Spring/Summer 2011
Transcription
Spring/Summer 2011
iconnections keeping in touch & friends withalumni Summer 2011 magazine contents 2011 Dear ICHS Alumni, Parents and Friends, issue The class of 2011 may have lef t the comfor t of their home at ICHS, but I feel delighted and hopeful knowing that we have empowered them to use the knowledge and experiences of their high school career to achieve anything they aspire to in college and beyond. We take great pride in the accomplishments of our graduates and look for ward to hearing about their successes when they return home as alumni in the fall or in the years that follow. When speaking of empowerment, we understand that this concept does not just apply to our faculty and students. Our administrators, teachers and coaches empower our students to continue to challenge themselves academically and athletically, but more impor tantly by living in ser vice to God. Just as we empower our students, our Pastor and Board of Trustees empower us to focus on our mission and continue to enhance our programs and facilities while teaching the vir tues of the Catholic faith. When you return to our campus next fall, you will find that great things ARE happening at ICHS. We are celebrating 75 years of excellence, and moving in a positive direction of growth. We invite you to learn more about our plans for the future by reading excerpts from the Case Summar y Repor t contained in this issue. Thank you for your continued suppor t! Have a great summer. Pamela M. Levar Principal 2 2011 SUMMER magazine 3 4 6 7 10 13 2011 notable alumni knight of jewels hope for haiti winter sports recap ichs strategic initiative focus on faculty 2 0 1 1 n o t a b l e a l um n i knights 20 hall of fame ELEVEN Inducted to 2011 ICHS Knights Athletic hall of fame The IC Gym was electric on Friday, January 28th. The crowds that gathered were not only treated to a live radio broadcast of the Boys Basketball game, but they were introduced to the impressive group of ICHS alumni being inducted into this year’s Athletic Hall of Fame. The eleven new inductees were recognized at half-time of the varsity game as they were each presented at center court by Athletic Director Darren Howard. “It is just so much fun being back here at ICHS” said Mary Donohue Rachford, “It brings me back to the excitement of my high school playing days”. Upon the conclusion of the game, the inductees along with their families and friends gathered for a reception and awards ceremony held in Plunkett Hall. Each of the inductees, introduced by the person who submitted their nomination, spoke about their time at ICHS and beyond. The emotional reflections on their own personal experiences centered on gratitude towards their families, teachers, teammates and coaches for their help and inspiration along the way. “ICHS has always been a place of integrity, excellence and pride” explained Eileen Shannon Asmussen,” It is a place that has always been committed to bring out the best in its students, but it’s scope goes way beyond the four years they spend here”. Congratulations to the newest members of the ICHS Athletic Hall of Fame. Pictured L-R above: Mark Morgan (’77), Jim Weniger (coach), Jack Cammack (’66), Michael Pesola (’89), Julie Falduto Hurt (’89), Nancy Kerrigan D’Amore (’85), Eileen Shannon Asmussen (’89), Jack Halpin (’61), Fran Donohue LaFleur (’80), and Mary Donohue Rachford (’84). Not Pictured: Lauren Burny (’94). TWO Distinguished Alumni Award Recipients Honored On Tuesday, February 5th, the “buzz” at Immaculate Conception High School was not about the impending blizzard that was fast approaching, but about the two outstanding former students who were being honored that day with the 2011 ICHS Distinguished Alumni Award. Jim Bauernfeind (Class of 1956) and Patricia Cassidy (Class of 1980) set off on two distinctly different paths after graduating from Immaculate Conception High School, but both attribute much of their success to the foundation that was built during their time at ICHS. The day began with a special “all-school” Mass, held in the IC Chapel. At the conclusion of the Mass, ICHS Principal Pam Levar introduced nominators that presented this year’s Distinguished Alumni to the students – highlighting the remarkable journey of each of these exceptional alumni. Both award winners emotionally described what they learned in their years at ICHS and expressed a deep gratitude for the foundation of leadership and learning that enabled each to excel in their careers and personal lives. After the presentation, the honorees, their families, and friends joined ICHS administrators, staff, and a small group of current ICHS student leaders at a breakfast reception. participation for the Golf Outings, working the phones at a Phone-A-Thon or consistently being one of the top sellers in the Booster Club sponsored NFL Raffle. Previously, Jim has also been honored with the Golden Man Knight of the Year in 1992 and he received the Honorary Knight Award for service and dedication to the Athletic Department in 1993. “He is one of the most honorable and dedicated men I have ever met to not only his family but to ICHS,” said his nominator Gina Ensalaco Gasbarre (Class of 1981). “He believes what ICHS can do for every kid and will do anything possible to help out in any way he can.” distinguished alumni After graduating from ICHS in 1956, Jim Bauernfeind headed to Northern Illinois University and then served in the United States Army from 1959 though 1961. He then went to work for Royal Typewriters where he quickly became their number one west coast salesperson. Moving back to Chicago, Jim became the sales leader at International Typewriter Exchange before founding the Liberty Sales Corporation, a promotional products company that is still going strong today. A firm believer in Catholic Education, Jim and his wife Mary Ann sent both of their daughters, Suzie (‘92) and Mary Beth (‘93), to Vistitation Grade School and Immaculate Conception High School. “I gave my daughters three choices for high school,” Bauernfeind explained to the gathered ICHS students, “ICHS, ICHS, or ICHS”. Jim has remained a steadfast supporter of the high school, whether it be assisting the Alumni Association, helping to organize and seek Trisha Cassidy headed off to the University of Illinois after graduating from ICHS in 1980 where she earned a degree in Political Science. Trisha went on to earn her Masters in business management from Loyola University. In 2009, Trisha’s 20 year career in healthcare management was acknowledged when she was named the new President of Loyola Gottlieb Hospital in Melrose Park. Since taking on her new role, Trisha has overseen the opening of a new cardiovascular unit, and implemented a variety of changes to shift the new Loyola Gottlieb to a more patient centered health facility. Trisha’s career and life has been marked by many accomplishments due to her thoughtful intelligence and dedication to providing compassionate care to the patients at Loyola Gottlieb Hospital. She is a great example of the kind of person that ICHS strives to develop. “I sat exactly where you are sitting about 30 years ago,” Cassidy told students, “and I never would have dreamed where my journey would take me from there – but I now know it all started here at ICHS.” w w w. i c h s k n i g h t s . o r g 3 A l um n i knight of JEWELS On Saturday, February 26th, Immaculate Conception High School held the 41st Annual Knight of Jewels Dinner Dance and Auction at River Forest Country Club in Elmhurst. This year’s gala was lead by event Chairs Gene and Tobi Faut, Rich and Denise Gillette, and Dave and Colleen Muno. Close to 300 attendees, including ICHS families, alumni, friends and staff, were treated to an evening filled with bountiful food, drink and merriment. The evening started with prayer by Immaculate Conception Pastor, Father Tom Paul. Event Co-Chair Rich Gillette proceeded to deliver a warm welcome before he passed the mic to our Live Auction emcee, Tom Ryan (Class of ’81). Guests were delighted as six fantastic Live Auction items were generously bid on to raised close to $60,000 for the high school. New to the Knight of Jewels event this year was the recognition of the ICHS Distinguished Alumni who had been recently honored with this prestigious award during a ceremony and brunch during Catholic Schools Week. Honoree, Trish Cassidy (Class of ’80) could not make this year’s Knight of Jewels gala, but Jim Bauernfiend (Class of ’56) was treated to a standing ovation for his years of loyal support and service to ICHS. Jim Bauernfiend was not the only one to receive a standing ovation at this year’s gala. Lead cast members of the ICHS Knights Theatre performed a sneak preview of the Spring Play, Hairspray, that brought the crowd to their feet once again. As the live entertainment concluded, the fundraising and fun kicked into high gear! With approximately 75 items presented for bidding in the Silent auction and a DJ who had the dance floor jumping for the rest of the evening, it was easy to see why this event was once again such a huge success raising over $150,000. The monies raised at this event will assist ICHS by providing critical funding for our students and the school’s greatest needs including tuition assistance, technological advancements in the classroom, faculty development, and curriculum and facility enhancements. thank you to all our volunteers: Chairs Gene & Tobi Faut Rich & Denise Gillette Dave & Colleen Muno Advertising & Sponsorship Ruth Hill Teresa Roberto Auction Merchandising Noreen Cheng Laura Packer Karen Ricobene Publicity Nancy D’Amore Carolyn Hansen Online Auction Bidding for Good Carolyn Hansen Mary Pulkownik Invitations Tracey vasquez Reservations Lori Vlahiotis Helma Perez Notebook Journal Ads Melissa Haggerty Centerpieces/ Set-Up/Decorations Cindy Bosworth Dawn Hornstra Colleen Lamborn sound Mark DiBrito 4 Live Auctioneer Tom Ryan online auction (bidding for good) Carolyn Hansen Mary Pulkownik Cashiers Gina DelFiacco Sarah Mahnke Amy Mrugacz Mary Pulkownik Cyndi Ribando A very special thanks Mr. Charles Priester Mr. Tom Ryan Mr. Steve Remy Mrs. Sis Greco Mr. Thomas Manion Dr. Don Hoffman Mr. John Howlett Fr. Tom Paul Ms. Pam Levar performers Lauren Cellini Julie D’Agostino Natalie D’Agostino Brendan Daly Ali Hartnett Matt Kremske Megan Perez Knights Theatre Director: Mark Dedowicz 2011 SUMMER magazine a BIG THANK YOU to our CROWN JEWEL SPONSORS: D I A MO N D ( $ 5 , 0 0 0 ) David Dyer Faut Family / 3D Exhibits Gillette Family Julie Hendricks Charlie Priester / Priester Aviation EMER A LD ($2,50 0) Gibbons Family / Gibbons Funeral Home Haggerty Family / Haggerty Auto Group) Calcagno Family / Olympic Chiropractic & Physical Therapy RU B Y ( $1 , 0 0 0 ) Ryan Family / Cole Taylor Bank Pasquale Moreci / Robertos Ristorante A n o t he r bi g t hank y o u t o o u r l o yal a d ve r t ise r s : D’Agostino Family Sis Greco / The Odeum Sports & Expo Center Remy Family / RVG Partners Patricia Cassidy / Gottlieb Memorial Hospital Suzie Bauernfiend / Liberty Sales Corporation Immaculate Conception Grade School Sandy Kastrzak / Quest Food Management Bill Acton / Advancement Partners, Inc. Curatolo Family / Giochinnos Edward J. Lamm / St. Norbert College Someone you should know Someone youshould know mike fox stays connected It is said that throughout our lives we seek to feel connected with others. These connections form the substance of our relationships – whether they’re with family, friends, co-workers, teachers or mentors. For Mike Fox, Class of 1983, it’s the “connections” that have made his experiences, both personal and professional, so rewarding. When sharing his fondest memories while at Immaculate Conception High School, Fox states, “I made great, lifelong friends at ICHS. I’m very close with the kids that I went to high school with.” Upon graduation, Mike headed to Dubuque, Iowa to attend Loras College. After finding that it was not a great fit for him, Fox transferred to Marquette University in Milwaukee where he completed his undergraduate studies in Finance. Fox then went on to earn his MBA from Loyola University in Chicago. Mike met his wife Carol after college. Ironically, Carol grew up in Elmhurst as well. They met on a blind date and Mike found his “connection” with the love of his life. Wanting to stay close to family, in 1995, Mike and Carol settled back into Elmhurst to start a family of their own. They have four daughters: Maggie (13), Ally (11), Kaily (10), and Jackie (6), who all attend IC Grade School. After a couple of moves to accommodate their growing family, Mike and Carol eventually bought the house he grew up in from his parents – just a couple blocks away from IC. mike FOX Fox found the smaller, more intimate environment at ICHS gave him that extra push to succeed. “I was a kid that needed my butt kicked to stay on track,” said Fox, “and teachers like Mr. DeBartolo, Mr. Euphrasio, and Mr. Arthurs did that for me – all really great guys.” Fox continued by saying he was grateful for the opportunities he had while at ICHS, like playing football and running track. “My one regret is that I wish I had participated in more…gotten even more involved because that’s where the connections with my friends grew so strong.” It was also in 1995 that Mike decided to join the family business, RP Fox & Associates, a real estate company based in Oak Park, Illinois that his father started in the 1970’s. He has been running a bulk of the operations since 2000, when his father began to transition into retirement, and was officially named President last year. Being a part of the family business helps Mike stay “connected” with his roots. ‘When I first started at RP Fox, my Grandma worked in the office two to three days a week,” recalled Fox, “It was such a treat for me to get to see her and talk to her every week.” In addition to his busy career, Fox has also headed up the Downtown Oak Park Association for 11 out of the past 12 years. He has also volunteered as a Coach for his daughter’s softball and soccer teams throughout the years – a special experience that allows him to “connect” with each of his girls. If he could send a message to the students at ICHS today, Mike would tell them “that being involved is so important, and there is no substitute for hard work.” As the students of today seek to find a path that they are passionate about, Fox hopes that they do not forget to connect with those around them along the way, as these relationships may end up lasting a lifetime. patrick BURKE When thinking about Immaculate Conception High School many words and thoughts come to mind, but none better than FAMILY. My name is Patrick Burke, and I am a proud member of the graduating class of 2011. Immaculate Conception has always been my first and only choice for high school. I have two brothers, Mike and Joe, and one sister, Maggie, all of whom are graduates of ICHS. Stepping through the doors off Cottage Hill for the first time as a high school student, I never would have imagined all the opportunities and experiences that lay ahead of me. At times it’s been a difficult road, but with the help of my by fellow students, teachers and staff, my journey has been rewarding. I have been challenged at ICHS especially in the classroom and on the athletic fields. I feel it has prepared me not just for college, but also for the rest of my life. ICHS has given me the opportunities to grow as a person. I have been able to excel as a varsity captain for the football team, co-president of the National Honor Society, Knight Pride award winner, and still maintain my scouting life and earn the rank of Eagle Scout outside of ICHS. During my time here, it was the people who have helped me mature and grow. I hope that I may have done the same for the underclassmen by setting an example of respect and acceptance. The support and confidence I received from my “Family” at ICHS has propelled me to be an adaptable leader, caring friend, driven student, and just an all-around better person. I am grateful for all ICHS has instilled in me. I hope to take what I learned and apply it to my college life next year. Following graduation, I will be attending St. Norbert College in De Pere, Wisconsin, where I will major in Biology and play football as a Green Knight. w w w. i c h s k n i g h t s . o r g 5 s t u d e n t ser v i c e Hope for haiti - ICHS 2011 Parish lenten project During the 2011 Lenten season, ICHS joined forces with the IC Parish as a participant in the Lenten Mission project – Hope for Haiti. Students, faculty and staff collected money for Our Lady of Perpetual Help Orphanage in Duchity, Haiti. student SERVICE In early March, the founder of the Orphanage, Ertha, visited the IC Parish and schools to personally describe the devastation left behind after the massive earthquake struck Haiti. She shared that many children in Haiti not only found themselves homeless, but were also left without families to care for them. Ertha responded by opening her home to the orphans and began the process of caring for them. With resources so extremely limited, Ertha provided an opportunity for the IC parish community to come together to help build a much needed kitchen and cafeteria for the orphanage. Currently, meals are prepared and served outdoors with only a small single table to sit around. On Ash Wednesday, ICHS students, faculty, and staff were each given a white bag to be used for collections throughout the Lenten season. As an added incentive, for each homeroom that returned all of their bags containing donations, a highly coveted dress down week would be awarded to students and faculty alike. With an astounding 100% return, the entire school was able to enjoy a week in jeans and t-shirts together before heading into final exams. Most importantly, because of the generosity of all the IC parish participants over $44,000 was raised to help the orphans in Duchity. We are very excited that Ertha will soon be able to prepare and serve meals to the orphans in a sanitary, indoor facility that will provide seating for everyone to share their meals together. Dodging for Dollars Dodgeball Team Winners donate to Hope for Haiti On Friday, March 11th, Immaculate Conception High School hosted its 5th Annual “Dodging for Dollars” Dodgeball Tournament. A total of 18 teams entered this year’s event looking for a chance to raise money for a deserving charity. This year the IC Parish Lenten project – Hope for Haiti was chosen. Along with the participants, ICHS families and friends had a great night of fun, food and friendly competition! All of the teams pre-registered for the event, designating their 7-player roster and submitting a team name. The uniforms were t-shirts designed by the teams and ranged from simple shirts of the same color to hand-painted designs made specifically for the tournament. Each team was guaranteed a minimum of two matches in the double elimination format, with each match consisting of the best two out of three games. The championship match featured a fierce battle between the “Visitation Vikings” and the “Silver Bullets”. The Vikings had won the consolation bracket to earn its way into the top match, while the Bullets entered the championship undefeated for the night. The Silver Bullets went on to win in 2 games. Members of the Silver Bullets team included Katelyn Conenna (junior), Kaleigh Dempsey (junior), Conor Hendricks (senior), Jose Godinez (senior), Danny Ribando (junior), Charlie Pulkownik (junior) and Nick Mrugacz (junior). A $580 donation was made to the Hope for Haiti project on behalf of the Silver Bullets – the 2011 ICHS Dodgeball Champions. 6 2011 SUMMER magazine W Winter Recap at h l e t i c s winter Sports Recap The winter sports season not only featured very positive results for our teams, but also showcased the talents of some of our remarkable student athletes. The girl’s basketball team finished the season 1515 overall, playing in the ultracompetitive Suburban Christian Conference (SCC) Blue division. The girls advanced to the Regional Championship game, where they lost a heartbreaker in double overtime. Leading the way for the girls were senior captains Allie DiVito and Michelle Karges. DiVito was named SCC Blue All-Conference and IBCA 3rd Team All-State. The boy’s basketball team finished the year at 12-16 overall and 4-6 in the SCC Gold Division. They advanced to the Regional Semi-Finals, where they lost a close game to bring their season to an end. The Knights were led by senior captains Demetrius Mobley, Anthony Loss, and Mike Devito. Mobley and Loss were both named to the SCC Gold All-Conference Team, and Mobley was named IBCA 2nd Team All-State and Loss IBCA Honorable Mention All-State. In addition, head coach Darren Howard became the all-time career wins leader for boys basketball in ICHS history. The bowling team continued to make positive strides. The team competed very well in matches and tournaments throughout the year. Despite scoring well at Sectionals, the team was unable advance to the State Meet. The Knights were led by captains, junior Zack Nixon and sophomore Adalberto Suarez. Suarez finished 8th individually at Sectionals, while senior Andrew Boffa placed 15th. The dance team once again qualified for the Team Dance Illinois State Finals, this year in both the open dance and lyrical categories. The Lady Knights earned 4th place in Open Dance and 6th place in Lyrical in the State Finals competition. The girls were led by their captains, seniors Deirdre Gillette and Tara Hill and junior Chloe Koch. Finally, the Knights cheer team enjoyed a successful season in their 2nd year of competition. The girls earned a 3rd place finish in the SCC competition. They also competed very well at the IHSA Sectional, but did not advance to the state finals. The cheer team was led by senior captains Carli Foley, Gina Geils, and Ashia Johnson. 2010 Winter Sport award winners W in t e r 2 010 -11 S CC A ll A c a d e m i c At hle t es Patrick BurkeBasketball Michael DevitoBasketball Alexandra DiVitoBasketball Deirdre Gillette Dance Patrick HaggertyBasketball Alexandra Hartnett Dance Michelle KargesBasketball Matthew KremskeBowling John ChengBasketball Jennifer ClementiBasketball Katelyn ConennaBasketball Brendan DalyBowling Jade EdulanBasketball Chloe Koch Dance Alexandra KuklaCheer Jessica MonteonCheer Patrick RadohaBasketball Kellyanne RemyBasketball Stephanie StahlBasketball Megan SuttonBasketball Kelsey PackerCheer Adalberto SuarezBowling Cara Horan Dance Amber LovesheBowling Blaine ManningBowling Grace VitekBasketball Gi r ls B aske t ball MVP - Allie DiVito MIP - Kaleigh Dempsey Practice Player of the Year - Allie DiVito B o y s B aske t ball MVP - Demetrius Mobley MIP - Pat haggerty, anthony Loss Pride Hustle Desire - michael devito B o wlin g MVP - adalberto suarez MIP - brian anzures Dan c e MVP - chloe Koch MIP - cara horan coaches award - lauren cellini Chee r MVP - carli foley MIP - hazel aquino A ll - C o n f e r en c e B o y s B A S K E T B all Demetrius Mobley, anthony loss A ll - C o n f e r en c e Gi r ls B A S K E T B all allie divito A ll - S tat e Re c o g ni t i o n IBCA 2nd Team All State - Demetrius Mobley IBCA 3rd Team All State - allie divito IBCA honorable Mention All State - anthony loss Athletic Department “Knight Pride” Award Nominated: Patrick Burke , Deirdre Gillette, Michelle Karges, Ashia Johnson, Matt Kremske Winner: patrick burke w w w. i c h s k n i g h t s . o r g 7 d’agostino’s spirit and dedication inspire us all She has the voice of an angel and a heart of gold…but Julie D’Agostino could really use a new set of lungs. Julie has Cystic Fibrosis, a chronic inherited disease that impacts the lungs and digestive systems. She has been on the waiting list for a lung transplant at Loyola University Medical Center for two years. With her twin sister Natalie at her side, Julie just completed her senior year at Immaculate Conception High School. It is hard to imagine the giant personality and the strength of character that is carried within her petite 4-foot-9 frame, but you just know from the moment you meet her that she is determined to be bigger than the disease that she has been battling her whole life. When Julie and twin sister Natalie D’Agostino were born, parents Mario and Mary already had experience with twins – son and daughter Kevin and Elizabeth, also twins, were 6 years old. When Mario and Mary learned that Julie was born with Cystic Fibrosis, they found themselves somewhat prepared again as Kevin had been diagnosed with the very same disease. With Julie, however, the disease had manifested in a much more serious way, greatly damaging her lungs at an early age. For most who suffer with the severity of CF that has ravaged Julie’s systems, a majority of their time is spent in bed due to the rigorous treatments required to clear the lungs and the toll that takes on the body. The body of a person who suffers from CF produces a thick, sticky mucous that coats the lungs, compromises the immune system and triggers massive coughing fits. Nebulizer treatments, multiple IV’s to pump antibiotics and regular chest therapy were part of the daily regimen necessary for Julie to stay healthy enough to attend school regularly. But just getting to classes wasn’t enough for Julie – there were simply too many things she wanted to do. As a freshman, Julie walked into the IC Gym in the middle of July to start volleyball camp. With temperatures in the neighborhood of 90 degrees, this was a trying environment for the healthiest of girls. It turned out that the activity, or more specifically the pounding associated with volleyball, actually provided some lung benefit to Julie – resulting in a natural clearing effect. With her slight frame, Julie wasn’t exactly an intimidating presence on the court, but her enthusiasm, leadership and determination earned her a spot in the starting rotation for two years on the junior varsity team. When she physically could not longer handle the pace, she stayed with the team in the role as Manager. Her enthusiasm for the game and her dedication to her team also made her perfectly suited to become the voice of ICHS volleyball as the game announcer– a role she commanded in her junior and senior years. Julie’s true passion is the stage. She’s a performer at heart which seems like an overly ambitious pursuit for someone with her condition. But when that curtain lifts and the spotlight goes on, one can’t help but believe that God steps in and puts the air in her lungs so that she can have her voice when she wants it the most. And what a voice it is…clear, strong and well, healthy. There really is no logical explanation for it. Having participated, along with Natalie, in every school production since her freshman year – Julie always longed for the coveted lead role in her final ICHS performance. First came the news that the 2011 Spring Production would be “Hairspray”, a light, campy musical set in the 1960’s. Then Julie not only landed the lead role of Tracy Turnblad, but Natalie would be playing Tracy’s best friend, Penny Pingleton. It couldn’t have been scripted any better. The catch, however, was that Julie needed to battle to stay healthy enough to fulfill this dream. She was diligent with all her treatments. She made sure she got plenty of rest. She ate a nutritionally balanced diet, high in calories to make up for those that were expended in the frequent coughing fits. On opening night, it was clear that Julie was ready – tired, but ready to play the role of her lifetime. And for all those who witnessed her performance, they not only enjoyed a fantastic musical performed by a very talented group of ICHS students – they got to see first hand the miracle that is Julie D’Agostino. to read more about Julie D’Agostino’s inspirational story, Visit www.ichsknights.org’s Knight News section and link to Chicago SunTimes and NBC 5 Chicago News FEATURES. 8 2 0 1 1 S ummer m a g a z i n e Congratulations! s t u d e n t Awa r d s PRESIDENT’S VOLUNTEER SERVICE AWARD: Immaculate Conception High School senior, Bridget McCann, has been honored for her exemplary volunteer service with a President’s Volunteer Service Award. The award, which recognizes Americans of all ages who have volunteered significant amounts of their time to serve their communities and their country, was presented by the Prudential Spirit of Community Awards program on behalf of President Barack Obama. “Bridget is a kind young lady who seeks out opportunities to help others and she does so with such kindness and dedication,” praised ICHS Principal Pam Levar. Bridget earned this award by volunteering her time in many different ways. As a Christian Service leader, she has traveled with the Immaculate Conception Parish Youth Group on mission trip for the past two summers. Bridget has also participated in the Relay for Life event in 2008 and 2010, while joining the Crop Walk and volunteering at the Special Olympics in 2009. Leveraging her love of volleyball, Bridget has also helped to raise money in the past few years by participating in the DuPage Habitat for Humanity volleyball tournament to help raise funds to build homes. In addition, Bridget is a two-year member of the National Honor Society, four-year member of the volleyball team, participates in the Knights Theatre along with the ICHS Super Squad, Yearbook staff, Math team and Spanish Club. Sponsored by Prudential Financial in partnership with the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP), The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards program recognizes young people across America for outstanding community service activities. More than 310,000 young people have been considered for these awards since the program began in 1995. WISBROCK SCHOLARSHIP: ICHS is pleased to announce sophomore Debra Barnish was awarded the Phyllis K. Wisbrock Service Award Scholarship this year. Sponsored by the Wisbrock family, this scholarship is awarded to a female sophomore in recognition of exemplary service to the school, parish and community. Debra currently serves as an Altar Server for the Sacred Heart Parish in Melrose Park, and volunteers at various parish fundraisers. In addition, she is an Animal Care League volunteer and has lent her services to assist cancer patients, U.S. veterans and the elderly. Debra is also a volunteer Gymnastics coach in her community. At ICHS, Debra serves as a Knight Ambassador, is a member of the Italian club and is a feature writer for the school newspaper. The Wisbrock Scholarship was set up in honor of Phyllis Wisbrock, who was a lifetime member of the Immaculate Conception parish and was part of the very first class to graduate from the new Immaculate Conception High School in 1953. DAILY HERALD LEADERSHIP TEAM: ICHS would like to commend seniors Pat Burke and Ali HarTnett on being named honorable mention on the 2010-2011 Daily Herald Leadership Team. The program, which began in 2000, recognizes high school seniors who excel in volunteerism and community service. Members of this team were selected from a pool of students from over 100 high schools. Pat’s community service includes being a One Small Voice Foundation 5K Run and Family Fun Walk volunteer, Boy Scout Troop 14 member, Christian Service Leader and working on his Eagle Scout project for Ray Graham Association. In addition, Pat is the Co-President of the National Honor Society, a Eucharistic Minister, and a member of the Chess Club, Spanish Club and Bass Fishing Club. Pat was captain of the Varsity Football team and a two-year member of the Varsity Basketball team. He has received the United States Army National Scholar Athlete Award, American Citizenship Award and the Frederick Douglass and Susan B. Anthony Award. Ali’s community service includes being a Muscular Dystrophy Association volunteer, Elmhurst Police Department Peer Jury member, Relay for Life team member, DuPage PADS Run/Walk volunteer and Special Olympics bowling tournament volunteer. In addition, Ali is secretary of the Senior Class, member of NHS, Business Club, Math Club, school choir and has had the lead in the Spring Play for the last 3 years. Ali has also been a varsity member of the State Runner up Dance Team all four years of high school. D-1 Scholarship: ICHS senior basketball player Demetrius Mobley recently signed a letter of intent to play basketball at Army (West Point). Mobley earned a full scholarship to Army and will spend next year playing for the United States Military Academy Prep School before joining the Black Knights the following year. Army is a Division I school and a member of the Patriot League. Mobley, a 3-year varsity starter, finished his career 5th on the all-time scoring leader list for boys basketball with 1,077 points. He was an IBCA 3rd Team All-State Selection his junior year and a 2nd Team selection this past year. He was also selected to the SCC All-Conference Team in both his junior and senior year. w w w. i c h s k n i g h t s . o r g 9 s t r at e g i c i n i t i at i v e Strategic Initiative planning insights Immaculate Conception High School kicks off strategic initiative with valuable insight from survey and focus groups During the spring of 2011, Immaculate Conception High School asked its extended community to “weigh in” on (1) the state of the school today and (2) emerging priorities for the future. To do this, ICHS conducted an online survey, asking those in the school community to assist us in identifying areas where enhancements are needed. A total of 468 people took the survey. Focus Groups: Common Themes •Participants share a fondness for the school as it provides students with a “family” atmosphere built on moral values and a strong Catholic mission. There are positive feelings for the school, particularly its Catholic identity and the leadership opportunities it provides students in the areas of academics and co-curriculars. In addition, ICHS hosted focus group discussions centering on plans for the school’s future. A crosssection of faculty and staff, students, current parents, alumni, past parents and friends were invited to attend one of six focus group discussions. 95 people participated in focus group meetings. Bill Acton of Advancement Partners facilitated the focus groups. •There is a common belief that ICHS is “strong,” and that the overall trajectory of the school is trending positively. That being said, participants still believe that the high school is in a position to advance. In order to compete in today’s market, the following areas were identified as needing our immediate attention and focus – academic and co-curricular programs, facilities, recruitment, and marketing. These feelings were shared in acknowledgement of the highly competitive market that our high school resides in, surrounded by other excellent public and private schools. Focus Group Discussions Participants received background information in advance of each meeting. The agenda for the discussions was as follows: I. Introduction/Context for the meeting II. Self introductions III. Review of background information IV. Group input and recommendations V. Discussion of next steps The discussion at each meeting was lively, positive and candid. Participants were clearly committed to ICHS and eager to participate in its advancement. Many were long-time supporters of the school and were familiar with recent strategic planning initiatives. There were also several participants not as “close” to the school today, who were not aware of all that has been taking place. 10 2 0 1 1 S ummer m a g a z i n e •Many discussions centered on the themes of recruitment, enrollment, marketing and “brand.” People stressed the importance of reaching an optimal enrollment size of 400 students. •While the relatively new involvement of a board of limited jurisdiction is a strength, not enough is known about the work of the board. •Many believe that the relationship between the Parish, GS and HS needs continuous nurturing so that in working together all entities can experience positive growth. Focus Group participants were both surprised and pleased that the IC parish has not subsidized high school s t r at e g i c i n i t i at i v e financial operations for the past few years, that the school recruitment efforts were drawing students from a wide geographic area and that the financial status of the school was very strong. A number of participants were unaware that we did not receive a subsidy. With this understanding, concerns were still expressed that the level of support (not relative to financial support) provided to the HS by the GS and Parish needs improvement. They suggested that the HS continue to work hard and find new ways to get out the “good news” of ICHS. •It isn’t possible (or expected) that ICHS fund all of the facility improvements in the short term. But it is important for ICHS to improve facilities in a way that will (1) enhance programs and (2) help ICHS stay competitive in the market place. •There needs to be a sense of urgency: The time for action is NOW. People are ready, and many would be willing to help fund improvements. •There is strong support for improving facilities. Many saw “visible” renovations – particularly Plunkett Field – as necessary not only to enhance current programs, but also to stay competitive and help attract future enrollment. •At the same time that the school addresses facility needs, it must also examine how to take certain programs to the next level of excellence. In particular: (1) Academic programs, (2) athletics and co-curricular programs (3) recruitment and marketing. Enhancing these areas is just as important as improving facilities. •There was also strong support for continued investment in technology, improvement of the science labs and any “curb appeal” improvements (to the gym, gym entrance and Plunkett Field, in particular) Next Steps Over the summer, school leadership will conduct final interviews with key stakeholders who did not participate in a focus group. The board will also address three key actions: •Participants felt that there was a need to improve facilities in a balanced way – to include academic facility improvements (science labs and technology, for example) with athletic and/or co-curricular improvements (Plunkett Field and the arts, for example). •Reconciling the funding priorities with what is “doable.” (i.e. what should our first priorities be, given how much money we can raise?) Bottom Line: Conclusions of Survey Data and Focus Group Discussions •Create a strategic plan for non-capital enhancements to the school, including academic, athletic and co-curricular programs, as well as recruitment and marketing. •While there was no strong consensus on a specific facility need, there is consensus on doing “something” that will improve programs and facilities, as well as help ICHS in this competitive market. •While there was support in the survey for endowment, the focus groups identified the needs of NOW – current programs and facilities – as a greater need at this time. •Finalizing an improvement plan in concert with the IC parish plan for facility improvements. To review detailed results from our planning survey, please visit our website at www.ichsknights.org and click on Strategic Initiative Update. The survey results will be at the bottom of the Case Summary Report. Thank you for your continued support. w w w. i c h s k n i g h t s . o r g 11 ICHS presents hairspray HAIRSPRAY Immaculate Conception High School Knights Theatre Productions presented Hairspray, the award winning musical and movie, to sold-out audiences on April 15th through April 17th. ICHS was the first high school anywhere in the area to perform Hairspray. Directed once again this year by Mark Dedowicz, the cast members in the leading roles were: senior Julie D’Agostino (Tracy Turnblad), junior Brendan Daly (Edna Turnblad), senior Matt Kremske (Wilbur Turnblad), senior Lauren Cellini (Amber Von Tussle), senior Ali Hartnett (Velma Von Tussle), Megan Perez (Prudy Pingelton), Natalie D’Agostino (Penny Pingelton), Dan Vatch (Link Larkin), and Krystian Seebert (Corny Collins). ART SHOW ICHS Presents the 10th Annual Spring Art Show On March 9th, 2011, Immaculate Conception High School held the 10th Annual Spring Art Show. Works from over 50 students was showcased and guest judge Joe Ninni, a graduate of the American Academy of Art and a Chicago-based illustrator and graphic designer, helped determine the awards that were given out at the conclusion of the event. The show featured various media, including drawing, painting, ceramics, and sculpture. In all, twenty ribbons were awarded to participants. First place ribbons were earned by Veronica Stopka, Adam Kramer, Ah Leum Cho, Kamila Kroczak, and Kwang Cho. Second place ribbons were awarded to John Luke, Ah Leum Cho, Bria Walker, Veronica Stopka, and Michelle Karges. Meanwhile, students receiving third place ribbons were Daniella Carriglio, Kaleigh Dempsey, Briana Iosco, Gabrielle Davis, and Rebecca Jambrone. Finally, honorable mention recognition was given to Peter Strickland, Walker, Allison Rutt, Michelle Eguia, and Karla Ortiz. r e u ni o n news Class of 1951 60th Reunion Look for our reunion page on Facebook! Class of 1991 20th Reunion Early planning stages Contact: Marie Ann (Westhoff) Barry mab3042@aol.com Class of 1971 40th Reunion Sat, Oct. 22nd Reunion Party at Fitz’s Spare Keys in Elmhurst Class of 1956 55th Reunion Early fall 2011 Contacts: Cynthia Dvorak cd8653@sbcglobal.net Tom Corning tcorning@walshgroup.com Save the dates! Fri, Sept. 30th - Sun, Oct. 2nd. Contact: Jack Kearns 847.548.0722 Class of 1961 50th Reunion Valerie (Zawila) Zwolinski vgz1017@att.net Class of 1981 30th Reunion Join our class group on Facebook! Sat, Sept. 17th at 7:30 pm Reunion Party at Charlie’s Bar & Grill Class of 2001 10th Reunion Contacts: Sat, Sept. 24th Reunion Party at the Doubletree Mary Beth (Haggerty) Ryan Ryfamx7@aol.com Hotel in Oak Brook 12 Contacts: Julie (Blass) Hesson rodspal97@yahoo.com Contacts: Mike Johnson mm20115@gmail.com Denise (King) Travis Dee1030@aol.com Jack Halpin johnhalpin669@aol.com Join our class group on Facebook! 2 0 1 1 S ummer m a g a z i n e Save the date! Sat, Oct. 15th Contacts: Carrie Campbell cjc502@gmail.com Phil Tomas philipjtomas@yahoo.com s f o c us o n f a c u lt y Focus on Faculty At ICHS, we strongly believe that the faculty and staff we have are truly the key to our success. Whether they’ve been here for twenty years or just one, the common thread is the thoughtful ways in which they nurture our students each and every day. SR. Mary megan farrelly, o.p. While this may only be Sr. Megan’s fourth year at ICHS, she is no stranger to the world of education. As the Assistant Principal and Director of Curriculum at ICHS, Sr. Megan has her hands full, but we are so grateful to have her on staff to share her vast experience and knowledge of education in a Catholic school environment. Sr. Megan’s received a BA in Mathematics at St. Ambrose University, an MA in Education Administration and Supervision at the University of Illinois (Champaign), and an MA in Adult Ed, Developmental Studies (Concentration in Math) at National-Louis University. Sr. Megan’s ministry of teaching began in New Berlin, Illinois, where she taught primary students. After 7 years she began working with upper level students at St. John Bosco in Chicago. Later her career path led to being a full-time principal. Eventually she returned to her love of teaching when she joined the faculty of a small alternative high school in Chicago. It was here that Sr. Megan found the inspiration to go back to school herself so that she could teach at the college level. “That experience was enriching and expanding for me, so much so that I took a year off teaching to complete a Master’s Program at National-Louis with a view to teach developmental math to college students.” This plan was pre-empted, however, by a community assignment to assume the principalship of Rosary High School in Aurora. Sr. Megan was able to realize a successful capital campaign and complete three construction projects while at Rosary: 1) new athletic facility, 2) renovation of the old gym to an auditorium, and 3) new academic wing which included a media center, mini computer lab, classrooms and renovated space for guidance and campus ministry. “During my 8 years at Rosary High School, none of the accomplishments would have been possible without the help of our Board, faculty, staff, parents, and donors”. After she finished at Rosary, she did some developmental mathematics instruction at Waubonsee Community College. During this time she also began working for Benedictine University as a field supervisor, which she continues to do while working at ICHS. Along with her career at ICHS, Sr. Megan currently serves on the Board of Directors for Marian Catholic High School in Chicago Heights and is on the editorial board of Just Words, a quarterly periodical published by the religious community of which she is a member, the Dominican Sisters of Springfield, Illinois. In her spare time, Sr. Megan enjoys reading, cooking, walking, and biking. As one of nine children, she has several nieces and nephews all over the States with whom she enjoys keeping in touch. She also enjoys watching our students in athletic competitions, as well as the Knights Theatre Play productions. “I love working at ICHS because it is a great place for students to learn and grow. The faculty and staff are excellent!” tim butterly A new favorite among the ICHS students and parents, Mr. Butterly has brought a vibrant and genuine enthusiasm to our high school this year. If you know Mr. Butterly, you can sense that his spirit and creativity illuminates throughout any classroom he teaches in – it’s truly contagious! Double-majoring in English and Secondary Education, Mr. Butterly graduated with a BA from Marquette University in Milwaukee, WI. He also obtained a Masters of Applied Teaching (MAT), specializing in Curriculum and Design from Webster University in St. Louis, MO. Mr. Butterly has been teaching for over 10 years, but this was his first year at ICHS. Currently, he teaches freshmen with four sections of English I, and a single section of English I Honors. He is also the moderator of The Postscript, the ICHS yearbook. Mr. Butterly also enjoys Greek mythology and looks forward to any unit where he can teach the subject to his students. Beyond his passion for teaching, Mr. Butterly is fond of spending time with his wife, Bridget Carroll, Class of ‘95 and their two lovely daughters Delaney (5) and Emily (2). With fast paced days filled with teaching and parenting, quiet walks with their dog Trooper are also an enjoyable pastime. When they moved back to the area, Mr. Butterly stated, “I felt lucky when IC offered me a position. I knew how wonderful it would be to be a part of the ICHS community”. When asked what one of his favorite memories about teaching was, he replied, “The winner of the Crystal Lake, IL Battle of the Bands in 2004 was a group named Mr. Butterly, which was comprised of former students of mine”. It is obvious that Mr. Butterly makes a big impact on the students he teaches, and we feel very lucky to have him as part of our ICHS family. w w w. i c h s k n i g h t s . o r g 13 immaculate conception keeping in iclass notes what’s new with alumni & friends Kathleen (Charlton) Voegtle, ’49 sends a greeting to all of her classmates from what she says is a “great class.” Kathleen spent 16 years as a special education paraprofessional. While she misses the classroom, her 3 grandchildren, 8 greatgrandchildren, and 3 babies due to arrive in 2011 have kept her life full. Several classmates from the class of 1953 got together for lunch at the home of Pat Taylor, ’53 in Naples, Florida. Pat (Harmon) Bauer, ’53 Phyllis (Littlefield) Baber, ’53, Therese (Kammer) Bender, ’53, and Joe Bender, ’53 were all in attendance. The classmates enjoyed reminiscing about their time at ICHS. Mike McLennand, ’65 is proud of his son, Casey, who has joined the Army. He is training at Ft. Benning, Georgia and plans to pursue a career as a ranger. Isla (McGlashan) Arcaro, ’69 was recently profiled in the “Teacher Feature” section of the Beacon News. She is a foreign language teacher at Marmion Academy. One of Isla’s students nominated her for the feature because of her kindness and tremendous teaching ability. Mary Beth (Haggerty) Ryan, ’81 was installed as President of the Visitation CCW on Wednesday, May 11th. Katy (Halloran) Costello ‘87 was installed as the 1st VicePresident, meaning she will takeover as President in a year. Sr. Lisa Polega, ’84 works in the Peace and Social Justice Ministry Office for the Diocese of Joliet. She has been involved in the social mission of the Catholic Church as a vowed member of the Sisters of the Living Word since 2002. Steve Helminiak, ’86 has been named an assistant football coach at Loras College in Dubuque, IA. He returns to his alma mater after most recently being the head coach at Southern Oregon. Jeanne (Falduto) Mulay, ’93 and husband Mike Mulay along with big sister Audrey (age 4 1/2) & big brother Ryan (age 3) are proud to announce the arrival of Elise Lauren Mulay, born April 14, 2011. Elise Lauren Mulay George Beneos, ’95 and his wife Coco are proud to announce the birth of their son George Anthony Beneos on February 27, 2011. Lisa (Dennis) Boe ’98 and her husband Eric are proud to announce the birth of their identical twin girls, Olivia and Rayna. The girls were born on January 26, 2011. Andy Kowieski, ’00 moved back to Elmhurst from Miami to become the COO of Booster Shot. Adam Ragauskis, ’00 will be working an internship at the Mars Company in Franklin, TN in their pet food division. The internship is part of his MBA program through Vanderbilt University. Stephanie (Tymoszenko) Sladek, ’00 and her husband Randy are expecting their first child in July. Joe Consalazio, ’01 is engaged to Traci Schoor. Billy Dunne, ’01 and his wife Katy recently appeared on The Newlywed Game on the Game Show Network. The couple appeared on the show with other William and Kate’s in honor of the Royal Wedding. Nicole (Baldo) Garrard, ‘02 and her husband Alan welcomed their second son, Benjamin Fenton, into the world on December 15, 2010. The couple’s older son Dominic was very proud to become a big brother for the first time. Upon returning to work, Nicole was promoted to an accounting position after 6 years of dedication and growth. Bob McMillen, ’88, the head coach of the Chicago Rush, had his jersey retired on Saturday, April 30th. His team posted a 50-28 victory, making the night even more enjoyable. Bob is the first person in franchise history to have his jersey retired. He spent the last 5 of his 13 seasons as a player in the AFL with the Rush. McMillen holds numerous rushing records with the Rush, and he finished his career with the 2nd most rushing yards in AFL history. Krista (Donzelli) Gibboney, ’91 married Chance Gibboney on Feb. 26th Dominic(7) and Benjamin (4 months) Garrard touch Megan Conroy, ’03 is engaged to Ernesto Enriquez. The couple is planning their wedding for the summer of 2012. Brian Kowieski, 03 got engaged to Colleen Ernst on May 6th. They met while attending Illinois Wesleyan University. The couple is planning their wedding for the summer of 2012. Jill Tiongco, ’04 works for Belson Outdoors doing web and graphic design. Lifetime photography is her newest passion and she absolutely loves it. Jill does freelance on-site photography, including weddings, and has been doing it for 8 months now. You can see her work at www.jilltiongco.com . Meg Kowieski, ’08 will be working an internship at Mundocom in Chicago this summer. Mundocom is a global provider of customized cross-media production solutions for marketing and advertising. Meg will be a senior at the University of Notre Dame next year. Brendan Ryan, ’08 will be working an internship in the Market Investments & Financial Advisory Division for Thomson Reuters in Chicago. In his position, Brendan will be providing information and decision support tools and integration services for portfolio managers, investment bankers, research analysts and executives. Also, Brendan did an Alternative Spring Break with the business fraternity Phi Gamma Nu in Port Charlotte, FL this past spring break. He volunteered for Habitat for Humanity, building homes for the low-income people of the Charlotte County area. Matt Purdom, ’09 appeared in the April 18th edition of EPSN The Magazine (p. 48, #56 standing nearest the coach). The magazine profiled the Drake football team, for which Matt is an offensive lineman, who will be playing the first ever organized football game in Africa. Matt and his teammates played a Mexican all-star team on May 21st. While in Africa, the team also hosted football clinics for local children, constructed an addition to the Kitaa Hope Orphange, and climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro. Antonio Taylor (#27) making a tackle against University of Iowa Antonio Taylor, ’09 will be a redshirt sophomore linebacker on the Eastern Illinois University football team this fall. He finished with 14 tackles and a forced fumble last year, and he hopes to win a starting linebacker job for this coming season. (#27 making a tackle against Iowa) Steve Maloney, ’10 is a staff writer for Flyer News, the student newspaper at the University of Dayton. He will be the lead staff writer for the paper next year. You can check out some of Steve’s work at www.flyernews.com. Deaths in the Family Julia (Moreau) Logan ’44 Robert Jackson ’46 Gerry Kenyeri ’56 Judi (Joy) Sawyer ’56 Rosemary (Isaia) Vitullo ’59 Janet Reinhart ’65 Pamela (Grob) Schmitz ’65 Frank Gibbons ’67 Christine (Rosko) Redmond ’67 Kevin Kenny ’73 Ardythe Chiaro Patrick Dawson Rose Marie Gagliardi Edward Gilligan Edward Joyce Emily Krozel John McCole Patricia O’Connor Susie Passarella Charmaine Tison Grant them eternal rest and may your light shine upon them forever. 75th anniversary alumni directory The ICHS Alumni Office and the Alumni Association are pleased to announce that we have partnered with Alumni Research Inc. to build an alumni directory which will be released during our 75th Anniversary year. We have authorized Alumni Research Inc. to contact our alumni, and they have already begun to do so. Please take their phone call and answer the questions they ask! They will be confirming contact information, requesting biographical information, and talking with you about your time at ICHS. The information that you provide will only be used for the publishing of the directory and to update our internal records. It will not be shared with any outside parties! If there is something you do not wish to be published, you can let them know and that information will be withheld. The directory serves as a great tool in keeping our alumni records current and accurate, so we hope you will help us out by taking part in this information gathering request! Please contact the ICHS Alumni Office at 630-530-3494 if you have any questions or concerns about the Alumni Directory. To complete the interview for the directory or make changes to your information, please call 800-299-1230. Matt Purdom on ESPN The Magazine w w w. i c h s k n i g h t s . o r g 15 217 Cottage Hill Avenue Elmhurst, IL 60126 ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED iconnections keeping in touch alumni & friends with Summer 2011 magazine NONPROFIT ORG. US POSTAGE PAID PAID ELMHURST, IL PERMIT NO. 153
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