It’s incredible how far a dream can go, especially when trust is involved. Trust in an idea, a philosophy, a mere statement of what can be. Trust in those around you and that their beliefs align with yours.

“It’s not about ‘I’ did something. It’s about ‘we’ worked together,” Gordon McNeill, president of Sage Hill, explained.

Even though the mission statement and school ideals haven’t changed since Sage Hill’s opening in 2000, the overall campus has certainly grown and evolved with the needs of today’s students. The buildings, whether they were built 15 years ago or just last summer, have all made an impact on the day-to-day lives of everyone at the school.

However, the majority of the school’s buildings were created from the visions of a few people, and these few people in turn inspired others to believe in Sage.

One of the major contributors to Sage Hill was the Ueberroth family. Vicki Booth, Peter Ueberroth’s daughter, explained that her family was “attracted to the notion and dream of what Sage Hill could be [even] before it was a school.”

The Peter V. Ueberroth Gymnasium, fondly known as the “Ube,” was named after Peter Ueberroth when some of the members of the Board of Trustees approached him and wanted to thank him for his involvement with Sage Hill.

She also explained that the Ueberroth’s “hope is that Sage continues to educate students to become the best possible version of themselves. We want students to go out and make a positive change in the world.”

Like the Ueberroths, the Caillouette family supported the idea of Sage Hill and were extremely important to the development of the school.

“We reached out for financial and ethnic diversity. It was a passion project for our family and was the most we ever gave to anything. We wanted a school where it was cool to be smart and kids were curious,” Dori (Caillouette) Koll explained.

They bravely took on the campaign to kickstart the building of Sage Hill and poured their hearts into the project.

“Sage was going to raise the bar for all the schools in the area,” Koll said.

In addition to the initial Sage Hill buildings, the Lisa Argyros and Family Science Center was built in 2014. This innovative building has redefined the standards for science facilities in Orange County. The science center gives students incredible opportunities in all the sciences, as well as opportunities to collaborate on projects.

“The Lisa Argyros and Family Science Center was built to enhance the programs at Sage Hill,” McNeill explained. “The collaborative classrooms in the hallways were built for service learning.”

Each building at Sage Hill has been built with purpose to create the ultimate learning experience for students.

The Argyros family was particularly interested in donating toward the science center because of their desire to inspire more students in the science and math fields.

“As a nation, we’ve fallen behind in science and math. I was excited to see Sage Hill taking the lead in this area and I felt compelled to do my part,” Argyros explained.

In addition to the Argyros, Koll and Ueberroth families, the Andersons also had a huge impact on the growth of the school. They saw potential in Sage Hill and wanted to help make the school a reality for students.

“The school would provide opportunities that no other school in our area had to offer.  Education has always been important to our family and Sage Hill would offer so much more than just academic excellence,” DeeDee Anderson said.

The Anderson family was also attracted to the amazing community service, athletic and arts programs that enable Sage Hill students to believe in themselves and stand out in their community.  Anderson’s only wish is that Sage Hill continue to inspire students to follow their many passions for years to come.

“I hope that the love of learning and the incredible sense of community will always be prominent at Sage Hill,” Anderson said.

It is impossible to fully thank the donors for the effect they have had on Sage Hill.  However, the buildings that were named after them will always serve as a reminder of their dedication and impact on the school.

“I am continually amazed at the donors’ generosity,” McNeill said. “They have joined and believed in the mission 100 percent. Without them, [Sage Hill] doesn’t exist. It’s a huge deal.  What Sage Hill has become has exceeded my expectations in so many ways.”