10.14.22
10/14 Kick-off Event Recap
On Friday, October 14, 2022, Lutheran West announced that starting with next school year (2023-2024), a new academic program will be available to students.
The Senney Enterprises Business & Entrepreneurship Academy, funded by faithful supporter Wally Senney (Class of 1973) and family, as well as his business conglomerate, Senney Enterprises. Lutheran West would like to thank the Senney Family and Senney Enterprises for their continued support.
The program will serve as one of Lutheran West’s “Centers of Excellence,” flagship programs by which the school will provide top-quality 21st century education and experience in areas in which Christian thought leaders will be increasingly important in our modern world: Business & Entrepreneurship, The Arts, Athletics, and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics). A fifth Center of Excellence, The Senney Honors Academy, also funded through support by the Senney Family, was established in 2011 and has proven to be an impactful cornerstone of Lutheran West’s academic program.
Development of the remaining Centers of Excellence, the Fine Arts Conservatory and the STEM Academy, are part of the goals of the school’s “Forward in Faith” capital campaign.
Students in The Senney Enterprises Business & Entrepreneurship Academy will take courses that equip them with the knowledge they’ll need to navigate the ever-changing business landscape. Their understanding of sales, marketing, management, entrepreneurial ventures, funding, fiscal responsibility, production, and more will provide valuable skills regardless of their future college and career paths.
Mr. Jim Heal, current faculty, will lead the program as the Dean of The Senney Enterprises Business & Entrepreneurship Academy. Mr. Heal offers a unique background in both Christian education and business, having spent a significant part of his career as an executive at HP and a Vice President at Fidelity Investments, and having also worked in education at Christian schools. At the 10/14 event, Mr. Heal shared that the curriculum of The Senney Enterprises Business & Entrepreneurship Academy will provide students with a wealth of practical learning opportunities that will demonstrate course content in real-world scenarios.
Mr. Senney and family joined in the announcement of the Academy at the October 14 kick-off event. As an entrepreneur and successful businessperson, he truly understands the value that a Christ-centered education can lend to a business-minded young person. He has expressed excitement to see the program take off in the fall of 2023 and to see the impactful young business leaders that come from Lutheran West
Along with the announcement of The Senney Enterprises Business & Entrepreneurship Academy, October 14 marked the start of demolition of the Westgate Professional Building (also called the MedWest Building) adjacent to Lutheran West. The CLHSA purchased the property in July 2019. Demolition of the building allows plans for the future expansion of Lutheran West’s campus and facilities to begin to take shape.
To commemorate the onset of demolition, Lutheran West held a demolition ceremony prior to the 10/14 home football game. Led by the marching band and cheerleaders, those present gathered to sing the school’s alma mater, then shared in counting down to demolition. Construction equipment took down the first pieces of the building while the crowd watched from a safe distance.
Attendees then cheered the Longhorns on to a 50-0 victory against Independence. The evening concluded with celebratory fireworks over Alumni Field.
School administration is now scheduling meetings with those interested in learning more about the expansion plans being developed through the “Forward in Faith” capital campaign. To request a meeting, complete the simple form at LutheranWest.com/ForwardinFaith.