Episcopal Names Haskell Center for Science and Student Life

Episcopal School of Jacksonville is pleased to announce that the newest facility addition to the Munnerlyn Campus will be called the Haskell Center for Science and Student Life. Named for longtime Episcopal supporters Joan and Preston Haskell, the building will house a new dining hall and multiple Upper School science classrooms. A generous gift to the school from Joan and Preston and their daughters, Rushton ’82 and Sally ’86, for the Boldly ESJ campaign is only the Haskell family’s most recent show of support for Episcopal. The family has been instrumental in supporting every capital campaign at the school since 1978.

As longtime and vital supporters of the school the Haskell family has earned a place of honor on the Episcopal campus. Rushton and Sally are Episcopal alumni and their brother Preston attended as a member of the Class of 1984. Sally’s son Will Singletary graduated in 2015. Sally served on the Board of Trustees from 2014-2020, and Rushton served on the Alumni Board for ten years and was named Alumna of the Year in 2017.

Preston served on the Board of Trustees from 2011-2014, and Joan served as a Trustee from 1980-1984. Both were named Trustee Emeriti in 2015. They are members of The 50 by Fifty Society of Episcopal lifetime leadership donors and served as Honorary Chairs of Lead the Way, the school’s 50th anniversary capital campaign. The Haskells have deep roots in the Jacksonville community and have held leadership roles in nearly every aspect of civic life.

“We are deeply thankful for the decades of support from Joan and Preston and the Haskell family. They have again and again shown their faith in our mission and are true champions of the school,” said The Rev. Adam Greene, Head of School. “We are excited to honor them by naming the new Science and Student Life building after them as part of our $26 million Boldly ESJ campaign, the largest in the school’s history. Generations of students to come will benefit from the Haskell family’s gift and the opportunities our new building will provide them.”

To date the Boldly ESJ campaign has raised more than $19 million of its $26 million goal. The almost 40,000 square foot building will provide vital upgrades for students and faculty. The first floor of the Haskell Center will house a new kitchen and dining hall that will double the size of the school’s current kitchen while providing indoor and outdoor areas for student and faculty dining. In addition, the second floor of the Haskell Center will contain cutting edge science classrooms for biology, chemistry, environmental science, and marine biology. Multipurpose space will serve robotics and technology innovation students.

Q&A with Joan and Preston Haskell:

Boldly ESJ:  Were you involved with Episcopal even before your children went to school here?

Joan and Preston: Yes – when we moved here in the 1960s we became parishioners of St. Mark’s, and knew The Rev. Dr. Bob Parks (ESJ Founder and Dean of St. John’s Cathedral) and other leaders in the Episcopal Church. When Frank and Emmy Cerveney came to town, we grew even more invested in the church and school community. (Frank Cerveny was the Bishop of Florida and Dean of St. John’s Cathedral.) We knew the school was a special place early on, and that’s why we supported it in several ways back in the day.

Boldly ESJ: Why have you continued to support Episcopal all these years?

Joan and Preston: We have both loved seeing all of the success the school has had over the years, especially recently. Yes, there were some tough times early on, and even in the 1980’s, but the school came through those struggles even stronger. Continuity and stability remains such an important factor in the life of the school, and to see those traits deepen, along with the growth and development of campus has been wonderful. We have enjoyed working together with the faculty and the administration for many years.

Boldly ESJ: What do you think the most important needs are for Episcopal right now?

Joan and Preston: This is a pleasant question to answer because it’s so easy! Since the school has no financial worries currently, facility upgrades are the most important need. You have a smart student body and dedicated faculty that deserves nice, new facilities. You also need to ensure sufficient funding for maintenance and upkeep of current buildings.

Boldly ESJ: What are you hoping to see from Episcopal in the future?

Joan and Preston: As the school matures, continuing to hire quality faculty will be the key.  You have great teachers already, but always need to keep replacing ones who retire. Make sure that you maintain solid alumni relationships. We would love to see that the endowment continues to supply funding for student financial aid. It’s important to have a wide variety of students from all parts of North Florida and from all walks of life.