A Grand Opening

With a big community countdown, Boota ’76 and Shelley deButts cut the maroon ribbon and officially opened the deButts Health & Wellness Center on Thursday morning. Students were then invited in to explore the bright and beautifully appointed new space, which is over 17,000 square feet and roughly double the size of McAllister Health Center.

Addressing the assembled students, Head of School Charley Stillwell said, “This is such an exciting moment for our School and day for our community as we open this incredible new deButts Health & Wellness Center. Before we jump to celebrating this new space, we should take a moment to recognize our previous health center. McAllister has been a remarkable place, supporting our community going all the way back to 1934 with so many different nurses and doctors over those decades supporting us, so let’s take a moment to thank everyone who has been a part of McAllister over those years.” He then expressed sincere appreciation for all the individuals who were involved with the realization of this new space. 

Simone and Tench Coxe ’76 are the lead donors for the new center, and Tench requested that the building be named in honor of his EHS roommate, William “Boota” deButts ’76, his wife, Shelley, as well as his father, Hunter deButts ’47. In honoring the namesakes of the center at the ribbon cutting Stillwell said, “I hope you all understand that this new facility represents that, for us, there is nothing more important at Episcopal than the health and well-being of all of you. I think that approaching health and wellness at a foundational level starts first and foremost with being in a community where we care for and support each other in all different ways. That’s why I think it is so perfect that this center is being named for Mr. and Mrs. deButts and their family because I honestly think there have been few individuals connected to Episcopal over all these years that cared more about the students and tried to find different and creative ways to be kind and supportive of all of us.” Cheers of agreement from the crowd were immediate and enthusiastic.

With light streaming in from all sides, the new spaces are designed to be comfortable and welcoming. In addition to comprehensive, state-of-the art treatment and clinical work areas, a classroom for health and wellness courses, and separate waiting areas for sick and well patients, the J.W. Couch Counseling Center provides dedicated spaces for Episcopal’s counselors with spacious and inviting offices for meeting with students. Immediately following the opening, the second floor quiet room was filled with students enjoying games of chess and chatting as they marveled at the beauty of this newest campus addition.

The three new campus buildings — two new dormitories and the deButts Health & Wellness Center —  are initiatives of Courage: The Campaign for Episcopal. Supporting priorities set forth in the 2018 Strategic Plan, Courage is a $150 million campaign — the most ambitious in Episcopal’s history. We are grateful to the many members of our community who have already stepped forward in support of this transformative campaign. Learn more at www.episcopalhighschool.org/courage.
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