St. Theresa Catholic School Dedicated Library to Ava Vaske
The expanded school library was recently named in honor of the late former student.
Updated on Sept. 30, 2026 in Philanthropy
St. Theresa Catholic School in Des Moines has dedicated its newly expanded library to Ava Vaske, a former student who passed away from cancer in 2022 at 19 years old. The project transformed the space to better serve the growing student body.
Why it matters
The memorial serves as a tribute to Vaske, who attended the school from Pre-K through eighth grade. The Vaske family requested to contribute to the project, helping to create a new space for students to learn.
The school library expansion was supported by a grant from Prairie Meadows. The project involved merging two classrooms to increase total library capacity.
The players
Ava Vaske
She was a former student at St. Theresa Catholic School who passed away from cancer at the age of 19.
St. Theresa Catholic School
This educational institution is located in Des Moines and serves students from Pre-K through eighth grade.
Prairie Meadows
This organization provided the grant funding necessary to complete the library expansion project.
The details
The updated library features a woodland-themed environment designed with new seating areas and a stage. Staff and volunteers handled the physical relocation of books and the overall setup of the expanded facility.
Timeline
Ava Vaske passed away in 2022.
The library expansion project began in the spring of 2026.
The library was dedicated in September 2026.
Market Landscape
The library project follows a pattern set by other community infrastructure improvements funded by the Prairie Meadows grant program. Such investments remain critical for local private schools seeking to expand facilities without relying solely on tuition.
The expanded library provides students with a larger, more functional space designed to enhance the daily educational environment. Parents and families can benefit from improved school resources made possible by local community grants.
The takeaway
Memorializing former students through infrastructure projects can provide a lasting positive impact on a campus community. These initiatives often rely on a mix of family support and external grants to successfully enhance student resources.
Further reading
Learn more about local community efforts in our Philanthropy section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Who13.
