Matters MARIAN - Marian Catholic High School

Alumni Notes
Sister M. Paul McCaughey, O.P. ’67
Honored by National Catholic Education Association
Sister M. Paul McCaughey, O.P. ’67, Superintendent of Catholic Schools of the
Chicago Archdiocese, was named 2011 recipient of the National Catholic Education
Association’s (NCEA) John F. Meyers Award at the NCEA’s annual convention and
convocation in April.
The award recognizes a significant contribution of national import to Catholic
education through development, public relations, scholarship programs, financial
management or government relations that impacts Catholic education. Sister Paul
was honored for her work as Superintendent of Catholic Schools of the Chicago
Archdiocese, a position she has held since July, 2008. Her efforts greatly contributed
to the well-being of the Catholic School system within the Chicago Archdiocese. She
developed standards and goals for all elementary schools in the Chicago Archdiocese;
founded an Archdiocesan school board; and continues to establish and maintain
beneficial relationships among clergy, students and community members. Enrollment
in Chicago Archdiocese Catholic schools for 2010-2011 remained stable under her
stewardship, for the first time in several years. Sister Paul’s professional acumen
stems from more than 37 years of experience in Catholic education as a teacher and
administrator, including ten years as Principal, then President of Marian Catholic High
School, and six years as Principal at Sacred Heart-Griffin High School. A Springfield
Dominican, her commitment to Catholic education shines brightly, and her leadership
skills have been instrumental in laying the groundwork for generations of successful
students and community leaders.
ALUMNI
PROFILE
An Eye
on the
Future
Christopher Schlosberg ’04 is working
towards a PhD at Washington University in
St. Louis. His passion, paired with intricate
and extensive technical knowledge, is the
foundation upon which future advances in
the fight against breast cancer will surely
occur. By combining biology and computer
science, Chris is at the forefront of medical
advances in DNA research which strive
to compare the changes in DNA that will
mark the very origin of cancer cells in the
human body.
“Chemical changes that occur in DNA,
known as methylation, have been implicated
in the function of gene expression and cancer,”
Chris explained. “I’m currently interested
in identifying how specific patterns of these
methylation changes affect the expression of
biological processes with a variety of statistical
and computational models.”
The 2004 Senior Class President
and Endowment Scholarship recipient
remembers his Marian Catholic days in
an unusual way. “My Marian memories
are happy and a bit fuzzy by now, a place
of comfort where the true caring and
compassion of the faculty and students
permeated my soul.”
High school was not necessarily an
easy time for Chris, who lived with his
grandparents due to family difficulties.
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“It was tough on everyone, emotionally and
financially, but as a family, we knew Marian
Catholic would provide the best education
and opportunities for my future.”
Chris credits Latin classes and Latin Club
for his seamless transition into the medical
field. He also fondly remembers being a
student aide in the Attendance Office with
Mrs. Katauskas and having the opportunity
to interact with lots of students and faculty.
Among his favorite activities was Service
Club, helping people in whatever capacity
he could. Later, he was elected senior class
President by his peers and addressed them
and their parents at graduation.
“Parents, you are the reason my fellow
classmates, my friends, have lived so
beautifully, and you should be overwhelmed
with joy to witness the culmination of their
accomplishments,” he said back in 2004.
“Teachers, you have been our mentors to
teach us truth and faith we will need to face
the darkness and the light of our future.”
Chris married Adriana Dabrowski in May
after a rather long courtship. “Adriana’s
brother and I were in Cub Scouts together
as kids. They lived in Dolton and I lived in
South Holland. I met her back then and we
have been together ever since.” Chris and
Adriana live in St. Louis with their three
dogs, Cocacho, Kilo, and Markov.