|
|
| Volume #5 Issue #11 Date: November 2019
| |
| ALUMNI/VETERAN SPOTLIGHT: U.S. Army
Colonel (Ret.) Peter Sullivan '85
| |
 |
Col. Peter Sullivan '85 (center) is flanked by brothers Gene '84 (left) and Frank '86.
|
| The Sullivan brothers got together in Colorado Springs in June to celebrate the U.S. Army retirement of Col. Peter Sullivan '85, following 30 years of service to the people of the United States of America. The Friars of Fenwick thank you, sir!
| |
| Network with Black Student Union
Members This Thursday
| |
Greetings, fellow Friars. On behalf of Fenwick’s Black Student Union, we would like to invite you to the first ever Alumni and Black Student Union Networking event. The Black Student Union is focused on themes of unity and community for this school year, and we hope that you can join us in an effort to build on those themes. As someone who has completed their Fenwick journey, sharing your experiences from 505 Washington Blvd. and beyond can make an impact on the daily lives of our current students. Please join us for a night of fun and camaraderie. Dinner will be served.
Thursday, November 7th
5:30 - 7:30 p.m.
Fenwick High School, Faculty Cafeteria
RSVP to Peter Durkin at (708) 948-0323, or pdurkin@fenwickfriars.com.
Please provide the name(s) of those attending.
| |
| Mass of Remembrance: All Souls
| |
President Fr. Richard Peddicord, O.P. (far left) led Sunday's Mass of Remembrance for alumni and friends. There were too many attendees to congregate in the chapel, so the service was held in the library.
| |
| Fenwick's 3 Hispanic Scholars
| |
|  |
Seniors (from left): Jonathan Izurieta, Julian Maldonado and Jordan Nigro.
| |
| | |
Last year, more than 140,000 Hispanic or Latino juniors from high schools around the country applied for the College Board’s National Hispanic Recognition Program (NHRP). Now seniors, three of these students from Fenwick have been named as National Hispanic Scholars by the College Board. Selection is based on Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT).
This trio of Fenwick Friars scored in the top 2.5% of all PSAT test-takers:
Jonathan Izurieta – Grace Lutheran – Elmwood Park
Jordan Nigro – Lane Tech Academic Center – Chicago
Julian Maldonado – Immaculate Conception – Chicago
“Some 17% of Fenwick’s student body comprises children of either Hispanic or Latino ethnicity,” reports Principal Peter Groom. “We are fortunate to enroll young men and women who possess incredible talent and who work to maximize those abilities. Fenwick’s faculty, staff and administration are extremely proud of Jonathan, Jordan and Julian.” Read more.
| |
| 25 Years of Playing Water Polo 'Down Under'
| |
This past June, members of the Fenwick boys’ team made another splash in Australia, where they studied and competed in cricket, footy and, of course, pool-polo!
| |
| FACULTY FOCUS: Science Teacher &
Alumnus Michael Trankina '84
| |
 |
Mr. Trankina, in his fifth year of teaching science at Fenwick, celebrated his 35th Reunion last month.
|
| What is your educational background?
MT: I have taken an interesting path in my education post my time here as a student at Fenwick – I am an ’84 graduate. My first few years out of Fenwick, I jumped around from school to school with no real direction or success. Looking back, I had no idea whatsoever as to what I wanted to do with my life. I ended up giving up on college and selling cars for a living by the time I was 20 years old. I did this for about four years and had reasonable success. But the success was financial only, and I was miserable. I realized that I wanted more from life. My plan at that point was to get an education degree because I wanted to coach basketball. I enrolled at Concordia University in River Forest. I took anatomy and physiology to satisfy a science requirement, and I was hooked. I got my bachelor’s degree in secondary education with a major in biology. I am currently exploring/enrolling in a master’s of science education from Concordia.
What did you do prior to becoming a teacher at Fenwick?
MT: Wow. Again, a different path to get there… Before I started teaching, I worked in car sales, as a bartender, a barista for a coffee chain and a corporate trainer for that same coffee company. The majority of my prior work experience was as a science tutor. I did that for 15 years and was quite successful. I did private tutoring and amassed quite a clientele. The last 10 years was full-time with an average client load of about 30 to 40 students – depending on the time of year. It is amazing what word-of-mouth advertising can do in some communities. It helped that I loved what I did. Read more.
| |
| Is Fenwick in Your Estate Plan?
| |
By including Fenwick in their estate plan, entrepreneurial Friar parents Tom and Julie Jacobs (left) hope to help sustain faith-based education into the mid-21st century.
You can read their story by clicking on the red button below:
| |
| COLLEGIATE FRIARS: Dylan Gresik and
Grace Babbo, 2016 Classmates
| |
|  |
Mr. Gresik tested out his camel-riding skills near the Treasury Building in Petra, Jordan, while studying in the Middle East, while Ms. Babbo, a former runner, is musically inclined.
| |
| | |
DYLAN GRESIK
Fenwick Graduation: 2016
Hometown: Riverside, IL
Grade School: St. Mary's School
Current School: Northwestern University
Major: Journalism and Political Science
Internship: This past summer, I interned at the U.S. Department of State in the Bureau of Legislative Affairs, where I operated at the intersection of the executive and legislative branches. There, I helped advance Secretary of State Pompeo’s legislative agenda through assisting with Congressional testimonies, staff briefings and committee hearings. For my internship’s “capstone” project, I drafted a diplomatic cable to all 30,000+ U.S. diplomats in our embassies and consulates around the world.
Career aspirations: After graduation, I am looking to translate my internship experience and passions to work full-time in the federal government in some capacity, specifically in the realm of foreign, defense and national security policy. Interning in Washington has allowed me a glimpse into the inner-workings of our government, and I am interested in affecting positive change in this area.
Fenwick achievements/activities: Evans Scholarship recipient, Illinois State Scholar, National Honor Society Chapter President, AP Scholar with Distinction, Boys’ Basketball Manager, Kairos Leader and Rector, editor and writer for The Wick school newspaper, and tutor for The Write Place.
Fenwick teacher who had the most influence on you: Fenwick’s faculty sets the school leagues ahead of its peer institutions, and many, many Fenwick teachers have influenced me in different ways. If I had to choose one, I think the teacher who had the greatest influence on me was Mr. Richied. I had him two years in a row – both junior and senior year. He taught me that the most rewarding course in life is the relentless pursuit of the truth, no matter where it takes you, and the glorification of God in all that you do. These are two pieces of advice that I keep in mind every day and, in my opinion, two aspects that cut to the heart of Fenwick’s mission as an educational institution. Read more.
| |
GRACE BABBO
Fenwick Graduation: 2016
Hometown: Oak Park, IL
Grade School: Roosevelt Middle School
Current School: University of Notre Dame
Current Major: Majors in Music (Piano Performance), Program of Liberal Studies (Great Books) & Italian
Summer Internship: At Internet Equity Research at JP Morgan in New York City, I helped initiate coverage on a stock, assigned a price target and investment rating to this stock, and created a financial model and financial-analysis report. It was a great experience to get out of my comfort zone and work on building new skills from the foundation of my studies in school.
Career aspirations: I want to be happy and financially stable, but other than that, my future is wide open.
Fenwick achievements/activities: Cross-country, Track, Orchestra, Scholastic Bowl, Blackfriars Guild (BFG), editor and writer for The Wick, State WYSE Team, Lawless Scholar, Illinois State Scholar, AP Scholar with Distinction, National Honor Society, National Merit Commended Scholar.
Fenwick teacher who had the most influence on you: Coach Roche is one of the Fenwick teachers that had a great influence on me, because he was constantly challenging me to perform to the best of my abilities both in and out of the classroom. He gave me a leadership role on the cross-country team and believed in me, and he improved my confidence and character. He remains great resource and mentor for me, and I am very grateful for the potential he saw in me and his sound advice throughout these past years. Read more.
| |
| Photos from 50th Annual Fall Play
| |
Blackfriars Guild (BFG) alumni celebrated 50 years of the Fenwick fall play this past weekend. Dante Orfei ’71 started the tradition in 1969 by asking then-Principal Fr. Kolzow if he could direct an autumn production. Orfei (left) addressed the auditorium audience this past Saturday night.
| |
| FALL FRIAR REPORTER Alumni Magazine:
Coming Soon to a Mailbox Near You!
| |
| SAVE THE DATE:
Blackfriars Gala in 2020
| |
The 68th Annual BLACKFRIARS GALA is on Friday, April 24, 2020, at the Drury Lane Theatre in Oakbrook Terrace!
Please join us as we induct Mrs. Tracy Brooker and alumnus Robert Callahan '67 into the Fenwick Hall of Fame.
We also will honor Fenwick President Emeritus Father Richard La Pata, O.P. '50 (right) as our Lumen Tranquillum recipient for 2020.
| |
| Sign Up for "FriarsConnect"
| |
FriarsConnect recently went through an upgrade in its design! Log in or sign up today to check out Fenwick’s exclusive alumni platform. Nearly 1,000 members of the Friar Community have signed up for this service that keeps you connected to your fellow Friars.
FriarsConnect allows you to:
- Find jobs and opportunities where you can work with your fellow Friars
- Cultivate meaningful mentoring opportunities
- Connect with and organize the powerful relationships available via the
Fenwick community - And so much more!
| |
| Get Your Fenwick Gear from the Friar Shop!
| |
The Friar Shop online store is an excellent resource for Fenwick Alumni to purchase spirit wear and Friar gear. We have a great selection of apparel and accessories: Whether it be for baby, toddler, youth or adult, we’ve got you covered! New items are added regularly, so check out The Friar Shop online store today! Items may be shipped directly to you or you may choose In-store Pick-up.
School Year Regular Hours
Monday: Closed
Tuesday: 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Wednesday: 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Thursday: 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Friday: 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
| |
| Purchase a Friar Courtyard Brick Today!
| |
Personalize a gift for the Friars in your life. Commemorative bricks can be purchased now for installation in the summer of 2020 in the ever more beautiful Fenwick Courtyard. (Orders are due by June 5, 2020). A brick makes the ideal Christmas, birthday, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day and graduation gift!
| |
| Know a Classmate Who's Not Receiving FAN?
| |
Do you know a Friar who is not receiving the Fenwick Alumni News (FAN) e-newsletter every month? All we need is her or his email address! Please have the person contact us at communications@fenwickfriars.com.
| |
| Naples, FL Alumni Gathering
Tuesday, February 4, 2020
BANUA
Friday & Saturday, February 7 & 8
Winter Carnival
Sunday, February 9
RAISE THE SHIELD Day of Giving
Thursday, February 20
Arizona Spring Training Game
Sunday, March 15
Blackfriars Gala
Friday, April 24, 2020
| |
|
Thanksgiving is soon upon us! Please consider making a gift to help ensure that every class of Fenwick graduates is as prepared for their college years as you were.
| |
|
Have something to share with your fellow alumni? Please send all of your alumni news and happenings to Peter Durkin '03, Director of Alumni Relations (pdurkin@fenwickfriars.com).
| |
|
Fenwick High School is owned and sponsored by the Dominican Friars
of the Province of St. Albert the Great headquartered in Chicago, Illinois.
| |
|
|
|
