Mount St. Mary’s University officially celebrated the renaming of its School of Education as the Anthony F. and Alice G. Agnone School of Education during a special ceremony on Friday, April 10.
The new name honors two lifelong educators whose quiet dedication shaped their family and community and inspired their son, Tony Agnone, C’75, and his wife, Jaynee, to make a major investment in the future of Mount teachers.
The renaming was made possible by a major gift from Tony Agnone, an NFL agent and Mount alumnus, and his wife, Jaynee. Their generosity will help strengthen educator preparation at the Mount while honoring the legacy of Tony’s parents, Anthony and Alice Agnone.
“The generous gift given by the Agnone family makes a positive impact on being able to make meaningful modifications to our education programs,” said Stacey Brown-Hobbs, Ph.D., dean of the School of Education. “This gift will directly support teacher and leadership development through a variety of approaches including removing financial barriers for those pursuing the education profession as well as strengthening and expanding our partnerships.”
In welcoming guests to the ceremony, Vice President for Advancement Patty Hill-Callahan, C’87 called the occasion “a special day in the life of the Mount” and noted the significance of naming a school in honor of a family whose values continue to shape future generations.
“Naming a school is rare,” Hill-Callahan said. “It signals to the world two important things. First, a named school is a marker of current excellence. Second, it is a testament to philanthropists’ belief in even greater distinction to come.”
President Gerard “Jerry” Joyce, Ph.D. said the school’s new name reflects the Mount’s commitment to forming the whole person and preparing students not only for careers, but for lives of significance and service.
“Tony believed that the college years are among the most formative seasons of life,” Joyce said. “It is during this time that young people begin to discover who they are and what they are called to become. By investing in the preparation of future teachers, the Agnone family is helping to shape the lives of students who will go on to influence countless young people in classrooms across our region and beyond.”
For Tony, education has long been the “family business.” His mother, Alice, taught kindergarten and eventually instructed roughly a third of the children in their small town of South River, New Jersey, while his father, Anthony, served as superintendent of schools for more than 30 years.
Choosing to endow education, Tony said, was the best way for him and Jaynee to honor his parents and extend their influence to new generations of Mount students.
“When we decided to do this, we thought of who outside of your parents has the most influence on you? It’s teachers,” Tony said.
Tony described his parents as humble, “very low key” people whose lives were defined more by quiet service than by titles or attention. For him, placing their names on the School of Education is a fitting tribute to their spirit of service at a time when education has changed dramatically, and the need for committed, well-formed educators is greater than ever.
Dr. Brown-Hobbs said the gift will allow the school to think more creatively about its future, including ways to reduce financial barriers for students entering the education field, and deepen partnerships across the university and the wider community.
The ceremony concluded with a blessing from Rev. Michael Romano, S.T.L., Seminary Rector, and closing remarks from Hill-Callahan, who thanked the Agnone family and Mount community for sharing in the celebration.
“Tony, Jaynee, your amazing family, and all of today’s guests — thank you for being part of this extraordinary day,” Hill-Callahan said. “We are grateful to have the Mount community here to celebrate this uncommon act of generosity — and the good it will create in lives and communities forevermore.”