McHenry County News FRE
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Volume 7 Issue 20
MAY 11, 2017
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NESHAN H. NALTCHAYAN PHOTO McHenry County News
Huntley High School students took first place in the Construction Industry Round Table (CIRT) National Design & Construction Competition.
Huntley students take top prize in National Construction Design Challenge
A team of Huntley High School students took first place in the Construction Industry Round Table (CIRT) National Design & Construction Competition in late April. The CIRT competition pitted teams of high school students from around the country against each other to present the best conceptual construction project, from initial idea through the phases of design, construction timeline, and all other aspects up to construction. Out of 49 submissions, three teams were selected as finalists to present projects in front of a panel of construction and design industry CEOs in Washington, D.C. ACE Chicago Team 6, comprising four HHS students among 30 Chicago-area high school students, envisioned a project to renovate the Old Chicago Main Post Office building into the Cultural Museum
of Chicago, “a dynamic, engaging cultural center for the populous to enjoy.” They beat out teams from New York, New York and Providence, Rhode Island, to take the top national prize. Renderings of the top-prize-winning project designed by ACE Chicago Team 6. Watch the winning presentation » Seniors Jonathan Kaye, Marina Cuellar, and Jacob Vickers, and junior Brennan Lighthall represented HHS on ACE Chicago Team 6. They were among 15 HHS students who have participated in the ACE Mentor program over the past six months. “I spent several weeks practicing my pitch, meeting with mentors from our group in Chicago, and preparing to answer questions from the judges,” said Kaye, who the team selected to present at the finals. “I presented to the panel, and our entire
team was honored when we were crowned with 1st place, beating out teams from New York and Rhode Island, and validating the work we had each put into our project.” The ACE (Architecture, Construction, Engineering) Mentor Program connects industry professionals and high school students for mentoring, and inspires students to pursue careers in design and construction, and provides scholarship funding to help students pursue their education and careers. Since October, these students have traveled to Chicago each week to work with professionals from firms in the architecture, construction, and engineering fields, including Gensler, HNTB, AECOM, and Clark Construction. All students participating in the ACE Mentor Program underwent an application process to join. After being accepted, they received
an overview of jobs in the field and began their team projects, with each student taking on tasks aligning with those of a professional in their chosen career path. In addition to Kaye, Cuellar, Vickers, and Lighthall winning the prestigious National Competition, many of the HHS students were awarded scholarships and other career advancement opportunities: * Marina Cuellar: 10-week paid internship with AECOM, an infrastructure project management company * Tania Espejel: $6,000 scholarship renewable for 4 years * Jonathan Kaye: $4,000 scholarship * Mitch Johnson: $4,000 scholarship and a design and build opportunity * Andrew London: $4,000 scholarship and future job prospects at
Valerio Dewalt Train Associates * Max Walsh: $4,000 scholarship and a design and build opportunity. The CIRT competition champions received a $5,000 prize for the Chicago ACE affiliate. In addition, Cuellar and Kaye each received an all-expenses-paid, three-day trip to D.C. for the finals. “It was an incredible experience to both participate in ACE, be honored in DC, and have the opportunity to make professional connections within the industry,” Kaye said. The participants were advised by Nick Wedoff, who will begin a new position as chair of the Career and Technology Education Department next year. Huntley offers a number of related learning opportunities in both the Career and Technology Education Department and the Engineering Academy.
exhibit D155 Board approves new New showcases resort life Crystal Lake South principal in McHenry County By Shannon Podzimek
CL SOUTH, DISTRICT OFFICE
The D155 Board of Education approved Josh Nobilio as the new principal at Crystal Lake South High School, effective July 1. Scott Shepard was appointed as the district’s assistant superintendent of educational services for the 2017Josh Nobilio 18 school year. Josh Nobilio has served as Crystal Lake South High School’s student services coordinator for the past six years. He has collaborated with a team to create and implement student supports to increase student achievement at South. Josh has co-facilitated a parent advisory committee to re-design student services across D155 and helped Crystal Lake South achieve national RAMP certification. In February, Josh was a recipient of the College Board’s Guidance and Admissions Assembly Award. He has also served D155 as a social worker for three years and a special education teacher for three years. “I am part of a great team at Crystal Lake South High School, and I enjoy being part of the gator community. I am honored to serve as South’s next
principal. I look forward to working with students and collaborating with staff to ensure all students succeed and continuing to encourage an inclusive school culture,” said Nobilio. He received his bachelors in special education from Illinois State University, and a masters of social work from Loyola University. He completed his Type 75 administrative certificate from Northern Illinois University and earned a Type 75 director of special education certification from Aurora University. “Josh’s experience working with staff and students at Crystal Lake South will allow him to continue strong traditions while supporting innovative instruction and develop programs designed to help students pursue their future aspirations,” said Dr. Johnnie Thomas, superintendent. “We had nearly 55 well-qualified candidates apply for the open principal positions, and we involved people at every level of the organization in the interview process.” Josh Nobilio will begin his role as principal on July 1. He will work with Scott Shepard and the rest of our administrative teams to ensure a smooth transition. The district is working to plan a meet and greet event for parents and students, and will share that information soon.
Turn of the century tourists who ventured to the shores of Fox River/ Chain O’ Lakes region of Illinois simply were looking to unwind and soak in the ambiance. They’d fish. They’d boat. They’d dance. They might even drink some illegal hooch or play the slots. But the idea was to have fun – be it bar hopping with the aid of homemade pontoon boats or listening to the likes of the Bill Kalte Orchestra giving a floating concert out by the old lighthouse on Coon Island. The McHenry County Historical Society seeks to capture the essence of that time in its new, two-year exhibit: Waterways and Getaways: Resort Life in McHenry County. View historic photos, experience a re-created hotel lobby, learn about early boat manufacturers in McHenry County and experience what once was the celebrated lotus flower beds in Grass Lake. Resort owners used to extract the essence of the lotus blossoms to create perfume for the
tourists. Early visitors to Pistakee Bay simply camped out, perhaps on (John) Pitzen’s Point or Justen’s Point. The first automobiles didn’t start showing up at Pistakee Bay until 1902 – about the time John Pitzen sold property on Bald Knob to Steven J. Mellin. Mellin opened the Pistakee Point Club that year, later known as the S.J. Mellin Hotel. The Mineral Spring Hotel, owned by Henry Ericsson on the east side of the bay, purportedly was the first to get phone service at the turn of the century. It also had a post office. But paved roads took a while longer. It wasn’t unusual for those living along the lakeshore to be snowed in for two months, and getting out often required farmers to shovel roads by hand. Elsie (Mertes) Cribben, daughter of Oak Park Hotel owners Joe and Helena (Miller) recorded her memo-
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