MARIAN ENTERS
THE
M E T E RO L O G I C A L AG E
There’s a weather front moving through more than 6,000 schools across the country. Marian is pleased to announce that WeatherNet, a unique interactive educational program is a part of the 2003-2004 MCHS curriculum. This award winning program combines meteorology and technology in an interactive learning environment that teaches a wide range of subjects, including science, math and technology. The program will mainly be used in environmental class taught by Mr. Jim Culloton. The main system is housed in the Master Science Lab with a digital weather reporting monitor in the hall outside the Master Lab. Visit this site on the internet at: http://weather.marianchs.com The community can now access local weather via www.WeatherBug.com and WeatherNet-affiliated TV stations. MCHS is recognized from time-to-time during NBC-TV weather reports as a reporting site. MCHS is also a part of the Homeland Security WeatherNet Network, providing response teams with local weather data during emergencies.
STUDENTS EXCEL
IN
A P, N AT I O N A L M E R I T H O N O R S
Marian Catholic continues to make its mark nationally with several students recognized in National Merit and National Achievement competition, which may eventually result in thousands of dollars in scholarship opportunities. The school also continues to rank among the best in the Chicagoland area for Advanced Placement Scholars with 61. Seniors Stephen Glispie (Glenwood) and Steven Tortorello (Tinley Park) were among 16,000 students nationally named as Semifinalists in the 49th annual National Merit Scholarship program. Both students will continue in the competition for more than 8,000 scholarship awards, worth approximately $32 million. More than 1.3 million high school juniors throughout the United States entered the program by taking the 2002 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT). To become a Finalist, which will be announced in the spring, students must have a record of very high academic standing, be endorsed by their principal and earn SAT scores that confirm their qualifying test performance. The Class of 2004 Commended Students in the National Merit Program include Matt Anderson (Dolton), Joshua Brzeskiewicz (Park Forest), Ryan Ferguson (Richton Park), Nicole Furlan (Richton Park), Caitlin Padula (Dyer, Ind.), Paul Pelock (South Chicago Heights), Ken Ranos (Chicago), Sarah Udchitz (Dyer, Ind.) and Emily Verkruyse (Munster, Ind.). Seven students earned recognition as Semifinalists in the National Achievement Scholarship Competition. They rank among more than 1,600 high school seniors named Semifinalists in the 40th annual program, a competition for Black American High School Students.
Recognized by National Merit: Back row from left to right: Steven Tortorello, Charlie Calvin, Ken Ranos, Eric Duncan, Courtney Pierre, Ryan Ferguson, Lauren Haskin, Paul Pelock , Matt Anderson, Joshua Brzeszkiewicz. Front row from left to right: Nicole Furlan, Caitlin Padula, Sarah Udchitz, Emily Verkruyse, Jaime Smith and Mary Marshall.
Marian students include Ashley Asaju (Evergreen Park, withdrawn), Charlie Calvin (Dolton), Eric Duncan (South Holland), Ryan Ferguson (Richton Park), Stephen Glispie (Glenwood), Mary Marshall (Crete) and Courtney Pierre (Homewood). Additionally, seniors Lauren Haskin (Hazel Crest) and Jaime Smith (Robbins) were named Referred Students in the Achievement Competition. *** Marian Catholic recently had 61 students named AP Scholars by the College Board in recognition of exceptional achievement on the collegelevel Advanced Placement Exams. Most of the Marian AP Scholars are members of the Class of 2003, which earned more than $5.2 million in college scholarships. Eleven Marian Class of 2003 students qualified for the National AP Scholar Award by earning an average grade of 4 or higher on a 5-point scale on all AP Exams taken. National AP Scholars include John Berger (Homewood), Nancy Bugajski (Chicago), Aaron Gonzales (Calumet 3 5
City), Christina Hill (Crete), Elita Hohner (Oak Forest), Andrew O’Brien-Penney (Homewood), Adam Peters (Richton Park), Elizabeth Santori (Chicago Heights), Megan Springer (South Holland), Shane Zelencik (Crete) and John Zuidema (Homewood). Marian students numbering 14 qualified for the AP Scholar with Distinction (average of 3.5 on all exams and grades of 3 or higher on on five or more of these exams): Adam Buchler (Crete), Jessica Carroll (New Lenox), Kerry Clifford (Park Forest), Kathryn Danalewich (Oak Forest), Daniel Djondo (Crete), Brian Dolan (Flossmoor), Gerald Lewis (Riverdale), Dorothy Mauro (Crete), Michael McSherry (Flossmoor), Bethann Pradelski (South Holland), Jennifer Rydzewski (Dolton) and Stephen Zahradnik (Richton Park). Class of 2004 members include Christopher Schlosberg (South Holland) and Emily Verkruyse (Munster, Ind.). Thirty-six more Marian students earned the AP Scholar with Honor Award (average grade of 3.25 on all exams and a grade of 3 or higher on four or more of these exams): Natalia Andino (Blue Island), Maura Bahu (Flossmoor), (Continued on p. 6)