St. Johnsbury Academy’s Just Imagine capital campaign has received a $1 million grant from the Elizabeth Morse Genius Foundation based in Winter Park, Florida, according to Bernier L. Mayo, Headmaster. Mayo’s announcement continued with the news that the Board of Trustees has expanded the original goal of the campaign from $6 million to $8 million to build a new library in addition to the Center for the Arts that is under construction.

"We have almost literally been overwhelmed by the generosity of our alumni and friends," Mayo said. "The Genius Foundation grant of $1 million has put us far enough over the top of our original goal to make a new library, a heretofore only dreamed of, a reality."

Until the receipt of the Genius grant, the Just Imagine campaign had raised $5.9 million in gifts and pledges. The Genius Grant brings the total to $6.9 million, leaving only a bit more than $1 million to raise to fund the entire project including a new library.

Jeannette Genius McKean established the Foundation in honor of her mother Elizabeth Morse Genius. Elizabeth was the daughter of Charles Hosmer Morse, the Morse of Fairbanks Morse. This year marks the 150th anniversary of Mr. Morse's graduation from the Academy.

Mayo said. "One of the oldest traditions of the Academy is that those who have gone before take care of those who come after. The kids are going to have two great new facilities because the tradition still holds."