Winter 2011 - IC Catholic Prep
Transcription
Winter 2011 - IC Catholic Prep
iconnections keeping in touch & friends withalumni WINTER 2011 magazine contents 2011 Dear ICHS Alumni, Parents and Friends, issue The second half of the school year is in full swing. It’s a time to celebrate Catholic Schools Week, our Athletic Hall of Fame Inductees, Distinguished Alumni, not to mention the outstanding accomplishments of our students. As you read through this issue of our iConnections magazine, you will find that the sky is the limit for the students at ICHS - whether they are pursuing their dreams or they’re making a difference in the lives of others through Christian ser vice. We are so proud of our students, parents, alumni and the entire ICHS family. And, on behalf of all of the faculty, staff and administration at ICHS, I would like to thank you for embracing the value of a Catholic Secondar y Education. Your generosity and suppor t - past, present and future, is ver y much appreciated. It is because of you that ICHS continues to thrive. Sincerely, Pamela M. Levar Principal 3 4 5 9 10ICHS 14 major gift supports technology irish dancers excel someone you should know strategy update 75th anniversary Class and Alumni Notes 2 2 0 1 1 W I N T E R m a g a z ine te c h a d v a n c e m ent Gillette technology gif MAJOR DONATION SUPPORTS to ENABLE STUDENT-CENTRIC LEARNING MISSION TECHNOLOGY Rich and Denise Gillette are pleased with the opportunities Immaculate Conception High School has provided to their daughter Deirdre, an accomplished senior. Enthusiastic about what the future holds for their younger daughter, Maeve, a current 7th grade student at IC Grade School, the Gillettes presented a substantial gift, in excess of $100,000, to ICHS, which is earmarked to further enhance the school’s technology initiatives. In June 2010, after hearing about a potential capital campaign for the high school, the Gillettes contacted Principal Levar, indicating their willingness to make a substantial donation to the school. “After speaking to Rich and Denise, it was easy to see their passion for advancing our technology to further our students’ academic pursuits,” says Principal Levar. “Our visions were in sync and we could not be more proud that they chose education, and furthermore our high school, for this philanthropic endeavor.” The ICHS Technology Enhancement Committee, led by IT expert Dean Fenton, outlined priorities for the new initiatives. ICHS will upgrade and stabilize their network, purchase additional technology accessories and provide the teaching staff with professional development. This will move technology to the students’ desktops and incorporate the use of technology in lesson plans. “We are confident that taking these steps will further enhance our student-centric learning environment,“ explains Principal Levar. ”It’s interesting to me that technology has actually transformed how we interact together socially. It has transformed how we do business, but technology has yet to transform how we provide education. Now is the time.” - Arne Duncan, U.S. Secretary of Education U.S. News and World Report Washington summit held by the Foundation for Excellence in Education Positive effects of the donation are already being seen. In November 2010 the IC campus server was replaced with a larger central server, utilizing the most current technology. The grade school, high school, and parish all tie into this server and have benefited from the donation. In Spring 2011, a new network-based security and monitoring system is being installed as well as a wireless network, providing access to every room in the main high school building. Faculty members are evaluating different devices including the Lenovo PC Tablet, iPad and other laptops to determine the best way to leverage new technology in the classroom. The school is excited about the future, allowing its students to excel with the most state-ofthe-art learning tools necessary to advance in today’s world. “ICHS will be able to leverage technology in dramatic new ways, directly applicable at the university level and in the business world,” says Rich. We’ve entered an era in which technology is no longer a novelty, rather a tool that can change the nature of learning. It will provide our educators with the opportunity to move from simply streamlining the way things have always been done to really imagining things they would like to do. The possibilities are endless – and we couldn’t be more excited about it! Thanks again to the Gillette family for making this opportunity possible. To find out more about this technology enhancement or how you too can make a significant impact on the growth of our school, please contact Mrs. Carolyn Hansen in the Development Office at 630.530.3485 or chansen@ichsknights.org. www . i c h s k ni g h t s . o r g 3 s t u d ent h erit a g e ICHS: home to six world-class dancers iri s h d a ncer s e x cel intern ationally Deirdre Gillette Tara Hill Maggie Doyle Mairi Doyle A growing group of talented Irish dancers at Immaculate Conception High School are making a name for themselves. Falling in love with their sport at an early age, each of these extraordinary athletes puts in countless hours as they strive to achieve on the highest level – against the very best in the world. Their accomplishments are nothing short of remarkable when you consider that ICHS is home to not just one, but six internationally accomplished Irish dancers. With the combined accomplishments of these world class athletes, too numerous to list in their entirety, one would think there would be no time left in their schedules for anything but practice and school work. Yet, many hold top leadership positions in extracurricular activities like Dance team, Cheerleading, Student Council, National Honor Society, Math Team, Christian Service Leaders, Yearbook, Newspaper – just to name a few! We are so proud that all these talented young ladies call ICHS their home. Life Long Friends Seniors Deirdre Gillette and Tara Hill have been friends since the age of four when they met at IC’s Pre-School. Deirdre dances for the Trinity Academy in Chicago and Tara dances for Mullane Healy Godley in Elmhurst. Both girls have danced at an elite level since grade school. Deirdre has qualified for the World Championships eight times and has been ranked as high as 5th at the national level and 2nd in the Mid-America region in solo dancing. She began dancing at the national level at the age of eight and internationally at nine. A multi-time medal holder from the All Ireland, Great Britain, and All Scotland Championships, Deirdre also won gold at the 2007 World Championships in team dancing and is currently training for the 2011 Worlds in Dublin. Tara has participated in the Regional and National Championships for the past eight years as well, placing in the top third every year, and qualifying for the World Championships in the past three years. She participated in the World Championships in Belfast, Ireland in 2008, Philadelphia in 2009, and has qualified for the World Championships in Dublin this year. since age eight. She has placed in the top ten at the World Championships three times, with her best place being fourth in 2010. At the North American Championships, she has been as high as second or third multiple times. Mairi also excelled as a soloist when she was young, placing in the top ten and dancing at the World Championships when she was only ten years old. Multiple injuries started to plague her, however, so the solos took a back seat. In 2008, she traveled to Belfast as a member of two teams, a sixteen-member choreography team and an “eight-hand” ceili team. Both teams won the gold that year, which is a significant achievement. In A League of Her Own Kelsey Packer, a sophomore, began dancing at age five, started competing at age seven, and has traveled internationally to compete since age ten. With the Trinity Academy of Irish Dance, Kelsey quickly gained a reputation as a gifted solo dancer and gracious competitor through the Irish dancing community. As such, Kelsey has qualified to dance individual solos at the World Championships every year of her career and has danced at the All Ireland Championships since 2005. At the North American Irish Dance Championships, Kelsey consistently placed in the top 20 of her age group, which qualified her for the World Championships. In November 2010, Kelsey competed with her Trinity team (which included classmate Mairi Doyle) and qualified with the team for the upcoming World Championships in Dublin. Newest Member of the Family When Trinity Academy dancer and Chicago resident Cara Horan was looking at her choices for area high schools to attend, it came as no surprise that her “dancemates” at Trinity had a big influence. Now a freshman at ICHS, Cara has been pursuing her love of Irish dance since the age of four. Cara is a Mid-America Regional Champion and has placed 4th at the North American Championships. She has consistently medaled in overseas competitions such as the All-Ireland and World Championships, placing as high as 8th internationally. Cara’s next major competition with Trinity will be at the World Championship in Dublin, Ireland in April 2011. Cara will compete in the solo championship category, hoping to bring a 5th world medal home to the USA! irish dancers Cara Horan Kelsey Packer 4 Sisters in Success Sisters Maggie and Mairi Doyle, a senior and sophomore respectively, were both naturals when they began Irish dancing at the age of three. Maggie danced at her first regional championship when she was only six years old, and has won that same regional championship eight times 2 0 1 1 W I N T E R m a g a z ine S o m e o ne y o u s h o u l d k n o w S omeone you should know bob mcmillen A three-sport athlete at ICHS, Bob found his true passion for football under the watchful eye of Coach Jack Lewis. After earning All-State honors in his senior season, Bob enrolled at the College of DuPage in Glen Ellyn, Illinois where he continued to play football. A short time “I loved my experience at ICHS,” said later, he transferred to Illinois Benedictine McMillen, “I have so many great where he majored in Sports Management memories.” Bob fondly remembers his and went on to earn All-Conference ICHS extended family that taught, nurtured, honors in both football and baseball. and supported him. “When I made the In addition to being a three time AllAll-State team my senior year, both Coach American selection, Bob was named the Lewis and Mrs. Lewis insisted on making Conference Player of the Year in football the trip for the award presentation with me to close out his stellar college career. and my parents,” recalled McMillen. “It was While at Benedictine, Bob met his wife clear that neither of them wanted to miss Joan, a graduate of conference rival St. this special day, and it meant the world to Francis. me that they were there.” In 1995, McMillen began what would The memories of that extended ICHS become a remarkable career in the Arena family reach beyond the football and Football League (AFL) when he signed baseball field for Bob. “It’s the teachers with the Arizona Rattlers. During the and administrators that made ICHS such next 13 seasons, Bob McMillen played a great place for a kid like me – Mrs. his way into the AFL history books – Levar, Mr. Schram and many more,” said winning three Arena Bowl Titles and McMillen. “It was the people at ICHS, being selected as one of the 20 greatest across the board, that brought out the players in AFL history. His last five very best in me and made such a positive seasons were spent with the Chicago impact on my life.” Most people reflect on their high school years wishing they could go back and do at least some of it over again. Not Bob McMillen (’88) – he wouldn’t change a thing about his time as an Immaculate Conception High School student. Rush where he rewrote the Rush record book, setting single game, season and career records for rushing attempts, yards and touchdowns. Overall, he finished his career second on the AFL’s all-time rushing list with 1,508 yards and fifth all-time in rushing touchdowns with 85. After retiring as a player from the Rush in 2007, McMillen was immediately added to the staff as a fullback/linebacker coach. Not long after, he was promoted to Assistant Head Coach before the AFL ceased operations at the end of the 2008 season. The AFL returned in 2010, and on September 14, Bob McMillen was named Head Coach of the Chicago Rush. When he is not in season or looking for the next great arena player in the offseason, Bob admits he simply wants to spend his time being a Dad. His three children, Bobby (13), TJ (6) and Shay (4) keep him busy, too. “I sacrificed a lot of family time when I was playing,” admits McMillen, “I missed many of Bobby’s games, school functions and just going to the park or playing in the yard. Right now, that’s how I choose to spend my free time – my family is a priority.” Bob McMillen In a career full of championships, records and achievements, McMillen feels one of his greatest accomplishments was being selected as the very first inductee to the ICHS Athletic Hall of Fame. “With all the great players that have come before me, especially in sports like football and volleyball, it was overwhelming that ICHS would find me deserving of that honor,” says McMillen, “I am so proud to have been chosen.” matt gaughan Now that I am a senior, I realize how important choosing the right high school is in determining your future. My name is Matthew Gaughan and I am happy to say that ICHS was the perfect choice and fit for me. When it came time for me to decide where to go to high school there were several options: York, ICHS, Fenwick; all tremendous schools. The real challenge was finding the school that would allow me to excel and reach my goals. I didn’t have to search very hard; in fact ICHS was the only school I shadowed. After one visit, I knew it was for me. Matt Gaughan Several things propelled me toward ICHS, one of them being its smaller class size. I personally benefit from a smaller learning environment where everyone knows your name and you are held accountable for your actions. There is a sense of belonging among your fellow classmates. Another reason I chose ICHS was its sports programs. A smaller school provides students with the opportunity to participate in more than one sport. I played on the varsity golf team all four years and was Co-Captain of the team my senior year. I can honestly say it was one of the greatest experiences of my life. ICHS has countless programs and opportunities to offer. While at ICHS I have been a member of the Varsity Club, served as a Knight Ambassador, participated as a member of the Yearbook staff, and joined several other extracurricular activities. All of which have taught me the qualities of acceptance, leadership, and determination. I know that the friendships I have made will stay with me for the rest of my life. I am grateful for everything ICHS has instilled in me and I know I am a better person because of it. I firmly believe that the rigorous curriculum more than prepared me for the next step, college. Following graduation, I will be attending Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. www . i c h s k ni g h t s . o r g 5 a t h leti c s Fall Sports Developing Recap fall Sports Recap As is becoming the norm at ICHS, the fall sports season was very successful for the Knights. The football team finished 7-4 on the year, advancing to the 2nd round of the IHSA Class 3A Playoffs. They finished the regular season 6-3 overall and 4-1 in the Suburban Christian Conference (SCC) Gold, good for 2nd place. The volleyball team finished 24-15 on the year. They won an astonishing 5th straight Regional Championship and advanced to the Super-Sectional for the 3rd time in the last 4 years. The Knights defeated cross-town rival Timothy Christian for the right to advance to Sectionals, and defeated Latin to win the Sectional Championship. The playoff success was a continuation of their regular season success, as the girls finished 8-2 in the SCC Gold, good for a share of the Conference Championship. The golf team finished the season 3-12 overall. Senior Pat Haggerty earned All-State honors as he tied for 8th place in the IHSA Class A State Tournament. Pat shot a 75 on the 2nd day to finish with a two day total of 153. This was the 3rd straight year he qualified for the State Tournament. Pat, a captain of the team, also received AllConference recognition for his performance at the SCC Tournament. Finally, the boys and girls cross-country teams recently finished very competitive seasons. Seniors Danny Headley and Mike Bosworth both advanced to the IHSA Sectional Meet, each posting their best time of the season at the Sectional. The girls were led this season by senior captains Katie Stiefbold and Nina Vlahiotis, and freshman Rachel Hill. They have a young team with a bright future ahead of them. The Fall Sports Awards Banquet was held on Wednesday, December 1st in Plunkett Hall. Each sport handed out their team awards. Also, athletes who received Suburban Christian Conference (SCC) awards were recognized. In all, 185 students participated in a fall sport. Of these student-athletes, 72% (129 students) maintained a GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale. Additionally, 35 students were named SCC All-Academic, which is awarded to any varsity athlete who achieves a 3.7 GPA or higher during their season. F a ll 2 0 1 0 SCC All A c a d e m i c At h lete s Cheer Gina GeilsAshia Johnson Alexandra KuklaKelsey Packer Cross C ountry Michael BosworthDaniel Headley Matthew KremskeKrystian Seebert Mairi DoyleMichelle Eguia Rachel HillMaria Kieliszweski Kathleen StiefboldMegan Sutton Foot ba ll Patrick Burke Brendan Flaherty Matthew HornstraAnthony Iavarone Brett KosowskiJames Peachey Kyle SiranovicPatrick Skrodzki Andrew Vitek Go lf Michael BosworthPatrick Haggerty Robert KrajeckiMatthew Soto Vo lle y ba ll Jennifer ClementiMichelle Erpelo Emily HartnettKimberly Martino Liz MartinoJudith Morris Bridget McCannKellyanne Remy Kathleen Ryan S C C A ll- C onference Golf – Patrick Haggerty Volleyball – Colleen Manion, Kellyanne Remy, Judy Morris, Kim Martino football – Robert Rivera, Jose Godinez, Kasey Lathrope, Andrew Palash, James Peachey SCC Gold Lineman of the Ye ar Robert Rivera ALL state selection: patrick haggerty - golf SCC Athletic department awards C ross C ountry MVP – Dan Headley, Kathleen stiefbold MIP – matt Kremske, loren butler Rookie of the Year – mike bosworth, rachel hill Foot b a l l MVP – jose godinez MIP – kasey lathrope Offensive Player of the Year – Robert Rivera & Cody kotlow Defensive Player of the Year – andrew palash Special Teams MVP – anthony winfield Coaches’ Award – patrick burke Go lf MVP – Patrick Haggerty MIP – Matt Gaughan coaches’ award – Mike bosworth Vo lle y ba ll MVP – colleen manion MIP – jennifer clementi Knight Pride Award Winner: matt gaughan Other Nominees: Judy Morris, Patrick Burke, Kathleen Stiefbold, Dan Headley 6 2 0 1 1 W I N T E R m a g a z ine I e v ent s ICHS students raise funds, awareness, and spirits ICHS KNIGHTS VOLLEYBALL RAISES OVER $6K FOR CYSTIC FIBROSIS RESEARCH AND CARE PROGRAMS Crowds of students, families and alumni gathered in their purple attire to not only support the “Pack the Stands with Purple” event, but to cheer on the Knights during a hard fought conference battle. While the game didn’t go the Knights’ way, the Knights vs CF event was a huge success – raising over $6,000, which far exceeded the $3,200 raised last year. All proceeds will be donated to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation to support on-going research and care programs. All “Pack the Stands with Purple” attendees were encouraged to wear purple to the games where the ICHS volleyball players donned special purple game jerseys, purple socks and purple hair ribbons to show their support. A Silent Auction, Split-the-Pot Raffle and a kids “Drop Your Change” raffle all contributed to the night’s financial success. The “Special Edition” wristbands, featuring the ICHS Knights vs. CF logo, were this year’s hot item. In less than one week’s time, one thousand wristbands were sold at for a price of $3 each. The ICHS Knights Volleyball team would like to thank everyone who helped them move Cystic Fibrosis Foundation one step closer to a cure! The support of all the students, faculty & administration, families and friends are greatly appreciated. A special thank you to Olympic Chiropractic & Physical Therapy for their generous sponsorship of the Knights vs CF event. ICHS Students give back ICHS STUDENTS HELP FAMILIES IN NEED AT THANKSGIVING Immaculate Conception High School Christian Service Leaders led a collection during November to gather food for IC parish families in need during this Thanksgiving holiday. Collection boxes for canned and boxed food items were placed in homerooms. In addition, ICHS Christian Service Leaders visited each homeroom daily to collect money which was used to purchase gift certificates supplementing the food collections. Over 12 full boxes of food were delivered to the IC Parish along with close to $600 in gift certificates to help ensure that those less fortunate could enjoy a holiday meal with their families. a delicious way to raise funds To celebrate the opening of the new Jersey Mike’s Subs in Elmhurst, Immaculate Conception High School teamed up with the folks at Jersey Mike’s in a fundraising effort to benefit the high school. From August 25th through August 29th, anyone who presented an ICHS coupon received a free regular size sub with a minimum donation of $1.00 that went directly back to the school. The coupons were distributed throughout the ICHS community which included many friends, family and alumni from Elmhurst and surrounding areas. “We certainly appreciate and commend Jersey Mike’s for their efforts to help the students and families at Immaculate Conception High School,” said ICHS Principal Pam Levar, “I’d like to thank everyone that participated and made a donation to ICHS.” ICHS STUDENTS DELIVER TO FAMILIES IN NEED ONCE AGAIN AT CHRISTMAS The National Honor Society members led a toy drive between Thanksgiving and Christmas break in hopes of bringing some extra joy to some families in need during the holiday season. Donation baskets were placed in classrooms and students were asked to bring in new, unwrapped toy donations. NHS leaders also stopped into each homeroom on a daily basis to collect cash to be used to purchase even more toys for the ICHS donation. In addition, during lunch periods the week before final exams, Candy Cane Grams were sold which students could purchase for $.50 and have delivered with a personalized message. On Friday, December 10th, the ICHS “elves” loaded up their cars with boxes of goodies after school and personally delivered over $1,700 worth of toys to the Toy Express main facility in Willowbrook – just in time for an annual charity event that they were preparing for! LADY KNIGHTS GIRLS BASKETBALL “PLAY FOR A CURE” The ICHS Girls Basketball Team hosted a “Play for a Cure” Night in an effort to raise funds for cancer research. On January 15th, 2011, the Lady Knights played Rosary in an SCC match up. A silent auction and Split-the-Pot raffle were held during the games, and winners were announced at the end of the evening. Proceeds of over $1,000 were donated to the American Cancer Society. ICHS CROWNS 2010 JUNIOR HIGH DODGEBALL CHAMPS On Saturday, November 6th, over 120 7th and 8th graders from area grade schools came together at the 3rd Annual ICHS Junior High Dodgeball tournament to raise money for charity. Students registered 6-8 man teams for the double elimination tournament. Showing their artistic side, teams designed their own shirts and came up with creative team names. In addition to earning trophies, the championship team chose the charity to be the recipient of the proceeds from the evening. The final game was between “Cougars” from Queen of the Rosary and the “Hitmen 2.0” from Visitation, with “Hitmen” winning the championship game in two matches. The Hitmen announced their selected charity was the Rett Foundation. Congratulations to the Hitmen and all the teams that gave up their Saturday night to fight for a good cause. www . i c h s k ni g h t s . o r g 7 S aturda y , F e b ruar y 2 6 , 2 0 1 1 Knight of Jewels Event Chairs: Rich & Denise Gillette Gene & Tobi Faut 630-832-2341 630-980-9772 Sdgdenise@aol.com tobifaut@ameritech.net Dave & Colleen Muno 630-832-3652 cmuno@aol.com We are proud to honor our distinguished alumni congratulations: More details on the success of this exciting event to come in our Spring/Summer Issue. This year we are proud to announce that we will be honoring our distinguished alumni at the Knight of Jewels Gala. Each year we celebrate ICHS graduates whose achievements reflect excellence, commitment, and service, and give witness to the spirit of Catholic education. We could not think of a better forum to recognize these amazing people who serve as a standard to which our current students can aspire. Join us as we raise our glasses to the 2011 award recipients at this lovely event. Mr. James Bauernfeind, Class of 1956 Mrs. Patricia Cassidy, Class of 1980 developing news in development Thank you to all those who have already participated in our 2010-2011 Annual Fund – without your support, we simply cannot fund critical improvements that will continue to enhance the learning experience for our students. This year our Annual Fund Campaign goal is $200,000. Since 2008, we have not received a subsidy from the parish. This means that all operating dollars come from tuition and fundraising alone. As of January 1, 2011 we have recorded close to $91,000 in unrestricted donations and pledges. We’ve also received approximately $205,000 in restricted donations, including contributions to various scholarships and other donor designated gifts. If you do the math, you’ll quickly see that an additional $109,000 in unrestricted funds will need to be raised in order to meet our Annual Fund goal. These funds are crucial to our success and support our general operations. Please help us meet our goal! For those of you who have not yet made a commitment to this campaign, we encourage you to do so today! We realize that you receive many requests for financial support from worthy organizations, but we respectfully ask that you consider the students of Immaculate Conception High School in your plans. It’s an investment that you can be proud to support. Your gift will help fuel our growth and allow us to carry on our great legacy for many years to come. You can make a huge difference in the lives of our students! Your contribution to the Annual Fund not only provides ICHS with its most significant source to help close the tuition gap, but also allows us to continually enrich our curriculum, update our technology, and further our faculty training and education. Don’t forget – your gift to the Annual Fund is 100% tax-deductible. You can send us your donation via check, made payable to ICHS, in the attached remittance envelope or simply donate online by visiting our website at www.ichsknights.org. Click on Giving to ICHS, then Donate Now. It’s fast and secure! If you have any questions, or would like to discuss other charitable gift options, please contact the Development Office at 630.530.3485. 8 2 0 1 1 W I N T E R m a g a z ine VFW Supports ICHS and Education in elmhurst Immaculate Conception High School is pleased to announce the receipt of a major financial gift in the amount of $75,000 from the members of Veterans of Foreign Wars, Elmhurst – Walter A Glos Post 2048. Mr. Ed Manion and Mr. Thomas O. Myers, both members of this Elmhurst VFW post, visited with principal Pamela Levar, Board of Trustee member, Tom Manion, and Director of Institutional Advancement, Carolyn Hansen in early January to present their generous donation which will be used to fund scholarships for ICHS students. Approximately 10 years ago, the members of the VFW Elmhurst – Walter A Glos Post 2048 decided to sell their property at 235 Addison Street in Elmhurst and invest money from the sale. When their post decided to consolidate with Villa Park Post 2801 at the end of last year, Mr. Manion reached out to ICHS to say they would like to make a donation to ICHS out of the invested funds. In addition to ICHS, other local schools including Timothy Christian, York High School and Elmhurst College also received major gifts from this post. Two other VFW charities that benefited from their kindness were the VFW National Home for Children and the Midwest Shelter for Homeless Veterans. “We are so grateful to the members of the VFW - Elmhurst – Walter A Glos Post 2048 for making education a priority,” said Pamela Levar, “it’s obvious that investing in the lives of our young men and women is a characteristic of both ICHS and the VFW.” On behalf of the entire Immaculate Conception High School family, we would like to thank our troops for all that they do. God Bless You! The mission of the VFW is to foster camaraderie among United States veterans of overseas conflicts. To serve our veterans, the military, and our communities. To advocate on behalf of all veterans. The vision of the VFW is to ensure that veterans are respected for their service, always receive their earned entitlements, and are recognized for the sacrifices they and their loved ones have made on behalf of our great country. For more information on the Veterans of Foreign Wars, please visit their website at www.vfw.org. Str ate g i c u p d ate Positive Impact New Leadership Brings Parish Schools Closer Together Immaculate Conception High School is very grateful that Father Thomas Paul has joined our family. His vision for our Parish shows steady growth and we couldn’t be more excited about what the future holds. After only six months at IC, Fr. Tom has made such a positive impact at his new home. If you’ve met him, you can sense right away that great things are going to happen. For instance, under Fr. Tom’s guidance and leadership, representatives from the Grade School, High School, Church, and Religious Education Program have been brought together to work towards a common goal – unified growth of our Parish. As we’ve mentioned, great things are happening! And it’s through Fr. Tom and the Parish Council’s vision that the IC Parish will thrive and provide the foundation for further growth for all of its entities. We are proud to announce that both Fr. Tom and the Parish Council have approved the high school’s strategic plan. Below are some key points from our strategic plan that we would like to share: • Launch ICHS capital campaign to turf Plunkett Field, upgrade science labs, and share in facility capital projects • Enhance the high school learning, extracurricular, and athletic environments Selective colleges want students who are academically strong, who demonstrate leadership and service, and who are actively involved in extracurricular activities. In order to ensure that our students continue to earn acceptance into the colleges and universities of their choice, we need to continue to enhance our programs and facilities. In November, members from all four entities submitted a strategic plan to Fr. Tom in an effort to better understand the • Establish future endowments for needs of the Parish as a whole and create curricular enhancements and faculty an environment where we could collectively salaries/benefits work on solutions that will promote future growth and benefit all members moving • Re-establish the Institutional forward. Advancement Council. In January, the teams met with the Parish Council to present their recommendations. It has been such a positive experience for the high school, and the realization that the success of each of our individual strategic plans relies heavily on the group’s ability to work as one unified group is a concept that everyone believes in strongly. www . i c h s k ni g h t s . o r g 9 SCHOO L U P DA T E S ICHS diamond jubilee celebration Father Plunkett with early graduates circa 1940 Next year will mark the 75th anniversary of the opening of Immaculate Conception High School, the oldest Catholic co-educational college preparatory high school in DuPage County. The entire 2011-2012 school year will be a celebration of 75 years of excellence. This is such a thrilling time for ICHS and we want every single person that has a connection to our high school to feel the excitement of this milestone with us! We’ve been diligently planning the many festivities that will take place throughout the year and you’ll find that everything we do will be infused with the 75th. From School Masses, Homecoming, and Open Houses, to the Athletic Events and the Knight of Jewels – our goal is to celebrate this joyous occasion at every event and give thanks to our ICHS faith community for making this anniversary possible. DIAMOND jubilee 75 years We’re going to splash our marketing materials, our campus, and hopefully the entire Elmhurst community with signage that shows the tradition and pride that we feel for our great high school and this magnificent accomplishment. Can you feel the excitement yet? This is going to be FUN! Our wheels have been spinning with creative ways to celebrate, but we would love to hear what you think! If you’re interested in joining one of our 75th Anniversary Committees, please contact the Development Office today at 630.530.3485. We want our alumni, students, teachers, coaches, parents, friends and the community to be involved, so please communicate with us about how YOU would like to celebrate! In order to ensure that all ICHS alumni can take part in this joyous occasion, we need your help! We’ve been working hard to update our alumni records, but if you can assist us in locating some of our missing alumni, we would greatly appreciate it. There is a list of our missing alumni on our website at www.ichsknights.org/alumni.aspx. Please browse through your decade and provide any updates you can to tchandler@ichsknights.org. We know everyone loves receiving the iConnections magazine, but there is a lot that happens between issues. To keep you up-to-date, we also send out a monthly e-newsletter to keep you informed on all the latest happenings at ICHS. If you are not currently receiving the e-newsletter, simply send your email address to tchandler@ichsknights.org, and you will be added to our contact list. In addition to the e-newsletter, we have created a special online community for our alumni and friends. With your ICHS Alumni and Friends page, you can update your contact info and bio, check your giving history, and search for fellow alumni and friends by whatever criteria you select. If you have not activated your Alumni and Friends page, please send an email to tchandler@ichsknights.org, and you will receive an account number and directions for registering your free account. These are exciting times at ICHS. We would not be where we are today without you! Thank you for your loyal support and we look forward to hearing from you soon. Congratulations TO THE 2011 ICHS DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI AWARD RECIPIENTS: JIM BAUERNFEIND ‘56 PATRICIA CASSIDY ‘80 The ICHS Distinguished Alumni Award Ceremony took place during Catholic Schools Week on Tuesday, February 1, 2011 in the IC Chapel. The Distinguished Alumni Award recognizes ICHS graduates whose achievements reflect excellence, commitment, service, and witness to the heart and spirit of Catholic education. 10 2 0 1 1 W I N T E R m a g a z ine Congratulations to our 2010-2011 Inductees to the ICHS Athletic Hall of Fame C oach : Jim Weniger A l umni Ath l e t e s : Jack Halpin ‘61 Jack Cammack ‘66 Mark Morgan ‘77 Fran Donohue LaFleur ‘80 Mary Donohue Rachford ‘84 Nancy Kerrigan D’Amore ‘85 Eileen Shannon Asmussen ‘89 Julie Falduto Hurt ‘89 Michael Pesola ‘89 Lauren Burny ‘94 ICHS HONORS 2011 Illinois State Scholars Save the Date Mark your calendar NOW for the ICHS 19th ANNUAL SCHOLARSHIP GOLF OUTING ICHS is pleased to announce that nine students have been recognized as 2011-2012 Illinois State Scholars. Illinois State Scholar winners rank in the top ten percent of the state’s high school seniors from 749 Illinois schools. Selection is based on SAT, ACT and Prairie State Achievement Exam scores, and/or class rank at the end of the junior year. High school guidance counselors work in conjunction with ISAC to determine the winners. “The ICHS students that have been named as Illinois State Scholars this year have not only set the bar high for themselves academically, but they are also very active in the many extracurriculars offered at ICHS,” boasted principal Pam Levar. The 2011-2012 Illinois State Scholars from Immaculate Conception High School are: Michael Bosworth, Julie D’Agostino, Natalie D’Agostino, Deirdre Gillette, Alexandra Hartnett, Matthew Kremske, Bridget McCann, Michelle Navarrete, and Kyle Siranovic. Friday, June 10th Keep an eye out – we’ll have more detailed information posted on the website soon. Get your foursomes together now! We welcome our new Golf Outing Chair: Tim Herlehy ‘84 If you are interested in being a part of this year’s Golf Outing Committee or being a Hole Captain, contact Tim at therlehy@gmail.com or 630.715.2270 Alumni Wine Tasting Event SATURDAY, APRIL 9th 5-7 PM Tannins Wine Bar & Boutique 112 N. York Rd. in Elmhurst $20 per person Register online at www.ichsknights.org Seating is limited, so register today! matt kremske ICHS is proud to announce that senior Matt Kremske has been named a Commended Student in the 2011 National commended student Merit Scholarship Program. In The 2011 National Matt is a member of the Merit Scholarship Cross Country, Bowling and Program Track teams, captain of the Math Team, a member of the Spanish Club and has had a role in the Knights’ Theatre productions for the last 3 years. This spring, ICHS senior Maverick Eguia will join the Philippine International Olympic Team as the current Senior Men’s Figure Skating National Champion. As a member of this team, he will be traveling to Kazakhstan to compete in the Asian Winter Games, to Taiwan for the Four olympic figure Continents Championships, to Korea for Junior Worlds, and skater finally to Japan for the World Championships. In his first assignment for the Philippine International Olympic Team, for which he will depart at the end of January, Maverick will skate in the Asian Winter Games which is an Olympic sponsored competition with about 100 countries and all the traditional winter competitive events. This will be Maverick’s first international competition, and we hope he will feel the support of his ICHS family and friends – even if it is from the other side of the world. maverick eguia www . i c h s k ni g h t s . o r g 11 ICHS presents HAIRSPRAY Friday & Saturday April 15 & 16 7:30 PM Sunday April 17 1:30 PM Matinee Adults $10.00 Seniors $8.00 Children 12 & Under & IC Students $7.00 Where: ICHS Gym/Theatre 130 Arthur, Elmhurst (Corner of York Rd & Arthur) Parish Parking lot on East side of York Rd & Arthur More Info/Reservations please call 630-530-3460 Immacul ate Conception High School Knights The atre Productions Pre sents…. BROADWAY’S BIG FAT MUSICAL COMEDY HIT HAIRSPRAY delighted audiences by sweeping them away to 1960s Baltimore, where the 50s are out – and change is in the air. Lovable plus-size heroine, Tracy Turnblad, has a passion for dancing, and wins a spot on the local TV dance program, “The Corny Collins Show.” Overnight she finds herself transformed from outsider to teen celebrity. Can a larger-than-life adolescent manage to vanquish the program’s reigning princess, integrate the television show, and find true love (singing and dancing all the while, of course!) without mussing her hair? Director: Mr. Mark Dedowicz • Choreographer: Ms. Megan Simmons • Musical Director: Mr. ChrisTopher Bott 30 New Members Added at the 2010 ICHS National Honor Society Induction On Wednesday, November 3rd, 2010, ICHS held its annual National Honor Society Induction ceremony where 30 new inductees were presented. Class of 1988 Alumnus, Patrick Reedy, was the featured speaker at the ceremony. Mr. Reedy’s thoughtful message emphasized the idea of “following a meaningful path that is both personally and spiritually fulfilling.” Membership in the National Honor Society is designed to give recognition to students who display outstanding scholarship, character, leadership, and service. Once elected, members have the responsibility to continue to demonstrate these qualities all year long. Junior and senior students with a 3.5 GPA or higher, are eligible to apply for the National Honor Society. ICHS is proud to announce there were 5 inductees from the senior class and 25 inductees from the junior class. They join the 26 current ICHS seniors who where already members of the NHS. 12 2 0 1 1 W I N T E R m a g a z ine SENIOR INDUCTEES Antonio DelFiacco, Brett Kosowski, Michael Devito, Matthew Kremske, Peter Strickland SENIOR MEMBERS Michael Bosworth (co-webmaster), Tara Hill, Patrick Burke (co-president), Ashia Johnson, Julie D’Agostino, Michelle Karges, Natalie D’Agostino, Kamila Kroczak, Alexandra DiVito, Allison Lajka (public relations), Margaret Doyle, Bridget McCann (assistant secretary), Maverick Eguia, Jennifer Meyo, Gina Geils, Annalisa Mixon, Andrew Gerovasil (treasurer), Judith Morris, Deirdre Gillette (vice-president), Michelle Navarrete, Patrick Haggerty (co-webmaster), Jessica Pietras, Alexandra Hartnett, Megan Perez (secretary), Daniel Headley, Kathleen Stiefbold (co-president) JUNIOR INDUCTEES Jennifer Clementi, Anamaria Navarrete, Katelyn Conenna, James Peachey, Sydney Cosentino, Patrick Radoha, Brendan Daly, Kellyanne Remy, Brendan Flaherty, Alejandra Reyes, Nicholas Greico, Allison Rutt, Chloe Koch, Krystian Seebert, Alexandra Kukla, Stephanie Stahl, Kyleen Lee, Megan Sutton, Luigi Loizzo, Alina Trinidad, Molly McCann, Mariah Grace Vertovec, Kathryn McCarthy, Andrew Vitek, Rachel Wollenschlager ichs Scholarships and Awards In an effort to reward some of IC’s most dedicated students, numerous scholarship funds and awards have been set up over the years. We feel it is important to make our alumni aware of all the scholarships offered, as well as the support behind the scholarships. After all, these scholarships have been created and sustained by the alumni, family, and friends of ICHS. We thank all those who have made the many scholarships offered possible. You play an important role in the advancement of the school. The scholarships awarded by ICHS provide recipients opportunities they otherwise would not have. Without the scholarships, many students would not be able to afford to attend ICHS, and consequently could miss out on a top-notch Catholic education. With this in mind, if you would like to contribute to any scholarship fund, please contact the Development Office at 630-530-3485 or email Mrs. Carolyn Hansen at chansen@ichsknights.org. ACTIVE SCHOLARSHIP FUNDED BY DESCRIPTION Alumni Association Scholarships/Grants ICHS Alumni Association (Golf Outing) Based on need and academics (all grades are eligible) $20,000 is earmarked for Alumni Assoc, Placement Test, and Math Contest Scholarships Placement Test Scholarship Math Contest Scholarship ICHS Alumni Association (Golf Outing) Awarded to Freshman only for 1 year (nonrenewable). $20,000 is earmarked for Alumni Assoc, Placement Test, and Math Contest Scholarships Bishop’s High School Tuition Assistance Grant Diocese of Joliet Education Foundation FACTS Grant and Aid Assessment Application must be completed Bishop Blanchette Scholarship Diocese of Joliet Education Foundation Registered in Diocese of Joliet Parish and financial need Capt. William D. Cronin, Jr. Memorial Scholarship Bill & Sheila Cronin (parents) Awarded to an alumni of ICGS (all grades are eligible) Peter Dunne Memorial Scholarship Donors to Memorial Awarded to 8th graders for ICHS tuition. Based on leadership, service, academics Mary Greifenkamp Scholarship Greifenkamp Family Awarded to ICGS student attending ICHS - $500/yr. renewable Joseph F. Helminiak, Jr. Memorial Award Helminiak Family Senior student recognized for dedication and loyalty to ICHS Jill Hendricks Memorial Scholarship Hendricks Family & Donors High school tuition for students of single mothers Dr. Don & Mary Hoffman Scholarship Fund Hoffman Family & Donors Awarded to 8th graders for ICHS tuition. Based on leadership, service, academics Michael V. Hogan Memorial Science Scholarship Hogan Family: Mark ‘74, Neil ‘80, Kevin ‘76, Matt ‘78, Mr. & Mrs. Edward Hogan $1,000 science scholarship awarded to a junior for senior year tuition Madsen Scholarship Ron & Mary Madsen Student based on academic excellence and financial need Thomas O. Myers Jr. Scholarship Mr. & Mrs. Thomas O. Myers, Jr. Given to Senior team managers for college- funded by interest earned by the Myers Endowment Diana M. Lizzadro Nicholas Scholarship Lizzadro & Nicholas Families & Donors Student recognized for achievement in Performing Arts Carol Rogers Memorial Scholarship Dr. Tom Rogers & Donors Awarded to junior student for senior year tuition - all juniors can apply. Based on need, academics and essay Edward J. Sowa Memorial Award Sowa Family & Donors Senior student recognized for four years of high achievement in foreign language Linda Tully Scholarship Alumni, Tully Family, & Friends Awarded to a senior to help pay for college - must be a female Volleyball or Track athlete - chosen by committee Carl A. & Patricia E. Vertovec Scholarship Carol Markos Family Based on student financial need and rewarded to students with good academic and disciplinary standing- Principal decides recipient each year White Knight Society Scholarship Ryan Family & Donors Awarded to 8th graders for ICHS tuition. Based on leadership, service, academics Phyllis K. Wisbrock Service Award Scholarship Bert Wisbrock & Family, Jack Keimel Awarded to a female sophomore for Christian Service ICHS Students Earn AP scholar awards Three students from the ICHS Class of 2010 qualified for the National AP Scholar Award in recognition of their exceptional achievement on Advanced Placement Exams. Sean Doherty, currently a freshman at the University of Notre Dame, qualified for the AP Scholar with Honor Award. Sean took the AP Biology, AP English Literature and Composition, AP Calculus AB, AP Spanish, and AP US History exams. Will Cronin, also a freshman at the University of Notre Dame, earned the AP Scholar Award. Will completed the AP English Literature and Composition, AP US History, and AP Calculus AB exams. Stephen Maloney, a University of Dayton freshman, also qualified for the AP Scholar Award. Stephen took the AP English Literature and Composition, AP US History, AP Calculus AB, and AP Spanish exams. Currently, ICHS has students enrolled in AP courses in the areas of English, Calculus, Biology and US History, representing a total AP course enrollment of over 65 students. Through more than 30 different college-level courses and exams, AP provides willing and academically prepared students with the opportunity to earn college credit or advanced placement and stand out in the college admissions process. www . i c h s k ni g h t s . o r g 13 immaculate conception Patrick Grobe Chris Smuda iclass notes what’s new with alumni & friends Pat Howard Meaghan Dunne keeping in touch Fr. Warren J. Heidgen, OSB (Leon J. Heidgen, ‘52) celebrated his golden jubilee of priestly ordination on April 30, 2010. Fr. Warren is retired abbot of Holy Cross Abbey, Canon City, CO and currently a member of Assumption Abbey, Richardton, ND. He gathered with family and friends on August 24, 2010 for a Mass of Thanksgiving at St. Mary Cathedral, Cheyenne, WY. Parishioners from Sacred Heart of Jesus, Boulder, St. Rose of Lima, Buena Vista and St. Mary of the Rockies, Bailey attended. Classmates Tom Friedrich, ’52 and Paul ‘52 and Mary (Dahm) ’52 Kearney came from Scotland and California for this Jubilee Mass. Roberta (Machacek) Moser, ’55 is a retired Chicago Archdiocesan educator, a job she held for 25 years. She is the mother of five and grandmother of ten. Roberta is very active in Our Lady of Victory Parish as a lector, Eucharistic Minister, and the Parish Council President. Marge (Kukla) Lakota, ‘63 was thrilled to welcome two grandchildren in 2010. She now has eight grandchildren – seven girls and one boy. Ron Drozd, ’67 and his wife Penny recently signed a lease for an apartment in Dayton, OH, after 16 years of full-time RV’ing. They still plan to travel for six months out of the year. Mary Anne (McGuire) Shimko, ’74 and her husband Joe recently celebrated 35 years of wedded bliss. They were married at IC on 10/11/1975. Mary Anne and Joe have three grown children, Michael (32), Matthew (30), and Marissa (28), and two precious grandchildren, Makenzie (7) and Adam (3). Mary Anne also shares that she is proud of her ICHS family, especially the faculty and staff, for all they do. ICGS and ICHS provided 12 years of Catholic education and caring to Mary Anne and her 5 younger siblings, Genie, ’76, Marty, ‘77, Patrick, ’79, Dennis, ’81, and Eileen, ’88. Their parents, Anne & Mike, gave up many things to make a Catholic education paramount. Mary Anne is proud to say the values live on just as their parents had prayed for, and for this, they are grateful and forever indebted. Trisha Cassidy, ’80 is the President of Gottlieb Memorial Hospital in Melrose Park. Gottlieb is part of the Loyola University Health System, for whom Trisha has worked for 20 years. She was recently profiled in an article in the Elmhurst Doings. Trisha currently lives in Elmhurst with her husband, Andrew. Sarah (Butler) Ford, ’95 and her husband Brian are pleased to announce the birth of their daughter, Catherine Jane, on September 12, 2010. Joe Samme, ’95 was married to Holly Gentile on June 5, 2010 at St. Mary’s Church in Huntley. The couple resides in Hampshire, IL. Julia (Floraday) Wells, ’98 and her husband Josh are pleased to announce the birth of their first child, Georgia Wells. Billy Dunne, ’01 was married to Katy Ferrell on December 4, 2010. The best man was Andy Kowieski, ’00. Other members of the wedding party included the father of the groom, Bill Dunne, ’72, Claire Dunne, ’99, Adam Ragauskis, ’00, Joe Callaghan, ’01, Tim Hauert, ’01, Ricky Riggs, ’01, and Molly Dunne, ’02. Many other ICHS alumni were in attendance. Meaghan Dunne, ‘01 was married to Adam Fernandez on January 22, 2011 in Tampa, FL. Erin Dunne, ‘10 was the maid-of-honor, while Brian Dunne, ‘04 and Timmy Dunne, ‘06 were ushers. Meaghan is the daughter of Tim Dunne, ‘74. She and her husband are both lawyers in Tampa. Kyle James, ’01 received his degree from Ave Maria School of Law in Naples, FL. He passed the Illinois Bar Exam in the summer of 2010. Kyle is continuing his education at the Chicago Kent College of Law. c l a s s n o te s Chris Smuda, ’01 married Monica Stephanie (Falash) Kleven, Kaplan on September 17, 2010. ’05 was married to Phil Kleven on June 19, 2010 at St. Philip the Phil Tomas, ’01 will receive his Apostle in Addison. Cathleen Master of Social Work degree from Chandler, ’05 was the Loyola University Chicago this maid-of-honor. Other alumni in May. He is currently interning with attendance included Stephanie’s Loyola Medical and working at mom, Donna (Mallek) Falash, Children’s Memorial Hospital as a ’74, uncle, Geary Mallek, milieu therapist. ’70, and aunt, Diane (Mallek) Thompson, ’75. Stephanie is Patrick Grobe, ’03 was married currently working as a musician to Krista Puckett on October 9, in West Hartford, CT. 2010. His brother, Charlie, ’05, was the best man. Other members Rachel Bryers, ’06, graduated of the wedding party included his from the University of Wisconsin in siblings Kate, ’95, Becca, ’95, Madison in May and is now in Law Richie, ’98, and John, ’01, as School at Marquette University. well as Brianna Rusniak, ’03. Patrick is the son of Richard ’74 Kelly Costello, ’06 graduated and Margaret (Murphy) ’75 from Milwaukee School of Grobe. In addition to the Grobes, Engineering (MSOE) with highest many Hauerts, Wanglers, Schillers, honors and a degree in Architectural and Murphys were in attendance. Engineering with a specialty in Environmental Engineering. She Carmen Olmetti, ’03 is running was named the senior scholar for Alderman of Chicago’s 43rd Ward. athlete, served as president of the Wisconsin chapter of Tau Beta Phi, Seamus Costello, ’04 is the national engineering honor working for Berg Engineering society, was a founding member of in Schaumburg, an engineering a sorority on campus, was named consulting firm that specializes in to Who’s Who in America’s College hospitals and schools, for the last & University Students, and was two years. He currently resides in captain of the MSOE women’s basketball team for two years. Schaumburg. Alumni Memorial Mass Sunday, March 20, 2011 11:30 AM IC Chapel The Mass intentions will be for all deceased members of the ICHS community. Special intentions during the Mass will be for all alumni who have passed away in the past year. All alumni, parents, family, and friends are invited to join us in remembering our departed alumni. A continental breakfast open to all will be held following the Mass, in the Agnesian Room of the Parish Activity Center. To see a list of names on the Memorial Mass list, please visit www.ichsknights.org/alumni.aspx. If you would like to add an alumnus or alumna who passed away during the past year to the list, please email tchandler@ichsknights.org or call 630.530.3494. Kelly also played volleyball and ran track for one year. She passed her FE exam and received her LEED associate. Kelly currently works for ESD (Environmental Systems Design), an international engineering consulting firm. Matt Kowieski, ’06 graduated from Marquette University this past May with a degree in Business. He now resides in Milwaukee where he works for Robert W. Baird, an investment banking firm, in the private wealth management branch. Airman 1st Class Pat Howard, ’08 graduated with honors and was 11th in his flight of 508 trainees at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas. He now begins tech school as he moves toward his Special Ops training program. Deaths in the Family Gerald Sheridan ‘49 Daniel Regan ‘52 Karen Rothermel ‘58 Dennis McDermott ‘59 Barbara (Burgin) Blahut ‘63 James Hoffman ‘71 Patricia (Ryan) Steiner ‘74 Patricia Burns Frank Cimino, Sr. Fran Connors Vincent DeMauro Leona Divine John Iacobellis Patrick McGrath Lydia Overton Allen Ryan Rosalie Sauer Lorraine Slavik Albina Wisniewski Grant them eternal rest and may your light shine upon them forever. www . i c h s k ni 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 WINTER 2011 magazine NONPROFIT ORG. US POSTAGE PAID PAID elmhurst, il PERMIT NO. 153
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