your fire.
Your passion to plan, to create, to build
From nothing you’ve produced what surrounds us.
More than brick walls and carpeted floors,
A place to explore what confounds us.
It astounds us the way that you went about your work
Completing this task on time.
Making the best use of your every resource –
Each material, each man-hour, each dime.
From the architects who brought the vision to bear
To the laborer with shovel and nail,
You’ve captured the imagination of an entire school,
Brought it to life in vivid detail.
You weren’t alone; none of us are in our creative tasks
There was help from University School crew
Who moved two whole schools with coordinated aplomb
They’re that good. Hey, that’s just what they do.
And we’re here today, in these halls that you’ve built
To thank you all for delivering on your promise,
Giving us somewhere to be inspired to reach higher.
It may have started for you in a place like this,
And because of your hard work, in one form or another,
You’ve helped build a place like no other.
We thank you for your hard work, in one form or another,
For building this, a place like no other.

© 2010, Jeff Wilson