Family Funds Osbourn Park's Fitness Center

Gratitude is expressed in many ways. The new 4,000-square-feet Strength and Conditioning Center at Osbourn Park is a gift from one local family in gratitude for the positive impact the school had on their children.

Mike and Kathy Holupka donated $500,000 to Osbourn Park High School to be used for the construction of the new fitness center. As an added tribute to the school they love, the Holupkas made sure that weight benches and other pieces of equipment were adorned with Osbourn Park's yellow jacket mascot. It was Mr. Holupka who first coined the phrase, "Once a Jacket, always a Jacket."  All three of the Holupka’s children, Tracey, Tricia, and Bobby, graduated from Osbourn Park, and Mike and Kathy were actively involved in the school when their children attended.

"This was our way of giving something back to the community in recognition of our three kids and the wonderful experience they had here at Osbourn Park," said Mike Holupka.

Dan Evans, Director of Student Activities at Osbourn Park, was both shocked and thrilled when the Holupkas pledged to donate the money to build the center.

"My jaw practically hit the floor. It was overwhelming," remarked Mr. Evans. "How do you thank a person for a gift like that to the students of Osbourn Park and the Osbourn Park community? It was just a real special thing."

The Holupka family's donation is perhaps the largest donation made to a public school in Prince William County from a single family, according to School Board Chairman Lucy Beauchamp.

Mr. Holupka, a retired President of Flippo and Anderson Construction Companies, joined Evans and school principal Tim Healey in planning, designing and constructing the new fitness center.

The free-standing building houses $70,000 worth of equipment and is located next to the gymnasium. About 40 students at a time can take advantage of the workout benches, treadmills, stair climbers, free weights, and other top-quality equipment in the new center.

"The construction of this weight room is going to have a great impact on all of the students at Osbourn Park High School," said Mr. Evans. "We’ve tried to design it so that there is something in here for everybody, not only athletes, but your average student in PE classes."

An estimated 200 physical education students and athletic team members will use the center on a daily basis. The new facility was dedicated on January 4 and was named the Mike and Kathy Holupka Strength and Conditioning Center in honor of the generous donors.

Want to see more of the new Strength and Conditioning Center? Watch School Focus beginning Monday, January 23.

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