Front of Hoban in 1955

1955 photo of the front of Archbishop Hoban High School

HOBAN HISTORY

In the early 1950s, Archbishop Edward F. Hoban invited the Brothers of Holy Cross to staff a new high school in Akron to be named in his honor. The brothers had taught him as a boy, and he knew their standard of excellence. It would be the third Holy Cross high school in the Cleveland Diocese, joining Gilmour Academy in Gates Mills and St. Edward High School in Lakewood. Monsignor Richard Dowed, the pastor of Akron's Annunciation parish, envisioned a comprehensive boys high school in his neighborhood. The land he acquired, once the Sumner farm, would soon be cut by a new Interstate highway. The result was a campus located near the central interchange of the expressway system, easily accessible to outlying areas. In 1953, Archbishop Hoban High School opened its doors.

An economic downturn in Akron in the mid-1970s brought about changes that would ultimately strengthen the school—a true blessing in disguise. When the school nearly closed in 1976, a grassroots coalition of parents and alumni embarked on the "Hoban Forever" campaign with the goal of raising a million dollars. Hoban became coeducational. Offices for advancement, alumni and admissions were created. The board of trustees was strengthened. And an endowment fund was launched. These actions put Hoban in a position of strength and transformed the school into the diverse educational community it is today.

In 1998, the U.S. Department of Education named Hoban a Blue Ribbon School of Excellence, affirming the long-existing opinion of students, parents and alumni. Another measure of Hoban's superior academic success is the number of National Merit Scholarship Corporation awards students have earned each year, more than any other school in Summit County.

Hoban's capital campaigns over the years have proved how philanthropically supportive the school community is and have transformed the campus and facilities. The "Hoban 2000" campaign resulted in the construction of the iconic golden dome, the Alumni Gymnasium and the Nolan Concourse. The space that once housed the residence of the brothers was converted into the Faraday Science Building. In 2013, an even more ambitious campaign, dubbed "This is Hoban," expanded the Hoban Endowment Fund for student scholarships and allowed for the construction of the Maynard Family Center for Spiritual Formation, which houses the stunning Holy Cross Chapel as well as Moreau Ministry Hall, an all-purpose space provided through the generosity of the Wartko family. The campaign also provided funds for the 13,000-square-foot Didado Family Health and Fitness Center, a state-of-the-art physical wellness facility. Other recent construction projects include the Asente and Scala Families Innovation Center and the remodeled Holy Cross Room, as well as curriculum expansions such as the McCool Center for Entrepreneurial and Leadership Studies. 

Now, after more than 60 years of educating hearts and minds in the Holy Cross tradition, Hoban celebrates and honors its history, characterized by a unique tradition of academic excellence infused with the Holy Cross core values. Though much has changed at Hoban over the years, a consistent bond connects all Hoban graduates as one community—an overwhelming pride and commitment to be "True to You."

The Visor Special Issue: Hoban History, 1999

Hoban seal

HOBAN SEAL

Rich in symbolism and tradition, the Hoban seal incorporates heraldic elements representing the Brothers of Holy Cross, Archbishop Edward F. Hoban and the Akron community. Reserved for formal use, the seal adds authority and authenticity to important documents such as diplomas.