Times Square Hat Trick!

Once is an extraordinary moment.

Twice makes you take notice.

And three times in one year? Maybe it's time to recognize that something remarkable is happening at Mary Immaculate Catholic School.

This year, the name and logo of our small Catholic school in Farmers Branch, Texas, has already appeared twice on one of the most recognizable stages in the world—the Nasdaq MarketSite in New York City's Times Square. And before the year is over, Mary Immaculate is preparing to make a third appearance.

But the real story isn't the billboard.

It's why we keep finding ourselves there.

It Started With Our Students

In March, students from Mary Immaculate's Motter Business Program traveled to New York City for an experience designed to take what they were learning in the classroom and bring it to life.

What awaited them was more than anyone could have imagined.

Our students were welcomed inside Nasdaq MarketSite, attended the Opening Bell ceremony, toured the facility and experienced firsthand a place synonymous around the world with business, entrepreneurship and innovation.

Then they stepped outside.

There, high above Times Square, was something familiar: Mary Immaculate Catholic School.

Our school's logo was illuminated on the Nasdaq display for New York—and the world—to see.

For the students standing beneath it, it was an unforgettable moment. But it also represented something bigger: students from a PreK–8 Catholic school in Farmers Branch discovering that the world they are learning about isn't somewhere far away.

There is a place for them in it.

Then Came Recognition We Never Expected

Just months later, Mary Immaculate found itself in Times Square again—this time for an entirely different reason.

Mary Immaculate Catholic Parish & School was named the North American winner of Blackbaud's 2026 Fueling Greatness Award, an honor recognizing organizations that achieve exceptional results by reaching or surpassing ambitious goals in support of their mission.

This time, it wasn't simply our students being given an extraordinary opportunity.

Our parish and school were being recognized for extraordinary impact.

Among organizations from across the United States, Canada and around the world, the work happening here at Mary Immaculate stood out.

And once again, our name appeared at Nasdaq in Times Square.

For a community rooted here in North Texas, that recognition carries special meaning. Every day, teachers, staff, clergy, parents, parishioners, volunteers and students contribute to a mission much larger than themselves. Much of that work happens quietly—in classrooms, Masses, meetings, service projects, extracurricular programs and countless conversations with children.

Sometimes, though, the world notices.

This year, it has noticed Mary Immaculate.

And We're Not Finished Yet

In October, a new group of Motter Business Program students will travel to New York City.

They will follow in the footsteps of the students who went before them, attending the Nasdaq Opening Bell ceremony, touring MarketSite and experiencing the excitement of Times Square.

And once again, they are expected to look up and see the Mary Immaculate logo shining above them.

Three appearances in Times Square. One year. Three very different reasons.

The first celebrated opportunity.

The second recognized impact.

The third represents momentum.

And perhaps that is the most exciting part of this story.

The experiences being created at Mary Immaculate aren't intended to be one-time moments. We are building programs, relationships and opportunities that can grow from one class to the next.

Last year's students opened a door.

This year's students will walk through it.

And somewhere in our classrooms today may be a younger Mustang who will walk through an entirely different door because of what is being built right now.

Something Special Is Happening Here

It would be easy to look at a photograph of the Mary Immaculate logo glowing over Times Square and simply say, "How amazing."

And it is.

But perhaps we should also allow ourselves to recognize what it represents.

We're doing something right over here.

A Catholic school in Farmers Branch is giving middle-school students access to experiences many adults will never have. Our parish and school are receiving recognition beyond our city and state. Our programs are creating opportunities that didn't exist just a few years ago.

Most importantly, our students are seeing what becomes possible when faith, education, ambition, service and opportunity come together.

The lights of Times Square will eventually change to the next image. That's what billboards do.

But for Mary Immaculate, the goal has never been simply to see our name in lights.

It's to help our students recognize just how brightly they can shine.

And we're only getting started.