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WHEREAS, The Academy Schools, a consortium of nationally acclaimed programs for juvenile offenders located in Western Pennsylvania, has, since the first program's inception in 1982, impacted more than 20,000 young men and women passing through the system which offers comprehensive programming governed by a unique rehabilitative philosophy; and
WHEREAS, The Academy, one of the four schools embodied in The Academy Schools, is celebrating its 20th year at its current location on a 50-acre site in the city of Pittsburgh; and
WHEREAS, in 1994 this program for court-adjudicated teen-aged young men and women won Pennsylvania's most prestigious award in the field of juvenile justice - “Community-Based Program of the Year” - presented by the Pennsylvania Juvenile Court Judges' Commission; andWHEREAS The Academy was chosen from 4000 entrants to be highlighted by The Visionairies, a public broadcasting series viewed internationally; and
WHEREAS, in 2000 Summit Academy, located in Butler, was the recipient of Pennsylvania's “Residential Program of the Year,” presented by the same Commission, for its accomplishments and success in creating a prep-school model for young men in the residential setting; and
WHEREAS, The Academy, in 2002 was chosen from 4000 entrants to be highlighted by The Visionairies, a public broadcasting series viewed internationally; and
WHEREAS, after earning his undergraduate degree at Duquesne University, Mr. Samuel A. Costanzo, Founder of The Academy Schools, originally became interested in serving delinquent and at-risk youth after taking graduate classes in social work at the University of Pittsburgh, where he met, learned from, and later followed his professor and mentor to The Glen Mills Schools, west of Philadelphia; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Costanzo has always strongly believed in treating his students as ladies and gentlemen, creating countless success stories - and thus Mr. Costanzo so impressed Allegheny County Juvenile Court and the City ...
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