Blueprint - Fall 2015

A Publication of the NAZARETH

ACADEMY Community

Blueprint FALL 2015

Living the Heart

OF OUR MISSION WORLDWIDE

IN THIS ISSUE A Tribute to Sr. Ellen • International Education Living Abroad • Serving Our Dear Neighbor Naz Students Travel the World Naz by the Numbers

SAVE THESE DATES! ALUMNI EVENTS

ENROLLMENT

Naz On The Road

Shadow Days

University of Dayton (November 4, 2015) University of Notre Dame/St. Mary’s College (November 5, 2015) University of Illinois Urbana (March 8, 2016)

Young Alumni Gathering January 7, 2016

Alumni Social Hours

Several Social Hours are planned in the city and suburbs of Chicago. Dates and locations to be determined.

Roadrunner Dash 5k May 1, 2016

For more information on alumni events: nazarethacademyalumni.org

Nazareth accepts shadow students every day that school is in session! Please contact Mr. John Bonk at 708.387.8538 to schedule a visit.

Open Houses

Sunday, November 8, 2015 Presentations at 1 p.m. and 2 p.m.

Thursday, December 3, 2015 Presentation at 7 p.m.

Scholastic Bowl

October 29, 2015 (8th grade) February 4, 2016 (7th grade)

Math Contest

November 16, 2015 (8th grade) March 7, 2016 (7th grade)

Entrance Exam January 9, 2016

Honors & AP Open House

CELEBRATIONS

Wednesday, April 13, 2016 Presentation at 7 p.m.

Athletic Hall of Fame January 15, 2016

Mothers Club Auction February 27, 2016

Fine Arts Hall of Fame April 9, 2016

Mothers Club Fashion Show April 24, 2016

PERFORMANCES The Addams Family October 22-25, 2015

Winnie the Pooh (Children’s Play) December 6, 2015

Winter Band & Choir Concert December 10, 2015

JUST FOR FUN Mothers Club Boutique Shopping Night October 28, 2015

Mothers Club Trivia Night January 9, 2016

Beauty and the Beast April 8-10, 2016

For updates and complete information on Nazareth Academy events, please visit nazarethacademy.com.

Nazareth Academy, sponsored by the Congregation of Saint Joseph, is a Catholic, coed, college preparatory high school dedicated to living Jesus’ mission of unity and committed to educating the whole person.

A Letter from the President and Principal

Director of Finance: Mrs. Mary Callaghan

At the Closing School Mass each year, the First Reading is from the Acts of the Apostles. It is a beautiful and bittersweet moment as we weave the words from Jesus to his apostles with the names of all of the colleges and universities to be attended by that year’s graduating class. The underlying message becomes vividly clear. We are launching another group of outstanding young people to bring the spirit and mission of God and the charism of the Congregation of Saint Joseph “to the ends of the earth.”

It really is overwhelming to think about the number of people who encounter our graduates and to imagine that number multiplied time and time again over the years.

Our alumni bring back incredible stories about their experiences throughout the country, and indeed, all over the world. They are making a positive difference in the lives of others and lifting up our pillars of Scholarship, Service, Spirit and Unity in amazing ways.

This issue of Blueprint brings many of these special stories to life, but we know it is just the tip of the iceberg. Nazareth Academy alumni are everywhere and most importantly, everywhere they are supposed to be…doing God’s work, “That All May Be One.” “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes down on you; then you are to be my witnesses…in Jerusalem…yes, even to the ends of the earth.”

Dean of Students: Mr. Tim Racki

In gratitude,

1209 W. Ogden Avenue La Grange Park, Illinois 60526 Phone: 708.354.0061 Fax: 708.354.0109 www.nazarethacademy.com President: Mr. Dennis Moran Principal: Mrs. Deborah Tracy ’82 Academic Dean: Sr. Terry Middendorf, CSJ ’60 Director of Curriculum and Instruction: Mrs. Therese Hawkins ’79

Editor: Ms. Alena Murguia ’89 Graphic Design and Print: The Stevens Group Please direct comments to: amurguia@nazarethacademy.com

Dennis Moran President

Deborah Vondrasek Tracy ’82 Principal

View Blueprint online at: www.nazarethacademy.com/blueprint Contact the editor to help stop duplicate and undeliverable mail by updating your address. Your help is appreciated.

Bringing the heart of Nazareth’s mission to our students all begins with the leadership of our Administration Team.

: Nazareth Academy : @NazarethLGP : Nazareth Academy Alumni Association : Nazareth Academy 1209 Podcast : @NazarethLGP : @NazarethLGP

Left to right: Tim Racki, Deborah Vondrasek Tracy ’82, Terry Middendorf CSJ ’60, Mary Callaghan, Therese Uphues Hawkins ’79 and Dennis Moran. pg / 3

LIVING THE HEART OF OUR MISSION WORLDWIDE

Living Abroad

"Everything you do in life is the perfect preparation for your next step."

STEPHANIE SPRAGUE ’86

Stephanie Sprague

{London}

Stephanie Sprague has always wanted to get to know people and to learn their stories. Coming out of Nazareth and then the University of Illinois Urbana, journalism seemed like the perfect way to do both. “Back in 1990, there was no business television; it was just eager young journalists making connections, building relationships and getting the stories.” She found herself working for Reuters on a steep learning curve, asking questions about international finance.

In 1999, Reuters offered her a position in London. “At that time my husband, Joe Chodl ’86, was very happy at Nazareth as a teacher and coach, so this was a big decision for us. But, honestly, part of the allure of journalism was the chance to travel and see more of the world.”

So the couple moved to London, where they remained until 2014.

In London, Stephanie was a reporter and correspondent for Reuters and CNN International. She anchored breaking news stories, including 9/11, and covered top business stories. The 2007 credit crisis hit just about the

same time that Stephanie gave birth to her and Joe’s second son. “Really, that’s when traditional journalism came to an end.” She was offered a position back in New York, but by that time Joe was established in his work at The American School in London.

Stephanie enjoyed her life in London, particularly the irreverence of British humor, which matches her personality. She even wrote an essay, “How I Gave Birth the English Way,” contrasting the very laid back style of pregnancy in England versus the US. And, of course, their London location made travel all over Europe as easy as a 2-hour flight.

“I had to just trust that things would work out if I continued to put in the time and the work.

I tried not to worry about what would come next.” What came next was media consulting work, including the launch of the financial news company, Need to Know News, before Stephanie and Joe moved to New Jersey where Joe is principal of Rutgers Preparatory School, one of the oldest schools in the country.

Stephanie, Joe and their sons during a trip to Sicily.

“There’s an element of mystery to how things work out,” says Stephanie. Struggling through high school French with Ms. Chovelak, she never could have predicted that Paris would become her favorite travel destination. Nor did she know that the high standards of Mrs. Cain and Mrs. Kirtley would instill a lifetime of love for the written word. What she has come to understand is that “everything you do in life is the perfect preparation for your next step.”

LINDA GOGLIOTTI ’88

{Japan, Kuwait & Sweden}

Linda and her grandfather Anthony Faklis, whom she met up with in Poland in September.

pg / 4

In 2000, Linda Gogliotti went to Japan for one year, but one year turned into twelve; and now it’s been fifteen years since she’s lived in the United States. “Becoming a truly global person – being influenced by each culture I live in/visit – is my wish. I’ll always be a Midwest American girl, but each country has influenced me in its own unique ways. That’s the beauty; I can take each culture and mix it with who I already am. To me, foreign/different/unknown makes things interesting.”

Linda would know. In addition to her time in Japan, then Kuwait, she’s lived the past three years in Sweden (with her Swedish national husband); spent five weeks in Budapest, Hungary; volunteered for a month in Burma; and visited Paris, Seoul, Oahu, Dubai and Poland.

During her Naz years, Linda couldn’t imagine the far-flung trajectory of her life.

“I don’t think my mother even has a passport!

Maybe it was my grandfather. He was a pilot when he was younger and he often traveled

SCOTT CAVANAUGH {Japan}

’96

Scott Cavanaugh can trace his desire to travel back to a Nazareth summer trip to Europe, when he joined Mrs. Garside and classmates on a tour of England and Ireland. After graduating from Illinois Wesleyan with a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science, he felt an even deeper need to see more of the world. “I had some friends working and serving in Japan so that’s where I headed, first to travel and then to teach English.”

Far from a temporary stop, Scott ended up living in Japan for over ten years, transitioning into a Human Resources role with Waseda International before returning to the Chicago area with his family in 2013. After the 2011 tsunami, life changed dramatically in Asia, affecting the availability and safety of the food and consumer goods Scott and his family needed.

During the years Scott called Tokyo home, he was able to travel all over Asia, soaking in exposure to different cultures and new ways of thinking. “Since Tokyo is a travel hub, I got to meet people from all over the world. I’m glad I entered the experience with such an open mind because it allowed me to appreciate the differences in cultures, perspectives and even ways of doing business.”

He recalls being impressed by the pristine conditions at the Honda Motorcycles factory.

“I’m not saying that’s how all manufacturing work should be done; but it’s great to have a new perspective on how business can be done.”

While Tokyo itself has a similar cosmopolitan feel to Chicago, Scott experienced some key differences between the two cities, most notably in the space.“Space is at a real premium in Tokyo, which taught me to be very respectful of my neighbors.” He also needed some time to get used to Tokyo’s complex transportation system.

On his first day there he bought five different train tickets before finally finding one that took him where he needed to go.

As he adapted to life in Japan, Scott tried to be conscious about making the effort to immerse himself in the culture and the new opportunities.

He sampled new foods – sushi, of course, but also cuisine from India and Nepal. He learned the language until, about three years into living there, he could feel comfortable conversing in Japanese (although he still wouldn’t call himself fluent).

Scott, son Aidan, and his wife Hiroko at a baby sumo event in the summer of 2013.

Now home, he travels only domestically, although he’s glad to still meet people from all over the world. “Every culture, every new perspective, has something unique to add. The key is not to be afraid of those differences.”

“Thinking globally can help you in your career as well as your personal life. Going abroad expands your worldview.”

Linda Gogliotti

overseas on holiday. Perhaps I take after him in this way.” Whatever the inspiration, Linda has no regrets. “Thinking globally can help you in your career as well as your personal life. Going abroad expands your worldview.”

Linda acknowledges that living abroad and traveling frequently come with their own challenges, or, as she calls them, “adjustments.”

Any new destination carries the fear of the unknown. She’s also been surprised that sometimes places that would seem more similar

to America end up being the more difficult assimilation. “In my experience, I’ve found Sweden much more difficult than Japan or Kuwait. That said, I can’t imagine NOT seeing other places in the world.”

This willingness to see the challenges as the build-up to the ultimate reward is a form of optimism and confidence, qualities she traces back to childhood. “I think Nazareth prepared me to face whatever came next in my life by making me feel secure in myself. I had many

good friends from all walks of life. I remember going on a Close Up trip to Washington, DC with Mr. Michalek where I met kids from other states as well as Puerto Rico.”

Those trips were just the start of an adventure-filled life. “Seeing things most people won’t ever see, going places and doing things most people never will...these are the things that excite me. It’s doubtful this will change anytime soon, if ever.”

pg / 5

LIVING THE HEART OF OUR MISSION WORLDWIDE

Dispatched Worldwide JOHN STIMAC ’93

{Afghanistan & Iraq}

When John Stimac entered Nazareth in the fall of 1989, he was a Berwyn kid figuring out how to get along with kids from all sorts of different communities. Now, through his career in the United States Army, Staff Sergeant John Stimac has seen four continents, and learned how to get along with people from many different cultures. As a photographer and journalist for

John on a humanitarian trip in Iraq.

the Army, he has been embedded with troops on the front line as well as with units leading humanitarian missions in war-torn areas of Iraq. John has received numerous awards and decorations for his bravery and dedication, including the Army Commendation Medal and the Purple Heart.

“I never wanted to stay where it was safe,” he says. “My job was to find the story, no matter where that took me.” Sometimes that story took him to meet American and foreign dignitaries in downtown Baghdad; sometimes it took him to USO tours where he photographed Kid Rock and WWE wrestlers. “What really got me going were the stories of everyday privates and young sergeants, the guys who don’t normally get a lot of credit.”

John’s foreign service with the Army hasn’t come without cost; he suffered a traumatic brain injury and struggles with PTSD, but he doesn’t dwell on the negative. “People don’t always think about all the good things the Army did in Iraq, so many missions that were all about humanitarian causes.” John talks about visits to schools outside Tikrit, where soldiers and medics delivered supplies and much needed medical attention to Iraqi children. “I am proud of the stories I captured, especially the ‘day in the life’ kinds of pieces.”

“My job was to find the story, no matter where that took me.”

John Stimac ’93

Since returning stateside, John has been able to spend more time with his wife Alysann and their two young daughters as well as his teenage son. For his fortieth birthday this past July 4, Alysann helped plan a very special recognition for John. The life-long White Sox fan and season ticket holder was honored by Major League Baseball with a “Hero of the Game” video tribute during the Sox game that day.

“I don’t like being in the spotlight; in fact I really avoid it. But that day I had to choke back tears as my name was announced and the crowd cheered while the video board showed images of me and the photos I took. I regained my composure, but it’s definitely a day I’ll never forget.”

DANIEL BRENCIC ’06

{Belize, Kenya & Guinea}

Daniel Brencic’s introduction to international service started with a Naz flyer that read, “Do you like soccer?

Do you like music? Do you like helping people?” Those three interests combined to find him the youngest member of a student group headed to Belize to work with children in 2004. “That was really my first exposure to the developing world...and a realization that I could make an impact on lives even in a short time.”

After Nazareth and a Bachelor’s in Public Health from the University of Illinois, Daniel earned a Master of Public Health degree in Global Health and a graduate certificate in Global Complex Humanitarian Emergencies from Emory University, where he continues to teach pg / 6

EMILY CRAWFORD ABRAHAM ’03

{Jordan, Iraq & Dominican Republic}

Emily Crawford Abraham never intended to stay in Jordan for three years after college.

“I had spent a semester abroad there while at Seton Hall and just felt the need to go back after graduation.” In fact, Seton Hall is one of only two American universities, (the other is Georgetown), dedicated to being a feeder school for the United States Foreign Service.

She spent the summer of 2007 working to save enough money to fly back to the Middle East, intending to teach English. She ended up working for some human rights NGO’s, writing grants and helping to translate materials, before moving to Iraq, where her now-husband Arnoux Abraham, proposed. Meanwhile, Emily had applied to join the foreign service.

Fast forward to 2015 and Emily is on her second tour of duty with the U.S. Department of State, currently working in the Dominican Republic. She is among 11,000 foreign service

Daniel at work in Guinea.

and lecture. He spent his junior year in college studying in Kenya, witnessing the devastation wrought by widespread HIV. Daniel’s year abroad solidified his interest in both international health and emergency preparedness, a perfect fit for Emory’s Global Health Program. “Through the networking and

generalists who agree to be “worldwide available” at a moment’s notice. Officially, Emily is a Public Diplomacy Officer (set to focus on media and public relations as well as cultural exchanges), but she’s currently doing the Consular Service that all generalists must do in the beginning.

Emily, who speaks Arabic, Spanish and some German (from her Naz days), works with applicants seeking American visas as well as with American citizens in need of birth or death certificates. Her department helps families whose loved ones are missing or incarcerated in a foreign country. It’s not easy work, but she’s grateful that each experience “adds a new perspective. I am constantly adding to my frame of reference for looking at any issue.”

Emily is also grateful for her family who supports this atypical career path and sense of adventure, Skyping often and coming home whenever possible. “In the ten years I’ve been

contacts I made, I connected to the Centers for Disease Control, where I interned and did a fellowship before coming to work full time.”

His work as a Health Scientist with the International Emergency Preparedness Team at the CDC has taken him to more than twenty countries, including Africa (Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Guinea, Kenya, Senegal, Tanzania, Togo), the Caribbean (Haiti), Central America (Guatemala, Panama, Belize), Asia (Bangladesh, India, Thailand, China), and the Middle East (Egypt, Jordan).

As much as his day job tries to work with countries to strengthen their capacity for public health and emergencies in advance, Daniel is also “deployable” as one of the first people to respond to a crisis.

“I get a lot of joy from helping people,” he explains. “After my first trip to Guinea during the Ebola outbreak, I understood that I was in the right place, with the right skills and the right training to be able to help.” Of course it’s

Emily and her family at Mirador el Sur Park, Santo Domingo.

overseas, I’ve only missed Christmas at my childhood home twice.” She would also love to return to her roots at Nazareth to talk to today’s students about the possibilities for foreign service.

“I was a Nazareth student on 9/11 and won’t forget how our Catholics Opposing Racism group organized the school’s first visits and exchanges with a mosque-affiliated girls high school. That was my introduction to Islam and the Arabic language; I would have loved then to know about the world of possibilities open to me through foreign service.”

difficult to be so often on the move and away from loved ones, but Daniel feels rewarded in his ability to work directly with governments and decision-makers on a global scale. “I worked with so many grassroots organizations in Kenya who didn’t have the power to affect real change.

At this level, our work can truly impact the entire community.”

As difficult and sometimes even frightening as his work is, Daniel considers himself a better global citizen due to his experiences. “It’s made me very aware of other cultures, religions and languages. I get to see the human side of those differences and unite with people from all over the world for a common goal.”

In September, Daniel was the inaugural recipient of the Four Pillars Award for Unity.

“It’s incredibly humbling. I carry the values I learned at Nazareth with me each day. It was my experience there that put me on this course for humanitarian work.”

pg / 7

LIVING THE HEART OF OUR MISSION WORLDWIDE

International Education BROOKE-MARIE TRUDEAU ’04

“I work with families from Brazil, Germany, Netherlands and Russia.”

Brooke-Marie Trudeau

{England}

Coming out of Nazareth, Brooke-Marie Trudeau knew she wanted to teach and she knew she wanted to travel. She had family in England and spent a summer abroad between her junior and senior years at St. Mary’s Notre Dame. “That summer was so inspiring as we got to shadow teachers in Paris, London and Edinburgh.”

Still, for the years Brooke taught in Chicago

Brooke enjoying a sunset in Iceland.

Public Schools after college, the idea of teaching internationally remained “just a Google dream.”

Her dream came true in 2014 when Brooke attended the International Teaching Fair in Iowa. During an intense weekend, 900+ teachers met with over 400 schools from all over the world. “It’s such a crazy place,” explains Brooke. “You really have to go into it having done your research.” Brooke immediately approached TASIS England and told them, “I’m here for you. It’s your school or nothing.”

That was on Friday; by Sunday afternoon she had a job offer and two hours to decide.

Brooke took the offer and is now in her second year at the TASIS school in Surrey, forty minutes outside London. TASIS stands for The American School in Switzerland, where they were founded, but has schools throughout Europe. Brooke lives on campus as a sort of Resident Assistant for the boarding school sophomores, while teaching fifth graders.

“TASIS draws students from all over the world. I work with families from Brazil, Germany,

Netherlands and Russia.” She loves teaching younger kids because “they’re just trying to make the world seem not quite so big.” Brooke can use their different cultures and histories to bring the class together as one, which she connects to her Nazareth experience. “‘That All May Be One’ was behind everything we did at Nazareth, especially Kairos, which opened my eyes to the reality that we have to practice understanding because we can never really know what’s going on behind a person’s smile.” In similar ways to how she learned to build community at Nazareth, Brooke trusts that if she gives of herself honestly and completely, the reward for her life will be great.

Other than her students, the greatest reward of her current job is its location. From Surrey, Brooke has been able to travel extensively.

“Travel is part of the culture of TASIS. It’s required of the students. I am definitely taking advantage of the fact that I can leave the country for long weekends.”

Emily is now in her second year as an English Teaching Assistant (ETA) in Toluca, Mexico. “ETAs are Fulbright Students but they require a Bachelor’s degree. This year, there are about sixty ETAs in Mexico, so the program renewed my grant to serve as a mentor.” She works directly with a Mexican agency that coordinates English programming for elementary and teacher preparation schools. She has the opportunity to work with both students and teachers, assisting with English grammar and leading conversation classes.

“Living in Mexico has helped me appreciate other cultures and traditions. I have learned so much about foods, dancing, ways of dressing,

house styles, mannerisms and ideals. I am blessed to work with such great people who go out of their way to help me and to have loyal friends who are patient with my Spanish.”

In fact, Emily has had to learn to communicate in a less direct style.“Here in Mexico, conversations, texts and emails start by asking the other person how they are doing, how their family is, etc., and only then asking the question for which you want an answer. It has to do with the pace of life here in Mexico.” On the flip side, she has felt a warm welcome from the citizens of Toluca, attending family dinners, quinceñeras and weddings.

She approaches both the opportunities and the challenges with an open mind. “As I told my

EMILY SZYMCZAK ’09 {Mexico}

Emily Szymczak’s interest in working with Latino students developed in the Little Village neighborhood of Chicago. She was at Illinois State University, part of a 5-year Program in Bicultural Bilingual Elementary Education with a minor in Spanish and TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages), when she first discovered the Fulbright Program. She worked with the ISU Honors Department to apply, and eventually earn that grant.

pg / 8

KACEY GAVIN ’08

{Norway & South Korea}

Kacey with students in South Korea.

“My parents have always encouraged me to travel as much as possible throughout my life.

There’s so much of the world to see but not enough time to see it all.” Kacey Gavin has wasted no time taking her parents advice. She volunteered in schools across the country as a college student at St. Mary’s University and studied abroad in Oslo, Norway during her senior year. After graduating with her Sociology degree, Kacey first worked with AmeriCorp’s Lasallian Volunteers in Portland, Oregon before moving to Yeosu, South Korea in 2014.

For the past eighteen months, she’s worked at a hagwon (an after school academy) helping kids from seven to sixteen improve their English skills. Although her original plan was to work with students in South America, her oldest brother has spent four years in Yeosu and encouraged Kacey to come to South Korea.“I have learned about Korean culture. I never knew much about the country or its history beforehand.

Coming to Asia has really opened my eyes to a new way of life.”

The hardest part for Kacey is not knowing the Korean language as well as she would like to. Even though many schools there prefer that foreign teachers do not speak Korean, encouraging students to speak English instead, Kacey admits to experiencing confusion in stores and restaurants. Still, “Yeosu is an easy city to navigate even without knowing the language. And it’s incredibly beautiful, on the southern coast of Korea with many islands and mountains.”

Kacey is proud of the work she is doing and grateful for the opportunity. “I truly believe my life would have turned out differently if I didn’t attend Naz and didn’t take courses like Contemporary World Issues and World Religions. The faculty at Naz were always encouraging as well.” She credits people like Mrs. Ryan, Mr. Krause and Mr. Milos with providing the education and guidance to help open her eyes to the world outside Chicago.

Kacey would like to see more young people step outside their comfort zones and open themselves up to new experiences, even when it seems like travel might be impossible. “Never give up. If you want to go somewhere, you will find a way to get there.” Both Nazareth and St. Mary’s inspired her to look outside herself to help others in any way she can.

“I’ve learned that the smallest acts of kindness make some of the biggest differences in a person’s life. That’s what I want to do... make a difference in at least one person’s life.”

Fulbright mentees at orientation, ‘just say yes!’

This applies for travel, study, or life abroad, and for any quality opportunity that presents itself.”

Emily is grateful for all the steps in life that have led her to this point, including the pillars of Nazareth. “The curriculum prepared me for college and the Fulbright Program. Service was ingrained in the school’s culture. Nazareth not only helped me explore Catholicism, but also other religions in the World Religions course.

My faith, since arriving in Mexico, has grown even stronger. The value of unity ties everything and everyone together. No matter where I am in the world, I have my Nazareth education, values, and community with me.”

Emily appreciates the culture in Mexico. pg / 9

LIVING THE HEART OF OUR MISSION WORLDWIDE

Service Around the World JES SCHEINPFLUG ’06 {Belize & West Africa}

Jes Scheinpflug served in Togo, West Africa with the Peace Corps from 2010-2012 in the Girls’ Education and Empowerment Program, living in a village of about 1,000 people with no electricity or running water. “My primary focus was to increase the number of girls going to school. I also did health projects and entrepreneurship projects with students to help pay school fees.” She currently sits on the Board of Directors for Expanding Lives, a nonprofit that provides educational and leadership opportunities to West African girls who are the first in their family to make it to high school.

Jes serving with the Peace Corps in West Africa.

pg / 10

At Nazareth, Jes was involved in COR (Catholics Opposing Racism) and went on the Belize Mission Trip. “I was inspired by the community activities Mrs. Caragher did with service groups. The Belize Mission Trip with Ms. Denise opened my eyes to another world. I went to serve the people in Punta Gorda, but they also taught me a lot.”

Nazareth also taught Jes to question how she could make the world a better place and be an advocate. “I learned that our neighbors are everyone and I learned what it means to be supported by a community, especially when Mr. Dennis Moran went out of his way to help me excel.”

After high school she wanted more of that experience. She majored in Social Work and minored in Spanish, wanting to learn more languages and new ways of thinking while being of service. “I chose the Peace Corps because it isn’t about going somewhere with your own ideas, but integrating as part of a community and doing needs assessments to do sustainable projects supported by, in my case, my Togolese neighbors.”

Surprisingly she found the “reverse culture shock” of coming home more challenging than going. “The greatest rewards are the friendships and lasting relationships I have with the people from my village of Kpategan and other Togolese counterparts.”

Stephen working with children in Ethiopia.

STEPHEN LILY ’05

{Senegal & Ethiopia}

From 2010 to 2012, Stephen Lily ’05 served as a Salesian Lay Missioner in Wolaita Sodo, Ethiopia, volunteering at a youth center and as an English teacher. “I was largely inspired to serve internationally through studying international development in Senegal for four months at the end of my undergraduate education. It was a great opportunity to be immersed in another language and culture and to learn about the hopes and challenges of development.” That experience, along with a desire to live out his faith in a concrete way, lit a desire to serve abroad.

Stephen credits Nazareth’s service hours and opportunities as positive experiences that helped foster a mentality of service. “I believe that exposure opens the door to future opportunities. Working in the Back of the Yards at Port Ministries, serving dinner at St. Thomas of Canterbury, or even helping out at the day care program paved the way to seek opportunities for service.”

In particular Stephen recalls Social Justice class with Ms. Maloney. “We read “Our America” about the realities of life in the inner city, studied Oscar Romero and the struggles of El Salvador, and heard from Kathy Kelly and her use of non-violent resistance. Nazareth widened my horizons.”

Cultural and language differences were challenging in Ethiopia. “My ability with the local languages was never too solid, and cultural differences and expectations could be frustrating. However, you realize the presuppositions and attitudes that you carry.

I had to learn to let go of certain things, but I also discovered the things that I needed to hold firm to.” And, he felt rewarded just to be present with those students and that community. “I feel very privileged to have walked a little way with them on their journeys.”

INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL

{Ireland}

Nazareth alumni are not the only ones traveling the globe. Current students can also speak to the international experience.

Nazareth continues to sponsor trips abroad every two years. In the summer of 2015, almost thirty students traveled through England and Ireland. It was the second Naz trip for Alex Ziegler ’16, who also went to Spain after his freshman year. “I didn’t want to let the opportunity to travel the world pass me up,” he says. “One of my favorite stops was Ladies View on the Ring of Kerry. We had been on a bus for a few hours driving the Ring of Kerry, but we couldn’t see anything due to a thick layer of fog. The entire landscape was just a sheet of white until we reached Ladies View, where the fog lifted revealing a beautiful landscape.”

Elaine Gralak ’16 also took advantage of the travel opportunity. “I have a list of all the countries that I want to go to in my lifetime (sort of like a bucket list) and this was just the start of my adventures. I will never forget the day we went to Abbey Road in London where The Beatles shot their album cover. We took our own version of the picture and signed our names on the wall. It was the least monumental thing we saw in London because that doesn’t compare to Big Ben or Buckingham Palace, but it was the place I felt I had the most freedom and was really able to do what I wanted to and explore my own interests.” Elaine is thrilled to have experienced new faces and cultures in Europe.

While they didn’t travel with Nazareth, seniors Connor Knoelke and Annabella Gofis, each had life changing experiences abroad this summer. Connor took part in a mission trip to Lourdes, France with Father Wayne Watts. “It’s sort of a family tradition for us,” he explains.

“I’m so glad I made the trip because it really opened my eyes to what I have.” Connor’s mission included helping the pilgrims in Lourdes, many of whom were confined to carriages. He took them to Masses and the Sacrament of Adoration. “While communication could sometimes be a challenge, I realized that there are so many Catholics throughout the world. On some level, you don’t need to share a language to connect with them.”

Annabella spent three weeks of her summer in Greece at Ionian Village, a Greek Orthodox youth camp. “I never fully appreciated the beauty of my faith until this camp.” Each day of her trip was filled with excursions and fun camp activities, but “keeping the chapel and the faith at the center was what made this more than a vacation.” She met young people from all over the country, and discovered new things about her culture and about herself. The fact that campers are not allowed any phones or devices and have limited contact with family back home meant a leap of faith, but Annabella is convinced. “It’s the best thing I’ve ever done.

Ionian Village left a special imprint on my heart. I am so glad that God put me in this place with these people.”

{London}

{France}

{Greece}

At Nazareth, travel goes two ways. Yes, we send our students and alumni “to the ends of the earth,” but we also welcome students from all over the world. For 2015-16, Nazareth welcomes thirteen students from China: seniors Jiachen Li and He Shen; juniors Xingzi Chen, Huangcun Hu, Xinyi Li, and Xue Yun Yuan; sophomores Jiuxu Ding, Zongyi Han, Christopher Jiang, Jiayin Li, Yanzheng Wu and Junyu Yao; and freshman Songjiang Cai.

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Class Notes Marie Harazin Scheive ’41

(90 years young) is still traveling and exploring the globe. Last year she went parasailing with her nephew in Honolulu, Hawaii and attended a destination wedding in Mexico.

Congratulations to Naz classmates and Congregation of St. Joseph Jubilarians,

Sr. Dorothy Randall ’54, Sr. Marlene Schemmel ’54 and Sr. Mary Southard ’54,

celebrating 60 years in religious life!

Kathleen (Kay) Richards ’59 proudly

announces the newest member of her family, third great-grandchild and first girl, Zo Queen, born to granddaughter Elise and Daddy Jairo on November 11, 2014.

Congratulations to Sr. Jackie Schmitz ’64, who celebrated her 50th Jubilee with the Congregation of Saint Joseph this year.

Maria Finitzo ’70, two-time Peabody Award-

winning filmmaker, produced and directed the documentary “In the Game,” which examines the life of a girls soccer team at an inner city public high school in Chicago. The film ran at the Gene Siskel Film Center in August.

Congratulations to Theresa Hutchison Denton ’79, newly appointed Congregation of St. Joseph Ministries Associate Director.

In Memoriam

Alumni are on the move at Nazareth. Therese Uphues Hawkins ’79 has moved from the

John Simpson ’04 and Disa DiBuono ’06

Deans’ Office and her role as Director of Student Activities to join the Administration Team as the Director of Curriculum and Instruction.

Kristen Driscoll Stojetz ’89 adds Director of Facilities to her role as Director of Marketing and Recruitment.

got engaged in May at Nazareth, where they first met.

Erin Melone ’07

and Matt Smith ’07 were married in August.

Their bridal party and guest list included dozens of Nazareth alumni.

Lisa Turano Solano ’85 was the keynote speaker at the Darien Chamber of Commerce’s Women in Business luncheon in July. Her topic was “Marketing Yourself & Developing a Personal or Business Brand.”

Nicole Jeray ’88, LPGA golfer, started

“Swinging for Sleep” five years ago to help raise money for Wake Up Narcolepsy, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to supporting narcolepsy awareness and research to find a cure. Jeray suffers from narcolepsy and has raised close to $100,000 for the organization.

Susie Kolodziej ’08

married Steve Dowjotas at Notre Dame Catholic Church in Clarendon Hills in July. Several Nazareth alumni were in attendance.

Debbie Pollard Pawlowski ’92, David Pawlowski ’94 and Erin Voss ’08 all finished

as medalists in the third annual Alumni Association Roadrunner Dash 5k in April.

Staff Sgt. John Stimac ’93 of the U.S. Army

Congratulations to Sean Broderick ’08 and Michelle Norini ’08, who recently got engaged.

was honored as the Hero of the Game on Independence Day at U.S. Cellular Field before the White Sox Game. See page 6.

Mary Catherine Hogan ’09 was

privileged to represent the Chicago Rose of Tralee Center in the San Francisco St. Patrick’s Day Parade. She enjoyed riding in a cable car in the Parade with the San Franciscan Center.

In April, artist Clare Grill ’97 was featured in New York Times Magazine’s “10 Galleries to Visit in Chelsea” for her show at Zieher Smith & Horton.

Congratulations to Florence Ann Romano ’04, whose first novel, Nanny and Me, was published in April.

Lorraine Gaspar Dominick ’45

Therese Bruzan Solawetz ’46

May 2015 - August 2015

Leo Dombrowski, father of Carol ’82 and Mary ’77

Sr. Ellen Springer ’41

We prayerfully remember all those in the Nazareth community who have passed away.

Charles Guzaitis, father of Kevin Guzaitis (employee)

Dawn Duffy Stiglianese ’85

William Allison, father of Will ’96 and Tim ’93

Joyce Vanderaue Jastrab ’52

Lou Babjak, husband of Patricia Kralik Babjak ’70, father of Lauren ’02 and Cathy ’07

Ruth Rossiter Lesch ’40

Barbara Slama Barta ’48 Eileen Kishkunas Carwell ’64 Sr. Barbara Jean Ciszek ’64 Graham William Clancy, son of Kelly Tunney Clancy ’95 Sylvia Hajek Cordes ’61 pg / 12

Mary Margaret Griffith Lawson ’38 Udo Mankiewicz, father of Erin ’98, Joe ’96 and Max ’04 Joan Ward Marczak ’49 Robert Peceny, father of Mary Claire ’67, Chris ’70, Cathy ’71 and Connie ’79 Ellen Henderson Roche ’55 Barbara Freehill Scislowicz ’62

Pamela Srain ’77 Margaret Mary Svihla ’48 Robert Uphues, father of Therese Uphues Hawkins ’79 and Elizabeth Uphues Evans ’92, father-in-law of Alena Murguia ’89, grandfather of Sara Hawkins Pendergrass ’07, Allison Hawkins ’09, Megan Hawkins ’10, Katie Uphues ’17 and Patrick Uphues ’19 June Zornoza, father of Jasper ’14 Please notify Nazareth Academy of the death of an alumnus. We apologize for any errors that occur in this In Memoriam section.

Alumni Coming Home Following honors as the 2014 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Year and a Second Team AllAmerican, Matt Behrendt ’11 was invited to the Minnesota Vikings Mini Camp in May. In August, Matt signed with the Green Bay Blizzard Arena Football team.

Ryan Powers ’11 signed with the Chicago

White Sox organization in June. Powers led all Miami of Ohio pitchers his senior season with five wins, 85 innings pitched and 61 strikeouts.

Dominic Purpura ’12, was named MVP (pitcher) for the California State Champion Orange Coast College Baseball team in May. Allen Bell ’14, Brooke Donnelly ’14 and Ryan Minik ’14 all participated in a STEM

panel, organized by Alecia Bell ’16, at Nazareth in August. They spoke about their engineering experiences as college students in an effort to educate more young people, especially girls, about STEM related careers.

Allison Kurek ’14, who attends Concordia

University Wisconsin, was named co-Female Athlete of the Year for 2014-15. Kurek also earned All-Region First Team honors in Women’s Lacrosse. She was named to the All-Intercollegiate Women’s Lacrosse Coaches Association Great Lakes Region First Team after she set three game records and six season records. She now holds seven career records.

For 115 years, we have seen the impact Nazareth alumni have had on the world.

We are complimented by the number of legacy families who choose to send their own children to Nazareth for their educations, showing a multi-generation commitment to our mission.

We are equally blessed by alumni who return to Nazareth in their careers. 18% of the 2015-16 faculty and staff are Naz grads, including these three outstanding alumni.

Amy Klod Boyle ’96 is the new Database and Event Coordinator. Amy is “very excited to return to my roots, especially in a position to help give back to a place that helped shape the person I am today.” She brings her love of Naz as well as a Bachelor’s degree in Applied Behavioral Sciences from National-Louis University. FUN FACT: “I love karaoke and I have an obsession with anything white chocolate.”

“Once a Roadrunner, always a Roadrunner!,” says Amber Hitney ’08.

Our Spanish teacher has her Bachelor’s degree from Elmhurst College, ESL/Transitional Bilingual Endorsement from Aurora University and is completing her Master’s degree. “I am really looking forward to continuing in the service and spirit of the Nazareth community.” FUN FACT: “During college, I was a professional dancer for the Chicago Rush Arena Football team. I absolutely love football! ” Bethany Mager ’99 is thrilled to return as a Math teacher. She holds Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from the University of Dayton and has studied and worked in Catholic schools for most of her life. “I hope to carry the mission of St. Mother Theodore Guerin with me at Nazareth and her decree to “Love the children first, then teach them” which fits in with the mission of the Sisters of St. Joseph and the mission of Scholarship, Service, Spirit and Unity.” FUN FACT: This proud Naz Alum continues to wear her Class of 1999 Powder Puff shirt!

Honoring Alum with Four Pillars Awards In its debut year, Nazareth presented the Four Pillars Awards during the annual Alumni Reunion Celebration on September 19. These awards acknowledge and honor alumni who are thriving in their communities or careers and continue to represent our four pillars of scholarship, service, spirit and unity. One award was given out for each pillar.

The concept was originally developed

by Nazareth’s Alumni Advisory Board.

Advisory Board President, Amy Klod Boyle ’96, says, “The Four Pillars are what Nazareth is all about. The Academy planted these seeds. We (the Board) thought it was time to recognize the tremendous ways in which our Alumni Family’s seeds have grown.”

We congratulate the inaugural recipients:

SCHOLARSHIP Vicki Scelsi van Alphen ’93 currently works as a trusted advisor to CIOs at Gartner Group and has continued her professional education at universities such as MIT. SERVICE Rose Mary Sullivan ’63 spent her life teaching in Catholic schools across Chicagoland. Now retired, she volunteers her time teaching social studies to those preparing for their GED. SPIRIT Tracey Tarantino DiBuono ’74 and her production company, Zzazz Productions, host our annual Fashion Show each year where Tracey brings her contagious spirit to the stage.

UNITY Daniel Brencic ’06 is a Health Scientist for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and recently traveled to Africa to help in the fight against the spread of Ebola.

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Sister Ellen Springer December 21, 1923 - July 14, 2015 Tough. Brilliant. Fair.

These are the words that came up again and again in the days and weeks after Sr. Ellen Springer’s death. On Facebook, at her wake and funeral, and via letters, former colleagues and students showed their love and admiration.

Sr. Ellen’s roots were firmly established in La Grange as a student at both St. Francis Xavier and Nazareth Academy. At Nazareth she was influenced by her teachers, many of whom were Sisters of the Congregation of St. Joseph. She decided to join the Congregation in 1943 and “serve the dear neighbor.” After graduating from Rosary College with a degree in chemistry, she went on to complete her Master’s degree and eventually earned her PhD from the University of Notre Dame, both in chemistry.

’41 Sr. Ellen found herself back in a Nazareth classroom in 1946 when she returned as a teacher, one who would stay for over fifty years, in various roles including teacher, Science Department chair and administrator. The impact she left on students is immeasurable. She expected each student to work hard. She was challenging. She demanded excellence. She was an inspiration.

We can think of no better way to pay tribute to the life and work of Sister Ellen, than by sharing the words of one of her students, Ben Cain ’89.

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“Sr. Ellen was a great teacher who had a profound influence on me.

One of the most intelligent women I have ever known. May she rest in peace.”

–Sr. Pat Murray ’80 “ Sister Ellen inspired me to always be curious and never be afraid to try something new. She was instrumental in bringing the very first computers to Nazareth Academy. Always looking to the future and to always be on the forefront of education! I will miss her dearly!”

–Irene Morales Barbosa ’83 “ So patient (even when silently exasperated) at my inability to grasp chemistry and physics.

An incredible teacher.”

–Jennifer Cegielski ’88

What can you say about someone who changed the course of your life that would do her memory justice?

My first encounter with Sr. Ellen came when she substituted for my Freshman science teacher. I found her hard, cold and terrifying.

The “no nonsense” air for which she’s known wasn’t just something she projected. It was part of her presence. It was something I remembered with trepidation as I entered her Honors Physics class as a Senior.

Early in the year, she took a steel ball from the pocket of her blue labcoat and rolled it across the floor and asked, “What keeps it rolling?” Convinced that I was smarter than I actually was, I confidently broke the silence, “Its momentum!” She shook her head as she turned away and said, “You Aristotelian, you.”

I didn’t fully appreciate the meaning of that comment until later, but the implication was clear: I was wrong and probably foolish. She was incredibly direct, but her terse ways didn’t offend. On the contrary, her three-­ word appraisal of my performance communicated a challenge: You can do better.

Our relationship improved over the course of the year, but the economy with which she used words and issued challenges remained the same. To this day, I consider the dismissive wave of her hand accompanied by a comment

“ Fabulous chemistry teacher will never forget her. Even helped me over freshman break in college chemistry at U of Michigan!”

–Carol Bennett Ghio ’71

like “yeah, you got it” to be some of the highest praise I can remember. Her gift as an educator was that she made me want that praise from her. She made everyone work hard for it, and in the process, we all made ourselves better.

I loved Sr. Ellen’s physics class, but I struggled with math. I initially decided not to study physics in college. But that changed during freshman year when I took an introductory physics course and remembered how much I enjoyed Sr. Ellen’s class. Not one year out of her class, her effect on the course of my life was evident. I went on to get two degrees in physics and one in mathematics, after which I began a 13-year career in applied physics.

I’ve just started my fourth year as a high school physics teacher, and I feel her influence more strongly now than ever. I find myself thinking about how I can bring some of those same qualities to my classroom: evaluating without criticizing, correcting without belittling and, above all, making my students want to push themselves to do better and achieve more. I’m not there yet, and don’t know if I ever will be. But I’ll spend the rest of my life trying, if only to pass her gift on to others.

–Ben Cain ’89

“ Such a remarkable woman and teacher. She literally changed my outlook on learning and life with her tough love approach. Decades later, I still reference her in random teaching moments with my children. Truly inspirational.”

–Rick Sparks ’90 “ She was an amazing teacher and great role model for women in the sciences.”

–Lauren Brosamer Genuardi ’98 “ My favorite image of her wasn't school related as much as her tending the garden in what is now Sanders Field. No matter how many years between visits she always asked how I was doing (and if I was still getting into trouble).”

–Jim Klod, Nazareth staff “ Sr. Ellen helped me start my career as a physics teacher nearly 20 years ago. She was an inspiration, and had a big impact on me and how I approached my vocation as a teacher. I worked alongside her for 3 years at Nazareth. She will always have a big place in my heart.”

–Aaron Schuetz (former colleague)

NAZ BY THE

19

NUMBERS

Nazareth students recognized by Bishop Manz with 2015 Vicariate IV Youth Leadership Awards

59

Scholar-Athletes in the Class of 2015 played at least one varsity sport and maintained a minimum 3.5 GPA

350,000

$

1

raised at the 2015 Around the World Auction.

THANK YOU!

41,688

Charles Swarts ’15 was named a National AP Scholar by earning an average score of at least 4 on all AP Exams taken, and scores of 4 or higher on eight or more of these exams

47 Guests enjoyed Nazareth’s third FISH Prom for Teens with Disabilities hosted by over 130 student, parent and faculty volunteers

68%

of the Class of 2015 was offered at least one merit-based scholarship from a college or university

meals packed by the Boys Cross Country and Boys Soccer programs during a service day at Feed My Starving Children in August 2015

3, 4, 14 3 documentaries and 4 exhibits researched and created by 14 students qualified for the Illinois State History Fair in May

14

The number of ESCC wins by Naz Baseball in Spring 2015 was the most since joining the conference

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ROADRUNNERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY Nazareth alumni are currently enrolled at some of the most prestigious colleges and universities across the country.

The 163 graduates in the Class of 2015 are attending 66 colleges in 23 states.

If you receive duplicate copies of Blueprint, please contact Alena Murguia at amurguia@nazarethacademy.com or 708.387.8536 with your current address. Thank you in advance for helping conserve our resources.