A MAGAZINE FOR MARIAN CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL ALUMNI, FAMILY, AND FRIENDS
Summer 2019
Marian Matters ENVISIONING
the Future
Teaching Scholars with a Soul
Continuing the Legacy Men and women of the Order of Preachers, commonly known as Dominicans, have been on mission in the United States for more than two centuries. It is a mission established by Saint Dominic de Guzmán (1170-1221) in response to the needs of the people of God in the 13th century who were yearning for Truth. Dominic’s love of God and compassion for a suffering world compelled him to dedicate his life to seeking Truth by contemplating and studying the World of God and sharing the fruits of his contemplation with everyone he encountered. Dominic’s zeal for Truth and the joyful example of his own life attracted and transformed others who sought to follow his example and join him in proclaiming the Good News. Today, all who partake in the charism of Saint Dominic share a single vocation to be preachers in the Church and the world. This one vocation, embracing prayer, study, community, and preaching, is expressed through multiple paths within the Dominican family. As a Dominican-sponsored ministry, Marian Catholic has embraced our distinctive call to pursue Truth and to compassionately preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ for more than 60 years. Looking forward, it is important that Marian Catholic continue to uphold the 800-year-old Dominican legacy that is our heritage. With the four Dominican Pillars of Prayer, Study, Community, and Preaching as our foundation, and a new strategic plan to guide us, we are poised for success for the next 60 years. Our future students are counting on it.
Over the course of several months, students in Marian Catholic’s Art Club worked on a hallway mural to recognize and celebrate the school’s arts programs. Students created images they thought best represented the fine arts at Marian Catholic and then puzzled them together in a larger model.
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A Blueprint for the Future
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Congratulations Class of 2019!
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Every Student, Every Day Spring Athletics Highlights
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Going for the Gold
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One Book, One Marian
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Fine Arts in Review
College Counseling: Finding the Best Fit Alumni Notes Veritas III Preserving the Legacy of Marian Catholic Remembered Homecoming and Class Reunions Calendar of Upcoming Events
Looking to the future, Marian Catholic stands ready to welcome the next generation of students.
ON THE COVER:
Contents
THE BIG PICTURE
BLUEPRINT FOR THE
FUTURE
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THE SYMBOL OF A TORCH IS OFTEN USED TO REPRESENT THE DOMINICAN SEARCH FOR THE LIGHT OF TRUTH.
Like the torch, Truth helps illuminate our path and give clarity to what lies ahead. Sixty years ago, a single torch was lit in Chicago Heights, Illinois at Marian Catholic. Today, thousands of torches carry on the charism of Dominican tradition. But what about the future? In an increasingly complex world, providing quality Catholic education to young adults becomes a greater imperative with each passing year. Marian Catholic is dedicated to offering an exceptional educational experience to give students every opportunity possible to succeed. Marian Catholic’s 2018-2023 strategic plan is a blueprint for the future. It ensures everyone involved – leadership, faculty and staff, and board members – has a unified direction. For Marian Catholic, the strategic plan represents the school’s vision for maximizing every student’s potential, every day.
THE INTENTIONS OF THE STRATEGIC PLAN ARE CLEAR:
• Marian Catholic will maintain its reputation for academic excellence, but will also look for new ways to meet the specific needs of each student. The goal: to ensure all students have similar opportunities to succeed at Marian Catholic and beyond. • Marian Catholic understands its role to steward the valuable resources that have been entrusted to the school. The goal: to ensure the financial stability of Marian Catholic through proactive financial growth and an inspired spirit of giving from alumni and alumni parents. • Marian Catholic is committed to demonstrating the love of a caring and generous God with our current and future community by increasing engagement with all members of the Marian Catholic family. The goal: to celebrate student and alumni accomplishments and embrace the school’s diverse culture. • Marian Catholic will continue to advance the Dominican charism in pursuit of Truth through the light of Jesus Christ. The goal: to help faculty, staff, students, parents, and alumni appreciate the elements that make Marian Catholic a uniquely Dominican institution. As a Catholic, co-educational, college preparatory high school within the Dominican tradition, Marian Catholic is dedicated to fostering a holistic student experience, one that will open the windows of opportunity for young adults to fully discover their unique gifts and talents. Our efforts will help spread the light of the torch that was lit 60 years ago and promote the success of our students and alumni for the next 60 years.
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Saying “YES” to Catholic Education By Vince Krydynski '81, President
With the close of the 2018-19 school year, we conclude our 60th Anniversary celebration. Focusing on our anniversary and what it means has given me an opportunity to look to Marian Catholic’s future through the lens of our past. We talk a lot about the current challenges facing Marian Catholic and Catholic education in general. Challenges are not new for Marian Catholic. We were borne out of extreme challenges. We have been tempered in the flames of uncertainty and quenched in the knowledge that God has a plan and has always provided. If you question whether Marian Catholic has faced challenges or how God has been with her every step of the way, consider Marian Catholic’s history. The original 1949 plan called for separate schools for boys and girls with some shared facilities. Msgr. Croarkin spearheaded a campaign to raise $500,000 (approximately $4,300,000 today), onehalf of the total projected construction costs. People of all faiths were called upon to ensure that the Catholic school at the corner of Ashland Avenue and Joe Orr Road would become a reality. In 1955, when the original sponsoring religious community could not fulfill their obligation, the Dominican Sisters of Springfield answered the call from 190 miles away. By this time, the total cost of construction was almost double the original estimate, so it was agreed that the Archdiocese, area Catholics, and the Dominican Sisters would each supply about one-third of the total cost. On January 6, 1957, nearly eight years after the initial plan was conceived (with the temperature hovering around 25 degrees and 8 mph winds), construction began. Four years later, when the boys’ high school was to be built, no congregation was willing to accept the financial and staffing challenges, so the Dominican Sisters answered “yes” to the challenge and retained the responsibility of educating 1100 students in a building designed to hold 400 girls. Talk about challenges and trusting that God has a plan! Times have changed, and so have our challenges. As a community rooted in faith, we continue to embrace our challenges. Enrollment in Catholic schools across the country is down; our enrollment appears to have stabilized at 960 students. The number of men and women called to religious life is declining; we have a total of five Sisters serving at Marian Catholic. Public school districts are passing multi-million dollar referendums for new or upgraded facilities; our buildings, although well-maintained, are sixty years old and require certain renovations. Fewer people are attending church on a regular basis; nearly thirty-five percent of our students are not Catholic and a growing number of our Catholic students are “unchurched.” Public high schools are financially supported by tax dollars, so their
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cost for secondary education is very small; Marian Catholic has never charged its families the full cost to educate a student. Although our tuition is one of the lowest in the Archdiocese, the number of our families struggling to pay for a Marian Catholic education is growing. Approximately twenty percent of our students would be eligible for free or reduced lunch if we participated in the program. Marian Catholic has always been an independent school relying on tuition and the generosity of donors to support her mission. Some would say that given the challenges we face today, there is uncertainty, perhaps even concern, about tomorrow. I wonder if similar comments were made when our school was in its infancy. Do we have challenges? Absolutely. However, I believe that God has a plan for Marian Catholic. I see it in so many different ways. Enrollment has stabilized. We have families who appreciate the value of a Marian Catholic education and will go to great lengths to secure it for their children. We have very passionate and extremely dedicated faculty and staff who are not satisfied with the status quo. Our Board of Directors is eager to work with me to set an ambitious vision for the future of Marian Catholic. We are financially sound. We have no debt. We have more and more alumni and donors who understand how much Marian Catholic needs them and their support. Donations and memberships in the Veritas Society have achieved record highs and continue to grow. Since its inception, every challenge Marian Catholic has faced has been met with answers that propelled her to greater heights. I am confident that is no less true today. God’s plan originated in 1955 when the Sisters said, “yes.” We did not realize it then, but in true Dominican fashion the Sisters were teaching us and walking with us so that one day we, the laity, would be ready to accept what they began. Now, they have passed the torch to us. I hope you will join me in saying “yes” to the Sisters’ offer, saying “yes” to Catholic education, and saying “yes” to Marian Catholic High School being stronger tomorrow than it is today. Sixty years from now, what will our peers say about the challenges we faced and how we addressed them? With the grace of God, they will say that we were a unified community bent on solidifying the future of Marian Catholic, excellent stewards of the gifts bestowed upon the Marian Catholic community, and we honored our Springfield Dominican legacy.
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Cultivating God’s Gifts By Steve Tortorello '04, Principal
The key phrase from the vision statement of our strategic plan is Every Student, Every Day. This means that our staff is dedicated to serving and supporting all kids in all ways. This motto drives our work to provide unique and individualized curriculum based on students’ needs and interests, infuses the new academic support structures we’ve put into place for kids who struggle, and directs how we seek out new staff to join our team. We seek to serve every student by offering curricula for every interest and for the world of tomorrow. Over the past few years, we have been the first Catholic high school in the Midwest to adopt the Advanced Placement Capstone program, which is made up of two courses – AP Seminar and AP Research – that our students can take junior and senior year. This course combination allows students to individually research topics that interest them and receive college credit for it. We’ve also rolled out a full three-year engineering curriculum that allows students to jump into the fastest growing field in the United States and learn in a hands-on, problem-solving environment. We’ve added a competitive robotics team and a competitive Science Olympiad Club for those students who want to get ahead in the STEM fields. We’ve developed a four-year Mandarin Chinese program in our language department so students can learn the world’s fastest-growing language of influence. Our English department has created new senior courses that allow students to choose course topics that interest them – such as War Literature and the Soldier’s Perspective – while still maintaining all of the academically rigorous hallmarks of Marian Catholic tradition (yes, they still write The Research Paper!). This year we rolled out our first on-campus dual credit course with a college, as a professor from Saint Xavier University came to campus to teach a zero hour Intro to Business course for which students received credit at Marian Catholic and SXU simultaneously. That course will continue next year, and we will add dual-credit certification to all of our senior English courses in the coming years. As we consider other new and exciting curricular additions for the future – including endeavors in environmental science and medical sciences – we do so with a keen eye on our Dominican heritage of believing that “we all hold a piece of the Truth” and that God has gifted us each with unique talents that we are called to cultivate. Providing varied curricular opportunities that match kids’ interests and gifts allows us to serve every student, every day.
As we provide academic opportunities for our students, we are also acutely aware that some of our students struggle with the rigor of Marian Catholic. For this reason, we have put into place several structures in the last few years to serve students’ individual needs. We have developed a full tutoring program – the Bracha Center – that students with needs visit in place of their study hall. In the Bracha Center, dedicated staff members work alongside student tutors as well as an all-star lineup of retired Marian Catholic faculty members to aid students who are struggling with the academic content of their classes or the overwhelming experience of high school. We have also added a formalized after school tutoring program that helps our students ensure that they are on the right path as they work through their homework. Going forward, we will continue to recognize that God has made all of us differently, and that a loving Christian environment supports the needs of its students. The future of Marian Catholic is one in which every student will be supported on his or her road to excellence. Lastly, the motto of Every Student, Every Day drives how we onboard new staff to serve our kids. Take a minute to reflect on the best teacher, coach, or counselor you’ve ever had. Chances are that the person you chose connected with you. He or she cared about you, showed interest in you as a person, supported you, and believed in you. That quality is the primary driver as we build the future faculty at Marian Catholic. We are on a mission to find and welcome the right people who believe in the mission of a Catholic, Dominican education and who see serving our students as a privilege. We have just concluded the celebration of 60 years of doing the Lord’s work at the corner of Ashland Avenue and Joe Orr Road. With a focus on putting our students first above all else, we dive into the next 60 years with excitement and joy!
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A Place to Call Home By Jane Peabody, Chair, Marian Catholic Board of Directors
Years ago, the Dominican Sisters of Springfield answered the call to offer their talents, treasure, and resolve to build a college preparatory high school in Chicago's south suburbs to serve the largely Catholic community. Their vision for the youth and families of the area exceeded the hope and dreams of the residents themselves. They built an academic institution rooted in Catholic values and Dominican charism that to this day rivals the standards of any high school in the country. Marian Catholic became the place where the children of hard working families came to be challenged and encouraged to discover their potential and to use their God-given gifts. And the Sisters did it while making Marian Catholic not just their home, but a home to all who entered. A home in every sense of the word; people who love and care for each other despite differences and inadequacies, helping each other to continually grow and reveal the person God intended, and a place to always return to and find that you still belong. Today, Marian Catholic stands as a stronghold for the south suburbs. A stronghold for secondary education and a stronghold for Catholic Christian values. Marian Catholic now reaches many more zip codes than the local neighborhoods, with a widely diverse student body representing a multitude of ethnic, religious, and economic backgrounds. Though we have fewer Sisters in our halls and in positions of daily leadership, Marian Catholic has risen to the challenges of a changing community and has never lost sight of its fundamental mission. As so often happens, challenges can strengthen a community; this is true for Marian Catholic. Today, after countless discussions and re-examinations of who we are and why we believe this work to be important, we have recommitted to ensuring that Marian Catholic remains a superior college preparatory high school that demonstrates its mission to every student, every day for generations to come. Marian Catholic is a destination and a choice for families wanting a rigorous and complete educational experience that strives to provide excellence in all endeavors while putting Gospel values at the core.
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The Marian Catholic community finds strength in its history and in its heritage. The Legacy Wall now on display in the Sr. Mary Paul McCaughey, OP Leadership Center reminds us of this daily. The hard work of the sisters, church leaders, faculty, staff, benefactors, and families gave us our foundation and our heart. These are gifts we must never take for granted or abandon. As we move into the future, Marian Catholic will continue to demonstrate courage and leadership not only in education but, more importantly, in living Catholic Christian values. By being who we are at our core – who we have always been – we will continue to strengthen and grow the community in which we live and that has also enriched us. We offer the Chicagoland area a place where, regardless of their background, children are nurtured and educated to discover their potential and how to integrate and participate in the larger world community with integrity and human dignity. Marian Catholic past, present, and future has been and always will be one of the south suburbs’ most valuable assets. Those of us lucky enough to have been in her care can be proud to call Marian Catholic home. Let us all keep Marian Catholic and each other in our prayers – always.
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Still Relevant Today By Sr. Rebecca Ann Gemma, OP, Prioress General, Dominican Sisters of Springfield, Illinois
Sixty years ago, the Dominican Sisters of Springfield opened Marian Catholic High School with few resources, trust in the guidance of the Spirit, and the determination to allow Monsignor Walter E. Croarkin’s dream to flourish into reality. The Dominican charism to Preach the Word of God took shape at Marian Catholic just when a desire for Catholic secondary education was burgeoning and enrollment exceeded space. Then as now, the school community’s needs were met and honored through the energies of Marian Catholic’s exemplary leadership and the devoted service of its faculty and staff. Broadening curriculum to meet the demands of technological innovation, social development, and global realities has been and continues to be the backbone of a strong academic program for Marian Catholic students. This, no doubt, has been why Marian Catholic attracts students from over 70 zip codes who seek a well-rounded education and preparation for further studies or participation in the work force. Still, the fundamental value of a Marian Catholic education lies primarily in its commitment to its identity as a faith-based community of Scholars with a Soul – whose mission is to reveal Christ’s presence in all aspects of daily life. Catholic education is just as relevant today as ever. Through witness, action, and study, members of Marian Catholic’s faith community integrate into their lives and relationships this primary relationship to Christ, in whom, according to St. Paul “all things hold together.”
• Learning takes place within the context of the global community, encompassing family and friends as well as those living in the far corners of the world. • Learning takes place within the context of international complexities like climate change, racism, and dire poverty, calling us beyond ourselves into awareness and service. • Learning takes place within the context of diversity and interfaith spirituality, allowing us to embrace pluralism as abundance and difference as gift. • Learning takes place within the reign of God, present within and among us yesterday, today, and forever. At Marian Catholic, students, faculty, and staff learn together to listen to our call to bring the healing and hope-filled presence of Christ to all we encounter. The Dominican Sisters of Springfield have been honored to serve the Marian Catholic community as administrators, teachers, retreat leaders, staff, mentors, coworkers, and friends. We trust that Marian Catholic will remain what it has always been: an expression of God’s mission to encourage and guide young women and men imbued with Gospel values, love for life-long learning, acceptance of civic responsibility, and gratitude for blessings received.
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Class of 2019 263 graduates • $23 million in scholarships • attending 98 colleges and
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Top Ten (11) Scholars Front Row: Danielle Gaczkowski (University of Illinois at Chicago) Noor Baig (Harvard University) Christina Javorka (The Ohio State University) Emily Kaderabek (Boston College) Heidi Schuffert (University of Illinois at Springfield) Back Row: Casey Woods (Indiana University Bloomington) Ethan Roberts (Loyola University Chicago) Maritza Spott (Auburn University) Kyle Rusin (Indiana University Bloomington) Calyn Brumley (Georgetown University) Blake Recupido (St. Louis University)
universities
Valedictorian
Noor Baig “For those of you who may not know, my name means ‘light’ in Arabic….Although we must all strive to light up the world with our luminous allure, we must realize that every flame serves a different purpose. Some are meant to brighten, while others provide warmth or comfort. At the core, God created us to be uncommon, yet united as one. Like shooting stars, we must be free and untethered, as we leave our mark on everything we encounter, not only with grace but with empathy. Our trials and tribulations must serve as telescopes so that we can see the plight of others, and leave an indelible impact that will leave the world in awe. The world is in desperate need of not only our knowledge, but our human connection and unrestrained love. As global citizens, let us utilize our skills as we have learned and nurtured them at Marian Catholic. It is our duty to go forth and set the world on fire, as we ensure prosperity and equality for future generations.”
Valedictorian
Christina Javorka
“We all chose to challenge ourselves simply by choosing to attend this school, and I feel that because of it, we have all learned something about the inner strength we possess and how capable each and every one of us is of achieving high goals if we truly set our mind to it... John Lennon said, ‘When I went to school, they asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up. I wrote down happy. They told me I didn’t understand the assignment, and I told them they didn’t understand life.’ Life is short, and I encourage you all to make sure you pursue something that will make you content and fulfilled. If, at the end of your life, you can look back and say that you were genuinely happy, then how can you say your life was anything but successful? We stand here with our lives before us. This moment is not the beginning of a new chapter, it’s the beginning of a whole new book, and each one of you holds a pen. So Class of 2019, write well.”
Senior Class President
Monica Arellano
“Over the past four years, the Dominican Preachers have presented a theme to follow for that year. Our freshman year we were instilled to know more so that we can love more just as St. Catherine of Sienna said. Sophomore year we were told that we would always live under our Mother Mary’s mantel. Junior year we were reminded that if we are who God meant us to be, we will set the world on fire. And our senior year, we were challenged to ‘begin’ just as St. Dominic told his followers just before his death. To the Class of 2019, know that you can love more, know that Mary and Jesus are always with us, know that you can and will set the world on fire, so let us begin.”
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Class of 2019: Our Youth...to Whom God Gave Tomorrow
Air Force National Guard Andrew Yock Alabama A&M University Amber Hudson Auburn University Maritza Spott Aurora University Vincent Noska Ball State University Matthew Boersma Gemmia Deadmon Ryan Melbert Matthew Staples Nolan Way
Columbia College Chicago Courtney Harris Zijie Larry Li Xinhui Frank Ma Nathaniel Martin Tyona Menzies Jennifer Montas Concordia University Chicago Chandler Kerr DePaul University Imani Barnes Kaylyn Bradshaw Oskar Diaz Tashelle Riley Matthew Tan
Georgetown University Calyn Brumley Diamond Jones Governors State University Thomas Ciscato Grambling State University Cameron Bufford Hampton University Destinee Blakey Samantha Robinson Jessica Walton Harvard University Noor Baig Hofstra University Reece Heller
Indiana University Bloomington Ariel Castillo Andrew Dwyre Weichen Guo Justin Johnson Kyle Rusin Casey Woods Zexiao Patrick Zhou Iowa State University Myles Jenkins Ivy Tech Community College - Valparaiso Kevin Ham Joliet Junior College Alicia Solick
Miami University, Oxford Keyan (Kelly) Li Michigan State University Michael Breslin Michael Cap Moraine Valley Community College Jake Fremault North Park University Julian Ledezma Northern Illinois University Jaylen Dellahousaye Mitchell Dutczak Justin Johnson Kenneth Jones
“Your whole life will be a success if your intellect continues to be intrigued by a search for truth, your heart by a love Benedictine University (IL) Jose Banuelos Boston College Emily Kaderabek Bradley University Andrea Aguirre Mariah Castillo Jacqueline Eaves Jeremy Glasper Samuel Guajardo Mya Parker Lorynn Rogers Jayce Smith Carthage College Eddie Ell
Dominican University Tony Armendariz Matthew Desmond Natalia Prato Drake University Nora Felder East Tennessee State University Lauren Hatch Eastern Illinois University Dominic Burton Fisk University Kaleigh Ward Florida A&M University Victoria Walker
Dear Lord, We are grateful for the blessings you have bestowed upon Marian Catholic. We are particularly thankful for the young women and men who have shared their light with our community for the past four years. We are grateful for the memories they have made, the bonds they have forged, and the lessons they have learned. We thank you, Lord, for endowing them with great gifts and guiding them to cultivate those gifts here at Marian Catholic. We ask you to bless them as they prepare for the next chapter in their lives. May they always know your abundant love and always follow your call to seek truth in all things.
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Holy Cross College Jozef Laskowiecki Howard University Noelle Bryant Adenike Cotton McCoy Cummings Somtochi Edeh Vanessa Johnson Illinois Institute of Technology Jonathan Polley Illinois State University Kenneth Baity Jarrett Benavides Ethan Camacho Cole Chambers Joseph Chambers Brandice Cole Jalen Cunningham Aaliyah Davis Dominic Foglietta-Tagler Alexis Francis Rachel Gates Elijah Hines Justin Hollendonner Raya Jefferson Jacob Nieto Jalen Scales Erica Schutte Arianna Thomas Veronica Uhrick Sydney Willis Illinois Wesleyan University Connor Teeter Indiana State University Marko Mikich
Kankakee Community College Joseph Rosales Lakeland University Marissa Varela Lewis University Angelo Cantelo Niya Grant Jacob Kopczyk Loras College Ariana Lopez Theodore Milazzo Louisiana State University Keniah Cooper Loyola University Chicago Christopher Arce Perez Katelin Avila Destiny Branigan Christopher Cuadrado Sergio Dean Dinh Hoang Duong Destiny Etuk Patrick Lin Samantha Martin Tava Oosterbaan Ethan Roberts Abigail Sanchez Anthony Talamonti Macy Tomasso Marquette University Rosemary Cetera Timothy Horton Kennedy Moore Gabriella Tumacder Maryville University Christopher White
Pierce Jones Tatiana Kawalski Cindy Rae Kistner Ajah Lucas Stephen Okuwobi Daizha Pope Mariana Salvador-Earl Jocari Thomas Christopher Wilks Nathan Williams Northern Kentucky University Michael Bohlen Northwestern University Temitayo Thomas-Ailara Olivet Nazarene University Nicola Bosco Benjamin Jenkins Pomona College Nasira Watts Prairie State College Angelica Beers Julius Burrell Blair Crutcher Abigail Horta Mary Katherine Lynch George Mahiya John Paul Piattoni Purdue University Amy Curtis Travis Ford-Melton Seokjung Hong Erin Kelly Natalija Mikich Cora Olsen Emma Wozniak
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of God, and your will by an appreciation of true goodness and joy.” - Sister Mary Mannes, OP, Principal 1958-66 Purdue University Fort Wayne Gabriel Richardson Robert Morris University Brian Mendez Roosevelt University Helder Perez-Viera Saint Louis University Cameron Balog Jacob Klupchak Michael Ogunfowokan Blake Recupido Saint Mary’s College Rosali Sorrentino Saint Xavier University Olivia Perry Nia Sandifer Devin Tonks School of the Art Institute of Chicago Quyen Hoac School of Visual Arts Yeutong Raymond Yang Southern Illinois University, Carbondale Olufemi Terebo Southern Illinolis University, Edwardsville Joshua Dale Arielle Stallworth Peyton Williams Spelman College Bria Brumfield St. Norbert College Justen Pate
St. Olaf College Noah Elbaor The American Musical and Dramatic Academy Angel Alzeidan The Culinary Institute of America - New York Diamond Billips The Ohio State University Christina Javorka The University of Arizona Nicholas Moreno The University of Iowa Mikayla Buchanan Evelyn Santillan The University of Memphis Christopher Bell The University of Tampa Jazmyn Stewart University of Alabama Gemma Piunti University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff Artiesha Thames University of California Santa Cruz Jiarui Chang University of Cincinnati Hannah Rodimel University of Dayton Caleb Cecil Caroline DiLuia Ifeoma Ozonwankwo
University of Illinois at Chicago Monica Arellano Trina Armitage Melanie Chio Caleb Fetzer Danille Gaczkowski Charles Gray Edgar Herrera Kenneth Jones Sabrina Olivares Quentae Paxton Kayla Payne University of Illinois at Springfield Jalen Harrison Elijah Long Parris McCondichie Heidi Schuffert Jalen Walsh University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Noredia Asia Diego Contreras Luis Espiritu William Flores Kristen Harrell Ric Johnson Andrew Klopp Aidan McSwiggan Cheyenne Rios Jesse Taylor Sydney Wood University of Indianapolis Natalie Barbosa University of Michigan Jada Houston
University of Missouri Columbia Bailey Bonaparte Adaku Chukwujioke-Madu Joi Cottle Kehinde Fatoki Taiwo Fatoki Megan Johnson Mason Tates Destiny Ward University of Notre Dame Summer Kerksick University of Oregon Baizhou Fang
Washington University in St. Louis Chidinma Nwawueze Webster University Jordan Smevoll Western Michigan University Luke Bartolomei Anthony Knowles Sean Mascolino Xavier University Grace Jarzombek Julian Wiggins
University of San Francisco J’Lynn Williams
Xavier University of Louisiana Jasmyn Bush Anissa Murphy Ryann Young
University of Southern California Kelly Osmolski
Trades Zachary Davis Keyvon Griffin
University of Tulsa Ashley Marin-Martinez
Employment Marco Stith
University of Washington, Bothel Hanting Fang
Undecided as of publication Jonathan Avendano Patrick Cavarretta Jamal Clay Elisa Eichberger Carlos Haase Breion Hill Cameron Palanca Fernando Quiroz Anna Wegrzyn Javeigh Young-White
University of Pennsylvania Nia Flynn
University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee Jaya Hall Isabela Labovic’ Cassidy Siegel Isabella Solis Valparaiso University NinaRose Duda Alyssa Gorski Rachel Hawkins Romerica Mitchell
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EVERY STUDENT, EVERY DAY By Grace Rado '20
Biology, chemistry, and anatomy teacher Cari Mills took a group of Marian Catholic students on a field trip to Loyola Medical School. Anatomy students were given the opportunity to observe cadavers, identify organs, and experience a simulation activity in which they learned even more about the human body.
On March 16, Aidan McSwiggan '19 and Jack Roe '20 shaved their heads in support of the St. Baldrick’s Foundation. Together, the two students raised nearly $2,000 for Pediatric Cancer Research.
Marian Catholic’s Robotics Team, composed of 19 students ranging from freshmen to seniors, competed in the Southworks Engineering and Robotics Olympics this past April. The team competed in four different events, all of which tested their engineering abilities. The Pathfinder team placed 7th, the Sumo team tied for 4th, and the Transporter team took home a 1st place win in their event!
For the first time in 30 years, the Marian Catholic Math Team qualified for the ICTM State Math Contest. Marian Catholic placed 13th overall out of 52 teams with the junior/senior 8-person team placing 8th, the freshman/sophomore 8-person team placing 9th, and the Geometry Team placing 9th. Math Team moderator Nick Rohn '92 competed at the state level while a student at Marian Catholic.
13th place + 52 teams = 1st time qualifiers in 30 years
This spring, Campus Ministry hosted a Vocations Fair as an opportunity for students to learn about vocations to the priesthood and religious life, as well as become more familiar with some of the religious communities that minister in the Chicago area.
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Congratulations to Destiny Ward '19, who was named an Evans Scholar after caddying for four years at Flossmoor Country Club! The scholarship will help Destiny start a new chapter of her life at the University of Missouri Columbia as a computer engineering major.
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On March 13, Marian Catholic hosted its annual Blood Drive sponsored by the Heartland Blood Center and the Marian Catholic Service Club. Countless students, staff, and members of the community donated blood that will benefit patients undergoing transplants, victims recovering from automobile accidents, and people fighting cancer.
Marian Catholic students gathered with other schools from throughout the Chicago Archdiocese for the 41st Annual Archdiocesan African American Heritage Prayer Service held February 22 at Holy Name Cathedral.
Members of Marian Catholic’s football team were the largest volunteer group at the City of Chicago Heights 11th Annual Clean-Up Day. Led by Head Coach Erick Middleton '98 and Coach Andy DeLaurentis '95, players trekked Ashland Avenue, Vollmer Road, Dixie Highway, and Chicago Road to help beautify the community!
Congratulations to Eternity Sledge '20 on receiving the 2019 Wellesley Book Award presented by Assistant Librarian and Wellesley graduate Ann Jones. Founded in 1982, the Wellesley Book Award Program recognizes young women for their intelligence, determination, motivation, and achievement; for being visible members of their schools and communities; and, most importantly, for being academic leaders in their secondary schools.
The Science Olympiad Team at Marian Catholic had great success this year at the Joliet West School Invitational in February. Our Spartans proudly represented Marian Catholic by placing in seven different events and earning 11 medals. The team of seven was led by Conner Bailey '22, placing 1st in Mission Impossible and 3rd in Thermodynamics, Trevor Hickey '20 placing 2nd in Sounds of Music, and Teddy Milazzo '19 placing 1st in Mission Impossible and 2nd in Sounds of Music. Congrats Science Olympiad!
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Congratulations to Daniel O’Shea '20 on earning a perfect 36 on his ACT! Daniel’s extraordinary achievement is the result of his love of learning and hard work. We are excited to see where the future will take him.
The Chinese New Year is a very special time for many of our Amerigo students. This year was even more memorable, as our international students were able to contact family and friends in their home countries during the school day to share in the celebration.
Congratulations to Aaliyah Merrick '22 on winning first place in the ninth grade competition in Metra’s 2019 Safety Poster and Essay Contest. Aaliyah’s masterpiece and well-written essay illustrating the importance of train safety placed first out of the over 1900 entries earning her a new iPad!
Marian Catholic’s Lenten Mission Drive made an impact both locally and internationally by supporting the food pantry at Saint Irenaeus Parish in Park Forest, Illinois and Nuestros Pequenos Hermanos (NPH), an organization that assists thousands of orphaned, abandoned, and disadvantaged children in Central and South America. Students had the opportunity to meet a group of young people from NPH Mexico during a folkloric music and dance performance on April 4.
For the fourth consecutive year, Marian Catholic enthusiastically hosted the Special Olympics Young Athletes Program in close connection with SPEED Special Education in Chicago Heights. Students designed posters, encouraged athletes, and brought high spirits to the parade of athletes as well as to the competition. The Marian Catholic community continues to support inclusion for all people, especially those with special abilities.
75+ juniors and seniors were inducted into the National Honor Society, recognizing those students who have demonstrated excellence in the areas of scholarship, service, leadership, and character. The May event also acknowledged students accepted into Mu Alpha Theta (math), French, Latin, and Spanish honor societies.
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FOR MARIAN CATHOLIC SPRING SPORTS, THE SEASON WAS ABOUT RECORD-SETTERS AND FANTASTIC NETTERS
MEN’S VOLLEYBALL
Sam Kirchner '22, Patrick Lin '20, Ian Tongco '23, Taalib Ferguson '21, Ethan Roberts '20, Michael Breslin '20
With consistency throughout the season and led by a dedicated senior class, the Spartan Men’s Volleyball team cruised to a school-record 20 victories. Despite kicking off the year with an 0-4 mark, the men’s volleyball team rallied in fine fashion to reach the 20-victory mark for the first time in its 22-year history. The Spartans captured eight of nine matches after the slow start, never looking at the .500 mark again en route to a 20-16 campaign. A third-place finish at the Eisenhower Invite also highlighted the season. In the challenging, East Suburban Catholic Conference, Marian Catholic posted a 4-4 mark, as senior Kyle Rusin and freshman Jared Byas earned all-conference honors. Rusin and Christina Javorka from the women’s tennis team were also recognized as Marian Catholic’s top senior scholar-athletes during Senior Honors Night. In addition, Rusin was honored with the Doug Damon Award for his commitment to excellence in athletics and academics.
Athletics
By Kevin Kelly '80
MEN’S TENNIS Along with sending three entries to the IHSA State meet, the Men’s Tennis squad captured an IHSA 1A Sectional championship. Sparked by a pair of upsets along the way, Marian Catholic outperformed eight other teams to win the Spartans’ own IHSA Tennis Sectional, the fourth sectional crown in the last nine seasons. Marian Catholic also earned its fourth consecutive singles sectional champion behind sophomore Taalib Ferguson. “Commitment to off-season lessons, Marian Catholic’s camp, and winter conditioning led to a successful season,” praised Coach Scott Bodnar, who has led the Spartans to more than 225 victories in 15 seasons. “A mixture of senior leaders and young, dedicated talent allowed the Marian Catholic boys to achieve team and individual championships.” Ferguson was joined at the state level by freshman standout Ian Tongco in singles, as well as the doubles tandem of senior Patrick Lin and sophomore Samuel Kirchner. Overall, the Spartans compiled a 14-9 dual-meet record. “The schedule was composed of teams from all over Chicagoland and downstate that included both 1A and 2A schools,” Bodnar explained. “This prepared the players to compete at the highest level for the sectional title.” Senior Kyle Rusin spikes the ball over the net in a home victory over Nazareth Academy.
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ATHLETICS
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TRACK The Women’s Track squad saw three entries qualify for IHSA Class 2A State Track Meet. A state qualifier in either cross country or track in all three of her years, Samantha Barrett '20 turned in top-25 state finishes in both the 800-meter run and 3,200 run. Meanwhile, freshman Danielle Crockett tossed the discus 114-7 at state to just miss qualifying for Saturday’s finals. Crockett and Rachel Gates '19 (shot put) also won ESCC titles. Youth was also served in Men’s Track at the state level, as junior Keagan Morgan made the grade in the 1,600 run and freshman Anjay Rush notched top-25 finishes in the discus and shot put. Samantha Barrett '20
CROSS COUNTRY While out of season, spring news also saw 26-year Head Cross Country Coach Tim Sovereign inducted into the East Suburban Catholic Conference Hall of Fame. Sovereign, who has mentored dozens of IHSA sectional and state qualifiers, is the lone head coach during cross country’s current tenure at Marian Catholic. The Theology Department Chair has also served many years on the Spartan track and field staff.
Danielle Crockett '22
Anjay Rush '22
BASEBALL AND SOFTBALL While they couldn’t escape the team regional level, both Baseball and Softball were among Marian Catholic’s leaders in athletes committing to college. In all, more than 20 Spartan athletes made commitments during the 2018-19 school year. Heading to Lewis University, senior Angelo Cantelo was named the ESCC Baseball Player of the Year.
Angelo Cantelo '19
CHEERLEADING For the second consecutive year, the Marian Catholic Cheerleading team qualified for the IHSA State Cheerleading competition. The Spartan squad qualified for state with a 4th place finish in the Mahomet-Seymour sectional.
Front row: Olivia Perry ‘19, McCoy Cummings ‘19, Nyia Nelson ‘20, Mariana Salvador-Earl ‘19, Nia Martin ‘21, Kerris Norfleet ‘20, Kayla Booker ‘22, Samantha Robinson ‘19 Back row: Mary Kate Lynch '19, Arielle Stallworth '19, Quentae Paxton '19, Eternity Sledge '20, Mark Martin '21, Brenna Grooms '20, Aaliyah Davis '19, Camryn Mitchell '22
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MEN’S BASKETBALL
ATHLETICS
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ATHLETIC CAREERS AT THE COLLEGIATE LEVEL
In a ceremony at the school on February 6, Marian Catholic wide receiver Benjamin Jenkins '19, signed his National Letter of Intent to continue his academic and athletic career at Olivet Nazarene University. Congratulations to Men’s Basketball Coach Mike Taylor and Women’s Basketball Coach Dan Murray on being named the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association (IBCA) Coach of the Year in their respective sports!
FOOTBALL Marian Catholic football will face some new opponents on the gridiron this fall as a result of the merger of the Chicago Catholic League and East Suburban Catholic Conference. The new football conference will consist of the 14 full members of the Chicago Catholic League and the 10 full members of the East Suburban Catholic Conference. The new league will allow more balanced scheduling, placing schools in divisions based on school enrollment and football participation. The Spartans will maintain their tradition and history in the ESCC, as well as continue to play some of their regular ESCC rivals. The Illinois High School Association has also announced tentative plans to place Illinois football teams in districts to include a mix of public and private schools. However, the earliest that would occur is the fall of 2021, so the CCL-ESCC merger will be alive for at least two years.
Catch the Spartans in action at Dave Mattio field for one of their home games this season! Tailgates welcome!
On April 25, a number of student athletes signed their National Letters of Intent to continue their athletic careers at the collegiate level. The group consisted of three Spartan football players: Eddie Ell (Carthage College), Jose Banuelos (Benedictine University), and Justen Pate (St. Norbert College); two Spartan softball players: Ariana Lopez (Loras College) and Marrisa Varela (Lakeland University); Chris White (Maryville University) of the Spartan basketball team; Olivia Perry (St. Xavier University) of the Marian Catholic Cheerleading team; Lauren Hatch (East Tennessee State University) of the Women’s Volleyball team; and Isabela Labovic (University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee) of the Women’s Soccer team.
Clockwise, from bottom right: Ariana Lopez, Olivia Perry, Lauren Hatch, Isabela Labovic, Eddie Ell, Jose Banuelos, Chris White, Marissa Varela and Justen Pate
Marian Catholic Varsity Football Home Schedule Friday, Friday, Friday, Friday, Friday,
August 30 September 6 October 4 October 18 October 25
Oak Lawn High School North Lawndale High School DePaul College Prep (Homecoming) St. Ignatius Leo High School (Senior Night)
7:30 p.m. 6:00 p.m. 7:30 p.m. 7.30 p.m. 7:30 p.m.
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Fine Arts
BAND P.R.I.D.E. 1 Six Marian Catholic Band students participated in the ILMEA All-State Conference held the last weekend in January in Peoria, Illinois. Students (from left to right) Jacob Kopczyk '19, Kyle Lavin '20, Matthew Hrinda '20, Kelly Osmolski '19, Andrew Klopp '19, and Ethan Camacho '19 were selected as the top players in the state after auditioning in October. All six students were chosen for Honors Ensembles, the highest honor possible for individual musicians in the State of Illinois.
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During the IHSA Solo & Ensemble competition at Rich East High School on March 2, 64 individual band members and 23 ensemble musicians earned a Division 1 rating. Marian Catholic students were named “Best of Day” in nine out of eleven classrooms in the competition! 2 Marian Catholic’s Marching Band was named 1st Place Winner, Performance Group in the Village of Tinley Park’s 2019 Irish Parade! 3 Notre Dame’s Jazz Band and New Orleans Brass Band presented a special performance as part of their spring concert tour. Marian Catholic band, color guard, and choral students were treated to Duke Ellington and Count Basie standards including “Going to Chicago!”
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4 According to the live stream announcer, Marian Catholic’s Symphonic Band “blew the roof off the Krannert Center” with their performance at the University of Illinois’ Superstate Band Festival, the premier venue for state high school concert bands. Their extremely demanding program included “Tears” by David Maslanka, a piece usually performed by college-level groups.
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SPEECH 5 Head Speech Coach Laura Hilger '14, along with adjunct coaches dedicated to the program, guided seven students to the State Speech Tournament in Peoria, Illinois with six of the competing events qualifying for state finals. Months of hard work and dedication resulted in Joe Chambers '19 and Ashley Saul '20 missing finals by one point and placing 7th in Humerous Duet Acting. Others contributing to the overall 5th place team finish included: • John Hatcher '20 – 2nd in Original Oratory and 4th in Informative Speaking • Nasira Watts '19 – 4th in Extemporaneous Speaking • Angel Alzeidan '19 and Nasira Watts '19 – 4th in Dramatic Duet Acting • Michael Breslin '19 – 5th in Special Occasion Speaking • Noor Baig '19 – 5th in Impromptu Speaking 5
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FINE ARTS IN REVIEW
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THEATRE 6 Audiences were singing “It’s Delightful…It’s Delicious… It’s De-Lovely!” after attending the theater department’s spring production of Cole Porter’s classic 1930’s musical “Anything Goes.” The charismatic cast of 40 included leads Angel Alzeidan '19 as Reno Sweeney, Kyle Lavin '20 as Billy Crocker, Shannon Fitzgerald '20 as Hope Harcourt, Andres Vazquez '21 as Moonface Martin, Ashley Saul '20 as Bonnie, and Blake Recupido '19 as Elisha J. Whitney.
CHORAL Twenty Marian Catholic choir members participated in the IHSA Solo & Ensemble competition at Rich East High School on March 2, with one of the ensembles and seven solos receiving scores of 1. Two of the solos earned perfect scores! 7 Members of the Gospel Choir presented a short concert at St. John Lutheran School in Country Club Hills to help students understand music is just one of the many ways to praise God!
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8 Lindenwood University’s premiere acappella ensemble, Voices Only, presented a Master Class for Marian Catholic’s Varsity Choir followed by a special performance in the Croarkin Auditorium for all students. Voices Only vocalist Lucie Switalksi '16, a music business major at Lindenwood, is an aspiring singer/ songwriter having already released her debut single “Never Knew.”
ART
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9 For the second year in a row, a number of Marian Catholic art students participated in the Memory Project, an initiative to create portraits for children in underdeveloped countries. In all, twelve portraits were sent to Syrian refugee children, bringing them a little joy and hope for the future.
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Fine Arts Calendar Fall/Winter 2019-2020 SEPTEMBER 28 – Bands of America Iowa Regional Championship OCTOBER 13 – Band Parents Oktoberfest 15 – Fall Choir Concert
19 – Illinois State University Marching Band Championships 25-26 – Bands of America Indianapolis Super Regional Championship 25-27 – Fall Play: “These Shining Lives”
NOVEMBER
DECEMBER
9 – Marian Catholic Speech Classic
3 – Christmas Choir Concert
14-16 – Bands of America Grand National Championships (Indianapolis)
13 – Variety Show FEBRUARY 13 – Winter Band Concert 18 – Winter Choir Concert
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Kathleen Mesterharm '01 Recognized as Golden Apple Award Finalist “ We provide young people with the skills to navigate the world, achieve personal success, and, most importantly, work toward a more just and civil society with compassion and grace. I am blessed to play a part in their education.”
Kathleen Mesterharm received her Golden Apple Foundation Honors Award for Demonstrated Excellence in Teaching at the Golden Apple Celebration of Excellence on February 23, 2019 at the Tinley Park Convention Center.
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This past Spring, Kathleen Mesterharm '01 was one of 32 Illinois high school finalists for the Golden Apple Award for Excellence in Teaching. All of the finalists, representing just six percent of the more than 550 nominations, were nominated by fellow educators, students, parents, or community members. When asked in February about her nomination, Ms. Mesterharm said, “I am over the moon, as they say. Every day is a challenge and a joy and this has been an incredible journey to be recognized in that way and certainly humbling. My colleagues push me to be better.” After graduating from Marian Catholic in 2001, Ms. Mesterharm earned a bachelor’s degree in English, Secondary Education from St. Xavier University in Chicago, and a master’s degree in English from DePaul University. She then came back to Marian Catholic and has been on staff for 11 years. “I remember sitting in Mr. (Mike) Raftery’s classroom and thinking I wanted to be him. I wanted to teach English,” she recalled. As a 16-year-old at Marian Catholic, Kathleen had this thought while in Mr. Raftery’s Advanced Placement Literature and Composition class. Today, she’s teaching that same AP course just down the hall from where Mr. Raftery’s room was and is also the English Department Chair. Kathleen is one of four members of her immediate family that holds a teaching certificate. Her mother, Mary Mesterharm, was a math teacher at Marian Catholic for more than 15 years, retiring in 2019. Her sister, Eileen Mesterharm '98, teaches English as a Second Language courses at Daly College in Chicago, and her brother, Tom, is completing a doctorate degree in educational policy at Loyola University-Chicago. Kathleen was recently recognized as a Teacher of Distinction by the Golden Apple Foundation. These educators “are recognized for their distinguished contribution to education” and have the opportunity to participate in Golden Apple programs. When asked about her profession as a teacher, Kathleen said, “We provide young people with the skills to navigate the world, achieve personal success, and, most importantly, work toward a more just and civil society with compassion and grace. I am blessed to play a part in their education.” “To teach in an institution that values academic rigor, spiritual growth, and lifelong learning for both students and faculty is both a privilege and a gift.”
Marian Catholic Teacher Denise Iggins Commissioned as Springfield Dominican Associate “New inspirations, new friends, new graces to go on” Marian Catholic theology teacher Denise Iggins (far right) recently completed a ninemonth period of formation in Dominican life, spirituality, history, and mission, a program provided by the Dominican Sisters for Christian women and men since 1990. Denise’s commitment includes growing in her calling to preach through a life of Christian service, preaching God’s love as a Kairos retreat leader at Marian Catholic, and organizing opportunities for students to participate in acts of service. Once commissioned, associates meet regularly for study, prayer, and socializing with others in their geographic region who have also made the commitment. Each associate fulfills the promises they’ve made on commitment day and are encouraged by frequent communication with the sisters and each other. The sisters provide regular opportunities for spiritual enrichment for the associates. Frequently throughout the year, there are days for prayer and study, and opportunities for service and actions of social justice supported by the sisters. Applications are currently being accepted for the next associate class, which meets monthly from August to May. Learn how you can become a Springfield Dominican Associate at https://springfieldop.org/join-us/dominican-associates/ or call 217-787-0481 to speak with Associate Program Director, Sister M. Joan Sorge, OP.
ONE BOOK, ONE MARIAN For the second summer in a row, the entire Marian Catholic community will be participating in “One Book, One Marian,” a summer reading initiative aimed at cultivating a sense of community through reading. Over the summer, faculty, staff, and students will be reading Linda Sue Park’s “A Long Walk to Water.” English Department Chair, Kathleen Mesterharm '01, says, “It is a slim, powerful novel of tragedy, triumph, and survival based on the true story of Salva Dut, one of the lost boys of Sudan.” Led by the English Department, teachers will work to bring the book and its message into the daily lives of Marian Catholic students next year. Add “A Long Walk to Water” to your summer reading list and be a part of the experience!
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COLLEGE COUNSELING:
Finding the Best Fit By Allen Marazas '64 “ Marian Catholic’s college counseling program is second to none,” asserts Principal Steve Tortorello '04.“What sets it apart is the personalized care that every student and parent receives. This care is the product of the tireless work of Gerry (O’Brien, Director of College Counseling) and Mike (Rodewald, College Counselor) to make sure that the students find the right fit for them at the next level...I have experienced first-hand the results of this incredible program. It’s truly something special.” For a high school to truly be college preparatory, it must have a demanding, comprehensive, and rigorous curriculum, but it must also assist its students in the process of selecting and applying to colleges and universities suited to the student-graduate. The process can be confusing and fraught with anxiety for a student and his or her parents. Marian Catholic has an exclusive college counseling program, developed over the years, to provide superior support to its college-bound students. According to O’Brien, the program originated with college counselors Susan Biemeret and Mary Juraska years ago and has been fine-tuned over time.
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Over the last two decades, Marian Catholic has assisted an average of 98% of its graduates in beginning a college-level career. Even among college preparatory high schools, it is an enviable record. While college may not be on the minds of most freshman students, college counselors emphasize that the “freshman focus” should be to establish a strong academic foundation on which plans for college can be built. Rodewald explains, “Have you ever heard this phrase? Counselors say that the junior year is the most important year in terms of college admission. I find this statement so odd (and wrong), but it continues to persist year after year. The truth is, the most important year for college admission is the year you are currently in.” Marian Catholic freshmen are closely monitored and encouraged to develop habits of scholarship balanced with extracurricular activities, especially service opportunities, intended to develop a student into a well rounded individual who will be recognized as an asset to any college or university program. Actual planning for a college career is formally launched at the beginning of sophomore year. Sophomores are encouraged to maintain the healthy GPA they’ve established in their first year, attend local college fairs, take the Pre-ACT test offered at Marian Catholic and, in the second semester, plan carefully to take as many honors or AP classes as they can handle during their junior year. Finally, students are counseled to consider the possibility of enrolling in a summer program at a college or university. As juniors, students actively investigate colleges and universities, seeking their best match. They meet college and university representatives at college fairs and perhaps visit colleges. A number of representatives
visit Marian Catholic to meet with juniors and seniors throughout the year. Juniors and their parents attend a college counseling appointment with one of the college counselors at Marian Catholic. During senior year, college bound students apply for scholarships, visit colleges and meet with representatives of their intended college choices. Although colleges make tentative selections based on grades from the first six semesters, they do look at senior year classes. It is recommended that college-bound seniors take at least four academic courses and those hoping to attend highly selective colleges take five academic courses. All together, the process from sophomore year to graduation requires a steady attention year after year to working toward the goal of college acceptance. Marian Catholic college counselors work tirelessly throughout those years to assist students in successfully reaching that goal. The proof of the program, of course, is in how successful those students are. Both O’Brien and Rodewald agree that more important than what they can do for the student is what the student does for him or herself to assure college admission. While colleges consider a number of factors in determining admission (such as personal essays, test scores, and extracurricular activities), GPA stands out as a very significant factor. According to Rodewald, “Students believe that they can go to college when they persist through Marian Catholic’s curriculum. On the flip side colleges know our school prepares students for the rigor of college. Our students enroll into their programs and they graduate.” Both O’Brien and Rodewald recognize college may not be for everyone. Consequently, they also assist those students who have non-college goals, such as the military or a trade school, in addition to the college-bound. High school success should be measured by the number of students who successfully transition to their best “fit” after graduation. Marian Catholic’s success is a testament to the dedicated work of its faculty, students, and college counselors.
Career Day 2019 More than 35 alumni and friends of Marian Catholic High School shared their professional expertise with students during Career Day, held on Monday, April 29. An annual tradition, Career Day provides students with the opportunity to connect with individuals representing a variety of careers. Students are able to attend three 25-minute sessions of their choosing with professionals from various fields. The interactive experience provides students with a better understanding of the relationship between their academic endeavors and potential career paths.
Presenters at Career Day 2019 included (in alphabetical order): Sandra Anderson, Bill Bach '86, Marie Baird, Emma Baldacci, Kathy Bewley-Thomas '85, Christal (Luster '08) Boynes, Amy (Riddle '00) Cassata, Kaitlyn Conley '04, David Fleming '09, Brandon Gatewood, Armando Godinez, Robert Goes '81, Carlo Gozzi '00, Meghan (Owen '08) Hansen, Art Holecek '83, Jessica (Carroll '03) Holme, Jamie Holtz '06, Heidi Hoogeweg-Mirusky '76, Jennifer Jones '13, Ted Karagias '00, Brian King, Raymond Letke, Nayuta MaGee '94, Marcie Mangan '08, Melissa McCanna '12, Tim Michels '10, Kim (Karlin '10) Michels, Keith Miller, Michael Mulhearn '09, Amanda Phillips '07, Madeline (Tolish '11) Spear, Jesse Steward Jr. '10, Tim Tilton '91, Jim Wiltshire, Bethany (Kirkeeng '93) Wolf, and Marie Zidek '02.
VOCATIONS REPRESENTED: Acting Accounting Architecture Athletic Training Aviation Banking Biomedical Engineering Business Civil Engineering Coaching Computer Engineering Computer Software Development Education Firefighting Journalism Law Enforcement Marketing Media & Communications Medicine Military Nursing Public Relations Physical Therapy School Counseling Social Work Special Education Speech Pathology
Save the date!
The next Career Day will be held on Friday, April 24, 2020. For more information or to RSVP to share your story with students, contact us at alumni@marianchs.com.
4 MARIAN CATHOLIC Day of Giving Raises Nearly $60,000! Nearly 950 generous donors contributed to the success of Marian Catholic’s annual day of giving, 4 Marian Catholic. On Monday, April 8, the entire Marian Catholic community celebrated the people and programs that make the Marian Catholic experience so special by wearing their Marian Catholic gear, sharing social media posts in support of 4 Marian, and showing they care by making donations to the school. Students, alumni, parents, and friends of Marian Catholic from across the country, inspired by the day’s events, made contributions to the Marian Fund. In just one day, Marian Catholic advancement staff recorded 941 donors and nearly $60,000 in donations for 4 Marian Catholic 2019. In celebration of Marian Catholic’s 60th Anniversary, we collected 62 gifts of $60 with an overall average gift amount of $61.54. In lieu of a phonathon, this year’s Day of Giving followed the digital philanthropy trend of asking for online donations made through the Marian Catholic website or by text message. Marian Catholic is grateful to all who supported our Scholars with a Soul!
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Alumni Notes
1969
Members of the Class of 1969 held their annual holiday get-together. They are all looking forward to celebrating at their 50th reunion on September 28, 2019. Back row: Narce
2002
(Fernandez '69) Cannek, Mimi (Ephgrave '69) Shireman, Marikay ( Jespersen '69) Zupan, Rita (Stanfa '69) Rohn, Jan (Bonea '69) Springsteen, Rosemary (Baumgartner '69) Blessman; Front row: Marybeth (Piekarz '69) Campion, Pam (Stafford '69) Smith, Sue (McCollam '69) Yant, Debbie (Dobbin '69) Nederhouser, Kathy (Hoefler '69) Treptow, Julie (Onofrio '69) Maggio, Mary Ellen (Novelli '69) Del Cotto.
New York comic and Laughspin contributor Emily Winter '02 was interviewed on the Today Show by Al Roker and Sheinelle Jones about her New Year’s Resolution to get 100 rejections in a year, and how it positively impacted her life. (She ended up with 101 noes!)
2004
1978
The Drama Group Daytime Children’s Theatre’s 25th anniversary production of Sleeping Beauty was directed by Charles Misovye '78 and starred alumna Lisa Kristina '78 as the titular princess. The original musical adaptation of the classic fairy tale ran April 10-14, 2019.
1988 2010
On January 17, 2019, two Marian Catholic alumnae and doctors of veterinary medicine, Raechel Willard, DVM '88 and Kim Karlin, DVM '10, were among those who presented information at the Homewood Science Center about ways to help pets. Rachael and Kim discussed pet food myths and facts and other tips related to pet care. Both are veterinarians at Flossmoor Animal Hospital.
1991
Aimee Delaney '91 was named one of Crain’s Chicago Business’s Notable Gen X Leaders in Law. Aimee, a partner at Hinshaw & Culbertson, heads the firm’s labor and employment practice and was appointed to the firm’s management committee this year. She is one of three partners spearheading development of the firm’s home care services practice and was named to the Illinois Department of Public Health subcommittee on home nursing.
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Tim Kelly '04, a coach for the Houston Texans football team, was promoted to the Texans’ Offensive Coordinator, one of the top assistants on the team. His new assignment begins with the 2019-2020 season. Tim has been with the Texans since 2014, starting as an Offensive Quality Control coach. He took on added responsibilities as an Assistant Offensive Line coach in 2016, and spent the last two years as Head Coach Bill O’Brien’s Tight Ends coach. Marian Catholic Principal Steve Tortorello '04 was featured on a segment of the radio program “Catholic Schools Today” with Superintendent of Catholic Schools Dr. Jim Rigg and Fr. Greg Sakowicz. Steve spoke about Marian Catholic’s 60th anniversary.
2005 2010
In a made-at-Marian Catholic match, Anthony O’Shea '05 married Patricia Gornick '10 on October 20, 2018 at St. Kieran Catholic Church in Chicago Heights. A reception followed at Idlewild Country Club in Flossmoor, Ill. Tony is a Fighter Pilot for the US Air Force and Patricia is a Registered Nurse at St. Luke’s Medical Center in Boise, Idaho where they are currently stationed.
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ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT:
Jared White
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2007
University of Chicago, Bachelor of Arts in Economics '11 Harvard Business School, Master of Business Administration '19 What motivated you to pursue a degree in business? Jared: My interest in business started with AP Economics at Marian Catholic in 2006. I really enjoyed the class and the concepts, and I thought that Econ would give me a great lens through which to view the world and think about decision-making for individuals and firms. I chose The University of Chicago based on the strength of the Economics department and majored in Economics with a focus on Finance. It was extremely challenging, but I hoped that by securing a competitive entry-level position at an investment bank, I would have more options and build in some flexibility for a long-term career in business. What was the Harvard Business School experience like? How rigorous was the program? Favorite class(es)? Jared: HBS is such an incredible place, and I am extremely blessed to have been able to participate in the program. The learning style is based on case studies and class participation. We do not have any classes that are purely lectures. Unlike many other business schools, we have class every day and start each morning with a small discussion group that helps students preview some of our conclusions with other students as somewhat of a dry run before class. We discuss two to three cases every day; each class starts with a “cold call” that is generally along the lines of: “So Jared, what would you do?” This creates an environment where students must prepare pretty rigorously and are expected to participate in class with regularity, push each other to elaborate on our reasoning, and disagree without being disagreeable. It’s challenging, but very rewarding. Personally, my favorite courses were Leadership and Organizational Behavior. I found the problems to be more complex and deal more with the gray area and soft skills in which I believe great leaders must excel. How well did Marian Catholic prepare you for college? Jared: I am so grateful for Marian. The value of a structured, challenging program cannot be understated, and I felt extremely prepared academically and personally because of my Marian experience. My AP credits allowed me to pass out of some entry-level Math, Spanish, and Economics courses, and I remained heavily involved in community service – a habit that I formed while a student at Marian Catholic. I also played football at The University of Chicago, and directly credit Coaches Dave Mattio, Tim Swanson, and Mike Taylor for pushing me and holding me accountable while a student at Marian. They prepared me to be a college student-athlete and taught me a lot of valuable lessons about teamwork, leadership, and perseverance that I will carry with me through life.
Jared White celebrates his Harvard MBA with older brother Evan White '04, mom Calitha White, twin brother Corey White '07 and dad Greg White.
Do you have a job lined up? What are your future plans? Jared: Thankfully I do! I am moving to New York before coming home to Chicago to marry my best friend and much better half on June 23. She has been so supportive, and I’m very lucky to have her in my life. Back in New York, I will be starting as a Vice President with Court Square Capital, a private equity firm based in Manhattan. At Court Square, I will help the team evaluate opportunities to take majority ownership stakes in mid-sized companies and think about ways that we can add value to their operations. I’m super excited about it and am really looking forward to taking on a more senior role than my Pre-MBA experience. What advice would you give your former self (current Marian Catholic students)? Jared: Three things: 1. Treat every single person well. 2. Be excellent at everything you do. This includes your personal, professional, and academic lives. Hold yourself accountable and set a high standard. 3. Be flexible! You never know where life will take you, and you do not know the plans that God has for you. Show up, work hard, and things will sort themselves out.
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2005
Keisha (Collins '05) Newell was named Head Girls Basketball Coach at Mother McAuley Liberal Arts High School in Chicago. For the past four years, Keisha has been the women’s basketball coach at Roosevelt University in Chicago, where last year she guided the team to its first winning season since 2013-14. Keisha previously served as Loyola University Chicago’s Director of Basketball Operations and an assistant coach. A three-year captain of the Lady Ramblers women’s basketball team, Keisha led the team her senior year, with an average 11.8 points and 4.8 assists.
2007
Kiara Elam '07 completed her Master of Arts degree in Training and Development from Roosevelt University in Chicago, Ill. Kiara is currently a communications coordinator with the Chicago Transit Authority.
2008
Marian Catholic social studies teacher Brian Iggins '08 and his wife Beth welcomed their first child, Madeline Anne, on May 17, 2019.
Ariana Dymerski '08 married Zachary Wiegmann on November 24, 2018 in St. Louis, Mo. Ariana and Zachary met at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign when they played in the Marching Illini together. The couple now resides in Los Angeles, Cali. where Ariana is a special education teacher specializing in dyslexia. On her wedding gown, Ariana wore the tartan of the Earl of St. Andrews, a nod to her Scottish heritage. She and her brother Ronald Dymerski '10 play in the Greater Midwest Scottish Pipe Band based in Battle Creek, Michigan, and she and her husband performed a Highland dance at their wedding reception.
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2008
Tennessee Titans offensive tackle Dennis Kelly '08 was awarded the game ball by coach Mike Vrabel following a win against the New York Giants on December 16.
Erica (Collins '08) Kopp was featured on News 6 WKMG / ClickOrlando, talking about the importance of music therapy. Erica, a music therapist at the Florida Hospital Orlando Cancer Institute, uses research to help improve cancer patients’ mood and decrease stress, which, in turn, helps them fight the disease.
2009
Eric Federico '09 completed four races over a long weekend at the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Fla. On Thursday, January 10, he completed a 5k (3.1 miles), and on Friday, January 11, he completed a 10k (6.2 miles), both through Epcot and its surrounding properties. The next day, he finished a half marathon (13.1 miles) through the Magic Kingdom and its adjacent properties. On the final day of racing, Eric capped off his weekend racing around the whole resort in a full marathon (26.2 miles) – for a four-day total of 48.6 miles. And that wasn’t all; the Monday following these races, Eric ran a 5k Castaway Challenge onboard the Disney Dream cruise ship. When asked about how he trained, an exhausted Eric responded, “I was supposed to train.”
2010
Regis Bowers '10 (second from left) went from law enforcement recruit to officer after graduating from the Suburban Law Enforcement Academy (SLEA). He now serves on the force for the Park Forest Police Department.
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2011
Briana Clark '11 completed her graduate degree in Occupational Therapy from Barry University in Miami, Fla., in May 2019.
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2014
Jasmine “Jazz” Matthews '11 was featured on ABC-7 Chicago Eyewitness News, describing the way she has dealt with her diagnosis of multiple sclerosis and her hopes for a stem cell transplant. Jazz’s GoFundMe page has raised (as of press time) more than $90,000 of the $125,000 needed for the therapy.
2012
Miami Marlins baseball prospect Brett Lilek '12, is on the roster for the team’s minor-league affiliate the Jupiter Hammerheads, based out of Palm Beach County, Fla. He was featured in a write-up on Marlins prospects on Fansided.com.
Matthew Braccio '14 and his fellow NASA Remote Mining Competition design team from Marquette University presented and explained their mining robot to junior high and high school students on March 14. Their visit to Marian Catholic High School highlighted their design process and careers in STEM as well as providing interactive activities for students.
Clemons Poindexter '12 plays drums in the band for Grammy-nominated singer Khalid. Clemons recently played with the band at the TIME 100 Gala.
2015
Jaboukie Young-White '12 was featured in TIME magazine’s listicle “23 People Who Are Changing What’s Funny Right Now.” The correspondent for the Comedy Central satirical news program The Daily Show with Trevor Noah is said to be “at the forefront of a new set reimagining what’s funny for the younger generation.”
2014
Kyle Brzeszkiewicz '14 has been serving as a Team Leader for AmeriCorps NCCC-FEMA Corps team Summit 3 based in Fort Worth, Texas. NCCC-FEMA Corps is a national service organization that provides young adults ages 18 to 24 with the unique chance to travel the country while getting things done for the United States, including working with FEMA to help fulfill FEMA’s mission of helping survivors before, during, and after disaster. On a typical day, Kyle works at the FEMA distribution center in Fort Worth, helping ensure that vast quantities of water, meals, and beds are ready to be deployed the moment disaster strikes. In his down time, Kyle often volunteers with his team for local organizations. For instance, Kyle volunteered a t the Dallas Relay for Life Rally, which raises funds to fight cancer.
Penn State senior Teniya Page '15 was a starting guard for the Nittany Lions, where she averaged a team-leading 19.8 points and 3.4 assists on the year. Teniya was profiled in the Daily Southtown’s sports section for her accomplishments.
Purdue senior diver Joseph Cifelli '15 was one of six Boilermakers to score in all three of his individual events at the Big Ten Swimming & Diving Championships in Iowa City, Iowa, this past winter. Joe scored in all three diving events and also competed on the platforms for the first time in three years. He finished second in the 3-meter diving consolation final with a 403.40 finals score and took fifth place in the 1-meter springboard with a score of 399.25 in the final. Have an alumni note for Marian Matters? Send it to alumni@marianchs.com
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LUNCH AND LEARN SERIES HIGHLIGHTS CAREER OPTIONS Marian Catholic School Counselor Katie Bluhm '95 knows students in high school are on the cusp of figuring out what they want to do when they grow up. That’s why she began organizing Lunch and Learns for students to learn about specific careers from individuals in those fields. This past academic year, the Counseling Department offered four Lunch and Learn opportunities.“Lunch and Learns are perfect because they are the only time students can come and not miss class or have to come after or before school,” explains Ms. Bluhm. “Lunch is on Marian (usually a sandwich, chips, a cookie and water) and they can eat while they are listening.”
If you would like to inspire students by sharing your career story during a Lunch and Learn talk at Marian Catholic, please contact Katie Bluhm '95, School Counselor, at kbluhm@marianchs.com.
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Dr. Rita McGuire
Dr. Jaime Van Buskirk '02
The first Lunch and Learn was presented on Tuesday, December 11, by Dr. Rita McGuire, CEO of RJM Wellness and Ripped Rita Fitness. Rita, an alumni parent, is the mother of Joshua Cohn '14. The graduate of Mother McAuley Liberal Arts High School has served as an OB/GYN, a Medical Director, and a Chief Medical Advisor. She attended college at the University of Illinois at Chicago and medical school at the Wayne State University School of Medicine. Rita excited students by giving them insider information such as 10 tips on getting into medical school and what happens after med school. She specifically discussed how students can increase their chances at finding a fit for their residency program, the best international medical schools, and what she thinks will happen to medicine in the future. One of the big trends she sees is entrepreneurship in medicine, with doctors opening their own businesses as she as done.
On Tuesday, March 12, Marian Catholic welcomed Dr. Jaime Van Buskirk '02 to s peak on her career as a physical therapist. She received her Bachelor of Science degree in Athletic Training and her Doctorate of Physical Therapy from Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Jaime owns and practices at JVB Physical Therapy, LLC, a clinic on the south side of Chicago. Jaime, who starred as Sparty at athletic events during her time at Marian Catholic, was always athletics-adjacent. In fact, her interest in physical therapy started in high school, when she was a student-trainer. This experience convinced her to enter the Athletic Training program at Marquette, a rigorous program working with teams and including an internship component. Jaime went on to receive her Doctorate of Physical Therapy, which she noted is an incredibly competitive, expensive program. However, she says it’s worth it if you can follow your passion. “Find something you love,” she told students, “and be really good at it.” Nowadays, Jaime runs her own practice, which she opened in 2018. Jaime’s work is both fun and challenging, but what she really loves is the opportunity to meet new people every day. “I really enjoy what I do,” she said.
Anthony J. Bonomo '95 Marian Catholic welcomed attorney Anthony Bonomo '95 to present on his career as a lawyer on Wednesday, February 20. Tony received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Finance and History from Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana, in 1999 and his Juris Doctor from Western Michigan University Cooley Law School in Lansing, Michigan, in 2003. In 2017, Tony teamed with Andrew and Aaron Giorgi to found Giorgi & Bonomo, LLC. His practice includes Civil Litigation, Personal Injury, Real Estate Transactions, and Estate Law. As a student at Marian Catholic, Tony played baseball and basketball. He used that competitive edge to his advantage through his undergraduate degree and law school. He also became quite interested in the way laws can work to help people, which led him to specialize in personal injury and medical malpractice law. He also practices real estate law, working with builders, developers, and house flippers.
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MARIAN CATHOLIC ALUMNI GATHERINGS ST. LOUIS
Joleen Simmonetti '95 On Tuesday, April 11, Marian Catholic was pleased to host Joleen Simmonetti '95 to talk about careers in sales and marketing. Joleen attended Marquette University following her graduation from Marian Catholic and now serves as Vice President, Sales & Enterprise Accounts, for RF Technologies, a leading provider of radio frequency identification (RFID) safety and security solutions for the healthcare, hospitality, and education markets. Jolene has more than 20 years of experience in the sales industry, having worked with technological and medical firms for the majority of that time. Jolene spoke lovingly of her time at Marian Catholic, noting how well prepared she was for college. Joleen mainly discussed her career in business and sales. She explained the many differences between marketing and sales, but also showed how the two types of teams can work together symbiotically to market and sell the best products. One of the biggest highlights of Joleen’s talk was during a session in which she turned the tables of the students and asked them questions; she handed out Starbucks gift cards to students to those brave enough to attempt an answer.
Sr. Mary Jo Sobieck poses with some of her former students, who attended the St. Louis Alumni and Friends Gathering in April.
DENVER
On Thursday, April 11, Marian Catholic teacher Sr. Mary Jo Sobieck threw out the first pitch for her beloved St. Louis Cardinals in their game against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Following the game, more than 50 alumni and friends of Marian Catholic High School came together for a gathering at the Budweiser Brew House at Ballpark Village, across the street from Busch Stadium in St. Louis. The gathering included alumni from several Marian Catholic generations, including a whole cohort of former students of Sr. Mary Jo, who were delighted to see their revered teacher. Marian Catholic was thrilled to host an out-of-town event in Denver, Colorado entitled A Night Out in Denver. Nearly a dozen alumni and friends of Marian Catholic gathered together on Thursday, May 2, at Black Shirt Brewing Company in Denver to celebrate their love of all things Marian. Alumni in attendance made connections that they never knew they had in the Denver area!
Michael Chevalier '83 of Highlands Ranch, Colorado, and John Corbett '84 of Colorado Springs, Colorado were two of the alumni in attendance at A Night Out in Denver in May.
CHICAGO
Headquarters Beercade in River North was the site of the 2019 Chicago Metro Alumni and Friends Gathering. Classes from 1970 through 2016 were represented as alumni assembled to talk, reminisce, and play some great vintage video games!
Jim McAteer '89, Michele Lyman '84, Kelly O’Hea Taylor '84, and Todd Torborg '88 pose for a photo at the 2019 Chicago Metro Alumni and Friends Gathering at Headquarters Beercade in Chicago.
We are establishing alumni networks all across the country and would love to come to your city! If you are interested in helping organize an alumni gathering in your area, please contact the Alumni Relations Office at alumni@marianchs.com.
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SPOTLIGHT: Becky’s Warriors When Charles “Chuck” Hicks '94 learned of his friend’s sister’s cancer diagnosis, he knew he wanted to do something to help her and her family. Chuck had stayed in contact with Marian Catholic classmate Amy (Eaton '94) Seymour and wanted to find a way to support them in the battle against cancer. Inspired by Amy’s sister, Rebecca “Becky” (Eaton '95) Lopez, Chuck’s vision came to fruition in the form of a golf outing. Ultimately, the outing was established to benefit not just Becky, but anyone in the Marian Catholic community affected by cancer. Unfortunately, Becky passed away before the inaugural outing, but her legacy lives on thanks to the efforts of Becky’s Warriors. Now in its fifth year, Becky’s Warriors, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, has expanded to include the golf outing, a bowling bash, and a 5K, Run Like a Warrior. Becky’s Warriors is staffed by a number of Marian Catholic alumni who have signed on to lend their time and talents throughout the years, beginning with Amy, who is the group’s treasurer. Tracy (Patrizi '94) Vander Luitgaren, who serves as the secretary for Becky’s Warriors, has been on board from the start, taking all notes and dealing with bookkeeping, and co-chairing the golf outing. In 2015, Joseph Flores '94 joined the board; he now co-chairs the golf outing as well. Megan (Murphy '94) Stukus joined the group in 2016. She handles the group’s art direction and co-chairs the bowling bash along with Tammie (DiGiovanni '94) Harmon, who has been a part of the crew since the first golf outing. Melissa “Missy” (Avey '94) Day, who coordinates the organization’s social media and photography, joined in 2017; she additionally co-chairs the 5K with Jimmy O’Brien, who has served Becky’s Warriors since 2017 and is married to Becky’s classmate Jessica (Yant '95) O’Brien.
Becky’s Warriors’ primary goal is to help Marian Catholic families affected by cancer. This, the board members agree, is directly related to the lessons of selflessness and service they learned in high school. Megan notes, “I had an awesome experience at Marian, but I didn’t join Becky’s Warriors simply because I went to Marian. Rather, I joined because of the values I began forming as a student at Marian that have flourished as an adult. We all have a foundation from Marian instilled in us; values of service and community. It’s so fulfilling to work with Marian Catholic alumni and current students, and feel we’re still a part of this community that started as teenagers.” In addition, everyone involved with Becky’s Warriors has been somehow touched by cancer, making it even more personal. Though the driving force behind Becky’s Warriors is the Class of 1994 and others from the mid-'90s, the board wants other alumni to know that if they are interested, they, too, can and should get involved. “We’re always happy to work with other alums who have a passion for philanthropy, especially around cancer,” Joe says. “It’s not a class of '94 project; we’d love to connect with folks who are younger and older than us.” Megan agrees: “We would love to work with more alumni “I joined because of the values I began forming who can help Becky’s as a student at Marian that have flourished as an Warriors. We’re always adult. We all have a foundation from Marian looking for anyone who has that energy or instilled in us; values of service and community. who knows somebody –Megan (Murphy '94) Stukus who could help.”
One of the organization’s mottos, coming from Becky herself, is “Prayers and Swears.” This was a phrase that Becky came up with that allowed those following her story to express their thoughts and feelings, whether positive or negative. Sometimes, this would take the form of a prayer to God for healing, strength, or even just peace; however, there were also moments when more heated comments displaying anger and enmity towards cancer were called for. Prayers and Swears has become a way for people to openly share their real, genuine feelings. Of course, Becky’s prayerful side brings everyone right back to what they learned at Marian Catholic. “When my seven-year-old’s class prays at school, they often pray for Becky,” Tracy says. “It has been great to teach our children that value. And that all comes back to Marian.” Joe echoes Tracy’s sentiments, explaining, “We’ve been able to help out families monetarily, but sometimes, it’s not about the financial thing. Rather, it comes back to being part of the Four Pillars of the Dominican charism: Prayer, Study, Community, and Preaching.” Becky’s Warriors exemplifies the Four Pillars, offering prayers for those affected by cancer; studying ways to help them; bringing survivors and their supporters together as part of a community; and preaching the word of God by living Christ’s example of helping those who need it most. Becky’s Warriors is a testament to the power of Marian Catholic’s Christian education, a commitment to those values its members learned in their formative years.
If you or someone you know is in need of support, visit beckyswarriors.org, where you can find grant request forms, as well as a place to add “Prayers and Swears.” 30 MARIAN MATTERS SUMMER 2019
MARIAN CATHOLIC NIGHT WITH THE WHITE SOX
National Anthem played by the Marian Catholic High School Band
Get your tickets now at www.whitesox.com/mariancatholic
JOIN US! SEPTEMBER 9, 2019
30th Annual
ENDOWMENT GOLF CLASSIC Idlewild Country Club and Flossmoor Country Club Noon Shotgun Benefiting the students of Marian Catholic High School www.marianchs.com/egc/
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MARIAN CATHOLIC SHINES AT
The Sr. Mary Paul McCaughey, OP Leadership Center at Marian Catholic sparkled like a brilliant diamond the evening of February 22, 2019. Inside, gorgeous crystal studded vases filled with blooms of creamy white hydrangeas served as centerpieces. Adjacent tables were decorated with tall, gold tree branches with shimmering crystals draped from each stem. Small, black boxes tied with black and gold ribbon awaited guests at each place setting. By 7:00 p.m., over 200 people filled the beautifully transformed Leadership Center to celebrate Marian Catholic’s Diamond Jubilee and raise funds for student scholarships. Proceeds from the annual event provide financial support for talented students who otherwise would not be able to attend Marian Catholic. In 2018 alone, Marian Catholic awarded over $1.7 million in scholarships and tuition assistance to qualifying students. Payton Ramsey '20, a member of the speech team and theater stage technician, is one of those students. When her father lost his job, Payton was able to overcome the challenges she and her parents faced thanks to the love, prayers, and support from her Marian Catholic family. As the student speaker at Veritas III, Payton expressed her appreciation for the sacrifices her parents have made as well as the financial assistance she has received from Marian Catholic. Both have given her “the chance to continue becoming the person I dream to be. Marian has given me a community where I can find and be myself.” Members of Marian Catholic’s founding order, the Dominican Sisters of Springfield, Illinois, attended Veritas III to join in the celebration and give witness to 60 years of
“It was a new and exciting experience for me to have the opportunity to share my story with the very people who make my education possible. I’m so grateful to have had such a wonderful night, one that I will always remember.” –Payton Ramsey '20
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Teaching Scholars with a Soul. Those present included Sr. Agnes Ann Pisel, Sr. Barbara Blesse, Sr. Beverly Jeanne Howe, Sr. Jean Patrice Schingel, Sr. Judine Hilbing, Sr. Judith Anne Haase, Sr. Judith Curran, Sr. Karen Marie Kvidera, Sr. Kathleen Anne Tait, Sr. Marie Michelle Hackett, Sr. Mary Jo Sobieck, Sr. Mary Paul McCaughey '67, Sr. Patricia Burke, Sr. Rebecca Ann Gemma, Sr. Santina DeLuca '62, and Sr. Teresa Marron. As Sr. Mary Jo attested that evening, seeing so many who share in the mission and ministry of the Dominican Sisters gives bold witness to the value and need for Catholic education today. One of the highlights of the evening was the presentation of the Dominican Legacy Pillar Award to Margie Pelino. The award recognizes individuals who have truly served as pillars in the Marian Catholic community by supporting and sustaining the mission of Marian Catholic High School. The parent of Carol (Pelino '93) Powers, Margie has demonstrated her passion for Catholic education as a member of the school’s advisory board, an endowed scholarship benefactor, and Marian Fund Leadership Circle advisor. Marian Catholic held its inaugural scholarship benefit, Veritas I, in 2017 in downtown Chicago. Since then, the event has grown tremendously. This year, thanks to the enthusiastic generosity of alumni, faculty, staff, and friends of Marian Catholic, the event raised just under $115,000! Marian Catholic is grateful to all those who made it a shining success. Join us next year for Veritas IV on Friday, February 21, 2020.
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P.S. In case you were wondering what was in the little black boxes on the guest tables, each contained a gold coin commemorating Marian Catholic’s 60th Anniversary. Lovingly provided by an anonymous donor, they are a wonderful memento of the heritage of the school.
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Preserving the LEGACY of Marian Catholic By Allen Marazas '64
How do you chronicle the vibrant history of an organization? For Marian Catholic it began with an idea conceived by past Science Department Chair Vince Zerante '70 and science teacher Bill Feimer. They submitted a proposal to then Vice President for Advancement Vince Krydynski '81 for a “wall of recognition” to honor faculty members who had made significant contributions to the school over the years. Krydynski called for a committee to be formed to discuss the possibilities of the proposal. Fourteen Marian Catholic teachers, alumni, and parents came together to form the committee. As discussions progressed, committee members realized the need for a display that encompassed more than faculty recognition alone. The initial concept evolved into a visual presentation that would include significant individuals and events to commemorate the history of Marian Catholic High School. The committee envisioned a “Legacy Wall” of Marian Moments, beginning with
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Monsignor Croarkin’s initial proposal for a South Suburban Central Catholic High School to the present day. Krydynski’s appointment as President and the need to secure funding for the project temporarily delayed the revised plan. The project was revived when an anonymous donor agreed to fund the Legacy Wall and the new Vice President of Advancement, Dan Kozlowski, assumed responsibility for its realization. The timeline for completion was accelerated with the decision to unveil the Legacy Wall as part of the 60th Anniversary celebration of the founding of Marian Catholic in 1958. With the help and direction of Assistant Librarian and Archivist Ann Jones, thousands of photos were culled from the archives and various publications including yearbooks and the Megaphone (Marian Catholic’s student newspaper). Given the space constraints of the piece, the committee was challenged to select those few images that best expressed the progress and spirit of Marian Catholic over the years.
Said Jones, “Although we had been amassing archival material for a while, this was one of the first times we really put the collection through its paces.” Pictures were selected that could stand alone with relatively little text and visually tell the story of Marian Catholic. According to committee member Bill Walsh '63, “The Legacy Wall is the Marian Catholic High School origin story for all to see. It’s a 21st Century version of a cave painting, as archaeologists might find in France or Arizona, showing the achievements of Marian Catholic’s past.” Another committee member, Sr. Agnes Ann Pisel, added, “It’s important for us to know our history, the story of ourselves. I hope that alumni will enjoy looking back and reliving those Marian Moments included on the Legacy Wall. I hope that it will bring about a sense of pride in Marian Catholic...For me, the beginning is an awesome story. Those dreams, plans, sacrifices, dedication, and hard work made Marian Catholic a reality.
SUPPORT MARIAN CATHOLIC AND REDUCE YOUR TAX LIABILITY!
We see an alive and vibrant school today and well into the future.” Marian Catholic alumnus and parent, John Dee '88 said, “While I believe it will be interesting to new families as they join the Marian Catholic Community and learn about the past, I really hope it serves as a reminder for those that have walked the halls to become re-engaged with the school and bring their families back to be part of the Marian tradition.” The decision was made to unveil the Legacy Wall at the annual Veritas III Gala held in the Leadership Center in February of 2019. According to Kozlowski, “Veritas III was a night of celebration of our scholars and awareness of the importance of scholarships. In this year’s case, we also celebrated the 60th Anniversary of Marian Catholic High School and its history and the Legacy Wall was a symbol of both. By honoring the history of this great school through this history wall, we make a case for the importance of its future in the South Suburbs.”
Marian Catholic Principal Steve Tortorello '04 added, “What an awesome evening! To be able to celebrate the installation of the Legacy Wall with so many people who contributed to its creation and to the content within it was a once-in-alifetime opportunity!” The Legacy Wall is intended to be the foundation of further reminders of Marian Catholic’s history, especially the people who played such an important role in its creation and development. The Legacy Wall will expand as each generation adds to the story of Marian Catholic High School. Marian Catholic President Vince Krydynski '81 emphasized, “The Legacy Wall reminds us that the foundation of Marian Catholic is the four Dominican pillars. We now have a demonstrative display of our history in a very prominent location. As our school continues to evolve, it is important that we, and those who follow us, never forget our heritage.”
Do you pay taxes to the State of Illinois? You can receive a 75% tax credit for donations made to the Illinois Tax Credit Scholarship! Visit the Marian Catholic website or contact Dan Kozlowski, Vice President for Advancement at dkozlowski@marianchs for more information on this unique opportunity to support Marian Catholic’s Scholars with a Soul!
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Remembered Celebrating the lives of alumni, family, and friends
Gregory C. Abrinko Alice Adamowitz Robert Anderson Anna S. Aucoin William Baikaukas Dale Baikauskas Rose Baikauskas Janice Ballard Antonio Banda Jack Becker’ 97 Richard Beechin Kevin J. Benson Olga Bianconi Richard Biemeret Ryan Blackstone '96 Walter Blessman Michelle Block Colleen Brennan Howard Brink Gerri Bucci Francis T. Burns Jr. Noreen A. Bussey Mary Louise Caffarini Dorothy Campbell Cecilia Castelaz John Castronovo Maria Chairo Eugene Cook Frank Costello '68 William Costello Karen Tosi Coston '65 Maureen Lorraine Cotugno Richard James Cunningham '98 Edward Czapek George Defirro Joseph N. DiGiovanni Alfred DiLuia Julie Dionne Sr. Mary Ricardo DiSanto, OP Mark W. Dolan '65 Dr. Robert A. Dolchide Doris Dombrowski Michael Dunlap '07 Thomas Durkin '69
December 25, 2018 to June 21, 2019
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Ray Dwornik Mary Eble James J. Ellis Jr. Elizabeth Fagan Velma Fares Sr. M. Megan Farrelly, OP Joe Faso '69 Susan Chester Fine William Fitzpatrick Kay Flores Frances Frederickson Richard J. Garcia Robert Gardiner Victoria M. Gargas Deacon Ed Gatons Liz Gatto Andrew Giamcola Anne Gibson Sue Goril Dr. David Goshorn, DPM Lucille Guiliani Ken Haddon Richard Thomas Hager '64 Thomas Hallissey Sr. Nadine C Haselberger Dorothy Heisler Mary Henry Cheryl Mitch-Hensley James Hogan James Houran '72 Bonnie Iwema Brandon Jenson Karen M. Johnston Theodore Jostes Agnes Karlin Timothy Kearney Michael T. Kelly Stephanie A. Klimas Anthony R. Kudra Sr. John Christopher Kurtz Bernard E. Lepacek Bob Leverence James Love Jack Lovejoy
Tara Lucas Elaine Lyza Andretta Marconi Assunta Marconi Louis Marconi Joseph Marconi Justin Marias '98 Patricia Marvinac Thomas McGannon Barbara McMillin Cecilia Melei Bob Mercurio Gerry Michael Nick Miketinac Sr. Thomas Miller Gertrude Ruszel Mize Ted Mize Gary Myers Mark Nagel Paul Nealis Mark Andrew Neider '65 Pamela Newton '75 Benedetta Nyamua Steven Ohlendorf Henry Owen Angeline Pagoria Joseph Pagoria Marian (Norcross '63) Patti Dean Perozzi Jr. '94 Burt Peterson Carol Plahm Mary Lou Plomin Joni Giannetti Prisco '78 Therese Rehmer Aurelia Rein Steven Reynolds Tristen Riezinger '17 Elaine Ristich Mary Ellen Rogers David A. Rohn III Paul Romanowski Barbara Ruff Sr. Mary Alan Russell, OP Ralph F. Rzeszutko
Anthony Saia Joanne S. Saliek James J. Sampagnaro Sr. Sally Gliottoni Sanfratello Patty Schmidtke Bob Schneider June Schouten Eugene Senese Pamela Serna Teri Shaw Eleanor Sinopoli Bill Skelten William Robert Slavin B.J. Sobczak Johnue Sova James Stead Jr. Robert Steffek Rachel Stene Marie Stevo Kyoko Taquchi Louis H. Taranto Richard Thomas Carol Thomson Mary Traficano Richard Umlor Michael Vandekerckhov Jr. Gordan A. Vaundry Donald Vollmer Elizabeth Waley Margie Webb Arthur Welsh Thomas Welsh LaVerne Welsh Wendell E. Wexter Edward Whitfield Jr. Michael Whitver Stanley Wohadlo Jr. James Timothy Yacobi Sr. '74 Angela Zona Mae Zorich Mary Ann Zorich
Marian Catholic High School Calendar of Events
HOMECOMING & CLASS REUNIONS
August 17 Parents Club Family Welcome Mass and Reception 5:00 p.m. – Marian Catholic Chapel August 19-20 Freshman Orientation
HOMECOMING FESTIVITIES ALL ARE WELCOME!
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2019
August 21 First Day for ALL Students (Half-Day Schedule) Senior Class Retreat
Alumni & Friends Homecoming Party Immediately following the game in Sister M. Paul McCaughey, OP Leadership Center
August 22/23 Regular Class Schedule
Homecoming Game 7:00 p.m. – Marian Catholic vs. DePaul College Prep
September 12 Liturgy Schedule/ Mass of the Holy Spirit
CLASS REUNIONS Class of 1969
CHICAGO HEIGHTS
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2019
September 30-October 3 Spirit Week October 4-5 Homecoming Weekend
6:30 p.m. – Balagio Ristorante (17501 Dixie Hwy., Homewood, Ill.) For more information, contact Debbie (Dobbin '69) Nederhouser at dnederhouser@gmail.com or Rita (Stanfa '69) Rohn at (708) 481-3618 or ritarohn@aol.com
October 16 Parent Teacher Conferences
Classes of 2009 and 2014
November 2 Memorial Mass
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2019
7:00 p.m. – Sr. M. Paul McCaughey, OP Leadership Center
Classes of 1964, 1979, 1989, 1999 SATURDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2019
5:00 p.m. – Reunion Mass Marian Catholic Chapel
6:00 p.m. – Reunion Marian Catholic High School
Are you a member of the Classes of 1974, 1984, 1994, or 2004 and interested in planning your reunion? Contact the Alumni Relations Office at alumni@marianchs.com to find out how Marian Catholic can assist you! If you are interested in being a member of your class committee, we would love to have you join us! Email alumni@marianchs.com to find out more.
November 1 Liturgy Schedule/ Feast of All Saints All-School Mass
November 3-5 Dominican Association of Secondary Schools National Convocation (at Marian Catholic) November 15 Parents Club “Parents Night Out”/ Spartan Gold Raffle Drawing December 9 Liturgy Schedule/ Marian Feast Day All-School Mass December 17-20 Semester Exams December 23-January 6 Christmas Break January 26-30, 2020 Catholic Schools Week Visit www.marianchs.com for details.
Marian Catholic High School Advancement Office
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ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED
CLASS OF 2023! Know a Future Spartan? Invite them to Marian Catholic’s upcoming Admissions Events! Open House I Wednesday, October 9 | 6:30-8:30 p.m. 8th Grade Super Shadow Day Monday, October 14 Open House II Sunday, November 24 | 1-4 p.m. Class of 2024 Entrance Exam Saturday, December 7 7th Grade Super Shadow Day Monday, February 17, 2020
274 students 14 0 male / 13 4 female 9 8 le g acy
46 ci t i e s / t o w n s 73
elem ent a r y / mid dle s ch o ols
Marian Catholic High School is a Catholic, coeducational, college preparatory high school within the Dominican tradition of study, prayer, community, and preaching. Marian Catholic students seek truth, exhibit personal responsibility, cultivate their individual talents, and demonstrate ethical leadership and Christian service. Director of Marketing and Communications / Editor
Cecily Fultz 708-980-2451 cfultz@marianchs.com
Vice President for Advancement
Dan Kozlowski 708-996-4652 dkozlowski@marianchs.com Contributing Writers Brendan Diamond Josh Ladner Kevin Kelly '80 Allen Marazas '64 Grace Rodo '20
Help us go green! If you would like to receive Marian Matters via email instead of being mailed a paper copy, please call 708-755-6579.