On a bright and mild morning Feb. 20, Bishop Barry C. Knestout was on hand to bless the new Brower Student Center at Blessed Sacrament Huguenot School (BSH), Powhatan. Col. Keith Brower and his wife, Kathleen, who have donated over $10 million to BSH since 2018, performed the ceremonial ribbon cutting.

Bishop Knestout blesses the new student center during the grand opening ceremony.

The Brower Student Center is a brand-new, 18,000 square-foot facility featuring a basketball court, a weight room, classrooms, an art room, a theater and a STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art and math) innovation lab. The building is part of an $8.25 million project that also includes a new visual arts center and a renovated gym. The renovations were funded by the Brower family and by donations from the Knight’s Charge, the BSH Learn to Lead Campaign.

“It’s an exciting day, a beautiful day, not only because of the sunshine, but because the school is refreshed and rejuvenated,” Bishop Knestout said. “This is a beautiful environment to study, to understand God’s presence, to learn, to care for one another and to grow in faith.”

The Browers’ involvement with the school began after their granddaughter, Arabella “Bella” Stuart Brower, died from an undiagnosed heart defect in 2015. The 17-year-old would have been part of the BSH Class of 2016. Col. Brower said that the loving response from the community after Bella’s death inspired him and his wife to give back.

“Kathleen and I began our engagement in hopes of creating a legacy for our granddaughter, Bella,” he said. “When Bella died, we were moved by the response of the community. … Our commitment has only grown, as the generosity of spirit, the quality of education, and the deep and abiding sense of community that attracted us to the school has remained unchanged.”