School Marks Historic Milestone

St. Mark’s ushered in the next chapter of excellence on Tuesday, January 21, 2025, with the dedication of the Zierk Athletic Center and Albert G. Hill, Sr. Family Tennis Center and closed the chapter on what has been by far the largest single campus development project in school history. Hundreds of students, faculty, professional staff, Trustees, alumni, parents, donors, and project partners gathered to celebrate the community that brought this project to fruition. 

As the ribbon was cut, the School marked the completion of a journey that began on October 20, 2019, when a tornado struck North Dallas, damaging much of campus and destroying the Hicks Athletic Center and the Hill Tennis Center. 

"Today, we stand before a shining symbol of how this community responded to challenge,” said Fraser Marcus ’72, President of the Board of Trustees. “This building project reflects those essential and unalienable traits of character, pride, excellence, and resilience that make up the heart and soul of a Marksman.”

Following the tornado, St. Mark’s turned the challenge into an opportunity to rebuild and enhance its facilities while strengthening its programs for decades to come. The result is a 77,000-square-foot athletic complex that will benefit boys across campus for generations. 

“This building ultimately represents that, at St Mark's, we are committed to being the best in every single thing that we do,” said Carl Sewell III ’02, who chaired the Board’s Athletic Complex Planning Committee. “We're committed to the whole boy mission. We're committed to athletics. And we're committed because we know sports play an outsized role in the development of good boys becoming great young men.”

The Athletic Complex Project is made possible through the generous support of more than 100 dedicated families. Thanks to their efforts, St. Mark’s moved quickly after breaking ground in May 2023. Less than a year after construction began, the School celebrated the topping off in April 2024 and nine months later, the project reached completion. 

Michael Wisenbaker ’93 addressed the crowd on behalf of the Hill, Wikert, Henderson, and Wisenbaker families, who supported the tennis center named for his grandfather, Albert G. Hill, Sr. “Athletics play a crucial role in development and developing character, resilience and teamwork; qualities that compliment academics and shape well-rounded leaders beyond competition. This complex will serve as a place where relationships are built, values are strengthened, and boys take important steps on their journey along the path to manhood.”

While Wisenbaker traced his family’s involvement with St. Mark’s across eight decades, David Zierk spoke about the warmth with which the community embraced his family shortly after their arrival in 2019. “This School is exceptionally good for many reasons. Over the past 100 years, other members of this community have given time, talent, and treasure, and all of our sons here are the recipients of that generosity. To all past donors, we thank you, and we'll do our best to continue to carry that forward.”

Speaking on behalf of the student body, Student Council President Matthew Hofmann ’25 shared his classmates' excitement for the possibilities before them. “This building will be a beacon of community and another outlet for students to pursue their path to manhood. I'm excited to see all the tremendous athletic accomplishments that you, the students, will achieve in these walls or out on the court.”

Finally, Eugene McDermott Headmaster David W. Dini thanked all those who brought the School to this point, from the Trustees and staff to the architects and construction crews. He also extended a heartfelt thanks to the community members who stepped up in support of St. Mark’s following the tornado and invested in a bright future for all Marksmen.  

“We can never thank you enough for your leadership and what you've done for this School,” Dini said. “Dawn and David Zierk; the Wikert, Wisenbaker, Henderson, and Hill families; Cinda and Tom Hicks; Kathy and Harlan Crow; Carrie and Craig Levering ’75; as well as the Sewell, Gupta, and Hillier families — we wouldn't be here without you. We’re so grateful for your commitment to this project, your devotion to athletics, and your willingness to set aspirations high and lead by example.”

Dini concluded: “Through adversity, we as a school, as an institution, and as a community, have emerged stronger and deeper in our conviction and our mission to help boys become good men.”

Following the dedication, guests toured the new facility and Marksmen finally were able to explore this extraordinary addition to the St. Mark’s campus. The Lions quickly put the new facility to use with the inaugural basketball game (and victory) held on Wednesday, January 22, against Trinity Valley. Luke Laczkowski ’25 made the inaugural basket on his way to scoring 2,000 carer points during the game.

The basketball game was played on the Tom Adams Court, named in honor of St. Mark’s legendary coach and teacher who inspired thousands of Marksmen. Just before tipoff, the School paid tribute to Tom and his widow, Marcy, who was there to cheer on the Lions. 
 
Next week, students will gather on the other side of the building for the Lions’ first swim meet in the Levering Pool.