GPS Breaks Ground on New Field House

Girls Preparatory School marked a major milestone this morning with the ceremonial groundbreaking of the new GPS Field House, a project that represents a bold investment in the future of GPS students.

Donors, members of the Board of Trustees, invited guests, faculty, staff, and students gathered on the lower campus to celebrate the beginning of a transformative addition to the school’s athletic and community spaces.

Head of School Megan Cover opened the ceremony by welcoming the community and reflecting on the significance of the moment. While the act of breaking ground is symbolic, she noted, it represents something far deeper: a shared commitment to growth, vision, and the continued evolution of GPS.

The ceremony included an invocation led by Dean of Spiritual Life Angelina DeVincenzo, who described the groundbreaking as “a sacred space between dreaming and creating,” emphasizing the collective effort, generosity, and hope that have made the project possible.

Board of Trustees Chair Ashley Rowland Davenport ’97, a former student-athlete and current GPS parent, spoke to the impact the new facility will have on generations of students. Reflecting on her own experience competing on the lower fields, she noted how meaningful a dedicated field house would have been during her time at GPS. The new facility, she said, will provide spaces for training, preparation, recovery, and community, which will enhance both the athletic and student experience.

Director of Athletics and Strategic Partnerships Allie Tennyson framed the field house as a powerful statement of the school’s mission.

“This building represents what GPS has always believed,” she said. “That girls are worthy of our full investment, our best resources, and our highest expectations.” She emphasized that the facility is designed intentionally for girls and will support how they train, gather, compete, and grow.

Student voices offered a meaningful perspective on what the field house will represent for those who will use it every day. Senior Farah House ’26 reflected on her years as a student-athlete on the lower campus, describing it as a place where she found confidence, belonging, and lifelong memories. She expressed gratitude to the donors and supporters who made the project possible and shared her hope that future students will experience the same sense of growth and community.

Rising Student Council President Ellie Holland ’27 echoed that vision, calling the field house “a space for her” and one that will serve every GPS girl. She painted a picture of the future facility filled with energy and connection, from team gatherings and practices to study sessions and shared moments of friendship.

The program also included remarks from past parent and donor Glenn Morris, who spoke to the life lessons learned through athletics—resilience, perspective, and the ability to choose one’s own path. Alumna and past board chair Dr. Chris Benz Smith ’72 reflected on the transformation of the lower campus over time and praised the intentional investment in supporting the whole girl, noting that the field house will benefit students in mind, body, and spirit.

In her closing remarks, Megan emphasized that the field house is more than a building—it is a declaration of purpose. Designed with features including locker rooms, a multipurpose gathering space, strength and cardio facilities, a performance and recovery center, and temperature-controlled indoor courts, the facility will serve as a central hub for student life on the lower campus.

“This is for you,” she told students. “This space will carry your energy, support your efforts, and reflect your GPS Bruiser spirit for years to come.”

The ceremony concluded with a countdown led by GPS cheerleaders, as school leaders and supporters picked up shovels and officially broke ground, signaling the start of a new chapter in GPS history.

As construction begins in the coming months, the GPS Field House stands as a powerful symbol of the school’s ongoing commitment to investing in girls and preparing them to lead lives of strength, confidence, and purpose.