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| Volume #5 Issue #12 Date: December 2019
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| What Does Fenwick Mean to You?
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Board Chair John Barron '76
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| As Board Chair John Barron '76 wrote in the Fall issue of Friar Reporter, we are undertaking a marketing/communication audit to better articulate and differentiate the Fenwick "brand" in this ever-changing communications and media landscape. We need your help to do that. Fenwick has partnered with Olive Street Design (founder Nat Rosasco '78), which has developed an alumni survey.
We ask that you kindly participate in this survey (click on the red button below). It should take no more than 10 minutes to complete. We need your input before Christmas! Your feedback is vitally important to improving our overall marketing communication efforts and to articulating the essence of Fenwick. Thank you in advance, and Happy Holidays!
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| ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT: M.D. Issues Warning
About Recreational Marijuana Usage
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As legal "weed" comes to Illinois on January 1, 2020, Albert Mensah, M.D. '82 warns that the effects of recreational marijuana usage often are shrouded in smoke screens. "Marijuana is not the benign substance that many in the media and the legislature have made it out to be," writes Dr. Mensah. "Its effects can be quite devastating, and as it becomes more readily available, we anticipate a significant rise in the medical and social problems that are connected to regular marijuana use. For example, the American Academy of Family Practice recently cited several studies that link marijuana to the development of schizophrenia," he continues.
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| 85 Illinois State Scholars
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Thirty-one percent of Fenwick’s Class of 2020 are State Scholars in Illinois this school year. That percentage represents one of the largest numbers of State Scholars in the school’s 90-year history.
CLICK HERE to find out who the 85 students are and where they're from!
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| Fenwick's Robust "Advanced Placement" Program
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Robust Advanced Placement (AP) instruction at Fenwick in 2018-19 produced an astounding 121 AP Scholars last school year. The school administered 843 AP tests in 26 subject areas. Presently, there are 131 students enrolled in AP Psychology, a new course offering, this school year.
“The AP program at Fenwick gives our students a clear advantage when they reach college,” asserts Principal Peter Groom. “In some cases, students benefit from the same type of rigor they will see in their college classes. In other cases, students earn college credit, which enables them to focus on upper-level classes at the collegiate level,” Mr. Groom notes. “The wide range of options our students can explore while at Fenwick clearly benefits them.”
Last school year, nearly one in 10 of Fenwick’s students was recognized as an AP Scholar.
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| Catching up with Former Counselor
and English Teacher Thomas Egan
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How many years were you at Fenwick?
TE: 28 years, arriving in the fall of 1985. I retired in the spring of 2013.
What was your role/what classes did you teach?
TE: The majority of my day was spent as one of the class counselors, but I also taught Freshman English. Sophomore Honors English, along with cafeteria supervisor, were my duties in the later years.
Were you involved with any extra-curricular activities?
TE: At various periods, I was in charge of the National Honor Society, the Yearbook, the Video Yearbook, the Financial Aid Committee and the Fenwick Summer School. I also worked with Mr. Arellano in the Teacher Mentor Program.
How do you describe the Fenwick Community to other people?
TE: What comes closest to a core description is the term and idea of family: a close-knit group of distinct personalities, ages and backgrounds working together toward shared goals.
What do you miss most about Fenwick?
TE: The positive, eager attitude of the students and the camaraderie of my fellow teachers and staff were an important chapter in my life. I do miss these and treasure the memories.
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| Recognizing Our Military Veterans
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Fenwick alumnus Tim Fitzpatrick '71, a U.S. Army veteran, reflects on the Cold War, "Freiheit" and the Berlin Wall:
I first visited Berlin in 1970 on a Fenwick High School language trip with Father Nicholas Aschenbrener, O.P. After living through 1960’s Berlin Wall crisis with John. F. Kennedy’s “Ich Bin Ein Berliner Speech” and experiencing the wall in person, I joined the United States Army. I returned as an Infantry officer in 1980 and my twin boys, Tim and Danny, were born in Berlin. I had previously led Cold War staff rides in Berlin for students in the Department of Defense Executive Leadership Development Program NATO deployments. In September 2018, son Danny, one-year-old grandson Asher and Shawna’s parents were able to watch Danny’s wife Shawna complete the Berlin Marathon, which I had done while stationed in Berlin.
The Berlin House of Representatives sponsors the Checkpoint Charlie Foundation, founded in 1994. The foundation runs the Welcome Home program to sponsor U.S. Military veterans to return to Berlin, to share their story with Berlin schools, government and other organizations, and for them to experience Berlin as it has emerged from the Cold War into a very lively city.
I was privileged to be the group leader for nine U.S. Army and U.S. Air Force Berlin veterans, representing a good cross-section of America, whose service in Berlin spanned from 1959-1993, greater than the life of the Berlin Wall itself. For each of us, the shared common bond and deep emotions about our service in Berlin, and connection to Berliners caused us to form almost instantly into a tight knit group.
Click the red "button" below to read more.
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| FACULTY FOCUS: Social Study Teacher &
Alumnus Gary Richied '95
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Mr. Richied is in his 14th year of teaching history at Fenwick.
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| What is your educational background?
GR: I attended Fenwick and graduated in the Class of 1995, the last all-male class at Fenwick. I went on to major in History and French at Loyola University - Chicago, attained my M.A. in Social Science from the University of Chicago, then a M.A.T. from Aquinas Institute of Theology in Saint Louis in my studies as a Dominican brother in formation.
What did you do prior to becoming a teacher at Fenwick?
GR: I taught for a year at Highland Park High School, then entered the Dominican Order intending to be solemnly professed and then ordained a priest. I suppose this question pertains to my professional life, but just in case it doesn't, I ate a Belgian waffle in Brussels, paraglided over the Swiss Alps, got married and have four kids now. N.B. That list is in no particular order of importance or chronology. Read more.
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| Retired Teacher Adds Fenwick to His Will
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Teaching science to some 5,000 students at the same high school for more than five decades is a milestone that few educators achieve. Retired from Fenwick for two and a half years now, John Polka manages to keep busy.
When he is not volunteering at Chicago’s Shedd Aquarium, the sixth-degree black belt (Korean Hapkido) is back on campus two days per week helping with the Friars’ Martial Arts Club, which he founded and directed for 16 years. Earlier this year, Mr. Polka, who turned 77 in July, decided to leave Fenwick in his will as part of his estate-planning process.
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| COLLEGIATE FRIARS:
Kirsten Livingston '16 and Jack Vomacka '18.
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LEFT: Ms. Livingston (right) at the annual St. Andrews-sponsored fashion show that raises money for charities in Scotland. RIGHT: Mr. Vomacka poses with USC's Trojan horse statue on campus.
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KIRSTEN LIVINGSTON
Fenwick Graduation: 2016
Hometown: Hinsdale, IL
Grade School: St. Isaac Jogues
Current School: University of St Andrews, Scotland
Major: Environmental Earth Science
Internship: I took a semester off this last school year to work as a Government Relations and Development Intern at the Shedd Aquarium. I was on a three-member team that was tasked with restructuring the government relations department. I set up and attended meetings with aldermen, state senators and the governor, and helped create relationships between the Shedd and Chicago government officials. On the development side, I created the foundational itinerary, theme and gameplan for the first Environmental Conference that will be head at the Shedd in the next year or two.
Career aspirations: After graduation, I am seeking to go into environmental consulting in Washington, D.C. My goal is to work with private-sector actors, as well as leverage public partnerships, to help transition the U.S. economy to a green-energy focused system.
Fenwick achievements/activities: President of the Environmental Club, four-year member of the Latin Club and French Club, prose editor for Touchstone, two-year member of the Book Club and one-year member of the Broadcasting Club. Read more.
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JACK VOMACKA
Fenwick Graduation: 2018
Hometown: Riverside, IL
Grade School: St. Mary’s
Current School: University of Southern California
Major: Computer Science (Minors in Economics & Screenwriting)
Summer internship: Currently TBD. A year from now, I’ll be studying abroad in New Zealand, and their fall semester starts in early July. It’s quite hard to find a company that will only hire me for half of an internship, so there’s a lot that’s still in the air.
Career aspirations: I sort of hate this question because I always have to answer it twice. Everyone loves to hear that my career goals involve climbing to the top of the company ladder at some big tech corporation, but that’s not exactly true. Since I go to USC -- pretty much the only school in existence where something like this is even remotely possible -- I can at least fantasize about my actual dream job: writing and producing for film and/or television.
Fenwick achievements/activities: Member of state-qualifying Math Team, WYSE and TEAMS. Member of Cross Country and Scholastic Bowl teams, but never in a state-qualifying capacity. Kairos Leader (April 2019) & Rector (June 2019). Project Manager for Fenwick’s brand-new Engineering Lab. Read more.
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| ALUMNI SERVICE IN ACTION:
8th Annual Funding Futures Chicago, January 18
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Saturday, January 18th, at Fitzgerald's in Berwyn: Funding Futures lights up the night in its continued support of cognition research dedicated to improve learning, provide greater independence and prevent the onset of early Alzheimer’s disease for people with Down syndrome.
"I graduated in 2010, between my brothers -- Brian '16 and Packy '07, John '05 -- and alongside my cousin (Kevin Cooney '10)," says Friars' alumna Tara Doyle. "While I was at Fenwick, our youngest brother, Colin, was born. Colin has Down syndrome and is now 11 years old. For the last eight years, we've all helped bring to life Funding Futures Chicago, an annual fundraiser benefitting the LuMind IDSC Foundation. To date, we've raised over $850,000 for LuMind IDCS and are on track to reach $1 million raised on January 18th!
"John, Packy, Kevin and Tom Grusecki '07 are all Fenwick alumni and committee members of this annual event, with many other alumni that attend every year," Ms. Doyle continues. "It's a fantastic event with great people -- and we are all connected through Fenwick!"
ESPN's Carmen Defalco again will emcee the evening (7 p.m. - midnight), which includes a silent auction, raffle, live band and food. Tickets are $100 each if purchased on or before December 31st, then the price increases to $125 each.
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| SAVE THE DATE:
Blackfriars Gala on April 24, 2020
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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.
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| Sign Up for "FriarsConnect"
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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!
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| Get Your Fenwick Gear from the Friar Shop!
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The Holiday Season is here and The Friar Shop Online Store is a great place to get your favorite Friar a gift that they will love! We have several different Christmas ornaments, Winter Hats, Gloves & Scarves and many new, fun accessories that would make wonderful stocking stuffers. Many new items have been added to our online store, surely something for everyone on your list. Check out the amazing merchandise now available at The Friar Shop, and show your Friar pride in style!
Merry Christmas & Happy New Year from The Friar Shop!
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| Purchase a Friar Courtyard Brick Today!
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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!
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| Know a Classmate Who's Not Receiving FAN?
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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.
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| 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
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The Friar Courtyard is decorated and the Christmas season of giving 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.
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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).
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Fenwick High School is owned and sponsored by the Dominican Friars
of the Province of St. Albert the Great headquartered in Chicago, Illinois.
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