The Alumni Association of the A. M. E. Zion Academy has broken ground for a new school building at the school’s campus on Benson Street, Monrovia.
Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony over the weekend, the Project Coordinator, Willie Johnson, from the class of 1985 based in America, said a four-storey building for the current generation of students at the A.M.E Zion Academy to have a good learning environment, for them, is worth giving to Zion.
Coordinator Johnson indicated that it is five alumni based in America who decided to undertake the construction of the school building. He said they have raised their personal money to embark on the school building project.
According to him, although the Alumni Association of A.M.E. Zion Academy in America is also getting involved, initially these five alumni have for provided initial money to kick-off the building project.
He explained that they want the project to start on March 30, 2026. Coordinator Johnson stated that all Alligators, both at home and abroad, should get involved in the giving back process of the A. M. E. Zion Academy.
Meanwhile, the President of A.M.E. Zion Academy Alumni Association in America, Venus Thrones Vesselee, class of 1992, said the association will support the school building project.
Vesselee stated that the association will seek contributions from all Alligators based in the United States of America, calling on them to make their contributions.
For her part, the President of A. M. E. Zion Academy Alumni Association in Liberia, Sarah Walker Sumo, from the class of 1989, said the growth and development of A.M.E. Zion Academy depends on the alumni association, nationally and internationally, who are contributing towards nation building.
President Sumo noted that the alumni contributions from across the globe is a result of the educational foundation that Zion gave them.
She underscored that all members of the alumni association, home and abroad, should be committed to give back to their alma mater, especially in this school building project.
In a related development, the Project Engineer, Richard Zabedee, class of 1977, said the four-storey building project is estimated to cost US$315,000.
According to Engineer Zabedee, the building’s first floor will have an auditorium and cafeteria, four classrooms and bathrooms for male and female students.
He indicated that the second floor will have four classrooms and bathrooms for male and female students, the third floor will also have four classrooms and bathrooms, while the fourth floor will have four classrooms and bathrooms.
He disclosed that if everything remains constant, the school building project can be completed next year, 2027.
The groundbreaking ceremony raised 355 bags of cement, pledges of up to US$1,600, and US$690 in cash received.
