At SCH Academy, endowed funds sustain and enrich every aspect of our school’s mission. Built from generous gifts and bequests, these funds are carefully invested so that their annual income can provide lasting financial support for academic programs, faculty, and tuition assistance.
One such fund is the Rebmann Fund for Summer Study, established in honor of Bill and Suzie Rebmann–parents of Mary ’84, Laura ’81, and Leigh ’80 – and dedicated to supporting student growth beyond the classroom. The Rebmann Fund offers financial assistance for summer enrichment programs and independent study opportunities, inviting students each year to submit proposals that are then evaluated by a faculty selection committee based on merit and personal value. Through this process, the fund not only invests in students’ individual passions but also strengthens the broader SCH community, as recipients return to share their experiences with the Upper School.
For senior Alec Gupte, the Rebmann Fund made it possible to explore an academic interest he might not have pursued otherwise. “I attended the Sports Business Academy, which is a part of Penn’s Wharton Global Youth Program,” Gupte said. “It was an online program where we spent three weeks discussing what makes up the business side of sports,” including topics such as “how the salary cap impacts sports leagues, the marketing behind sports, and TV broadcasting deals.”
The program culminated in a final group presentation. “We had a week to create a presentation on an emerging niche sports league,” he said. Gupte’s group focused on Major League Cricket, allowing him to learn how leagues smaller than the NBA or NFL operate.
“It was online,” he noted, “which definitely made it harder to engage in the content than if it were in person.” Gupte emphasized that it was “still a lot of helpful and valuable information.”
He also described the application process as approachable, explaining that, “The application process was pretty simple [with] two short essays about why I was interested in sports and how I’ve shown leadership in the past.”
Financially, Gupte said,” “The Rebmann fund itself was helpful because it helped pay for the experience,” but its impact extended beyond the funding. “The experience itself was helpful because it helped me realize that although I enjoy learning about sports business, it’s not something I want to pursue in college,” he said, adding that, “if I hadn’t been a part of the program, then my college application process would have looked much different.”
Reflecting on the value of the grant, Gupte encourages other students to apply, noting that “not only does it help pay for any summer program, but it also helped encourage me to take initiative to actually apply for a program. Without the Rebmann Grant, he is not sure he would’ve attended a summer program at all.
For Mary Rebmann Shearson ‘84 and Laura Rebmann Carapezzi ‘81, the Rebmann Endowment is deeply rooted in the values of community, family, and legacy. After their mother passed away in 1979 while they were still students at Springside, family and friends came together to establish the fund in her memory, recognizing her lasting impact on the school community.
Having lived across the street and attending since kindergarten, the Rebmann family established a close relationship with the school. Initially created to support students pursuing the arts—reflecting their mother’s work as an actress and her passion for the arts—the fund expanded after their father’s death in 1982, when friends again raised funds in his honor.
Today, continuing to see SCH students benefit from the fund remains especially meaningful. As Shearson and Carapezzi shared, “It is a wonderful tribute to both our parents and that their legacy lives on 47 years later,” because it allows students to pursue “life-changing and adventurous experiences that broaden their perspectives.” They hope recipients use these opportunities to explore their passions fully, noting that their parents “lived life to the fullest” and believed deeply in seizing opportunities as they arrive.
The Rebmann Fund for Summer Study stands as a testament to the impact of generosity at SCH Academy. By honoring Bill and Suzie Rebmann’s legacy while empowering students to pursue meaningful, exploratory experiences, the fund continues to open doors far beyond the classroom. Its lasting influence reminds the SCH community that investing in students’ curiosity and initiative not only shapes individual futures but also strengthens SCH for years to come.
