Hall of Fame - Marian Catholic High School

Hall of Fame
y 2013 y
Proudly we present the 2013 Marian Catholic Hall of Fame Awardees
FINE ARTS DISTINGUISHED ACHIEVEMENT
Bobby Lambert
Marian Catholic is synonymous with a
successful marching band program on a
national level. Since his arrival at Marian
Catholic in 2001, Bobby Lambert has had a
tremendous influence on that success as the
right-hand man to Marian Hall of Famer and
Band Director, Greg Bimm.
“I cannot fit enough powerful adjectives
into this short space to describe Bobby Lambert,” praised Bimm.
“Talented, caring, brilliant, and dedicated just break the surface.
Bobby has been an essential and central key to our success during his
time at Marian. Not a day passes that I am not grateful that he is with
me and the band at Marian.”
Although Lambert only knew one person who was Catholic in his
hometown of Cherokee, NC, his experience at Marian Catholic has
followed that of many incoming freshmen who experience the new
perspectives of Catholic Education. For the graduate of Western
Carolina (Magna Cum Laude) and University of Massachusetts,
Lambert found his way to Marian Catholic as his first full-time job.
“I had never stepped foot into a private school, much less a Catholic
private school,” explained Lambert, the father of Maria and Olivia
with wife, Alysia. “I was not sure what to expect. I also had designs of
staying here for only three to five years. For most assistant directors,
that is more than enough time before the desire of having one’s own
program begins to present itself.
“I am very thankful. Everyone is caring and shows the true nature
of Dominican spirit. I continue to grow and be fulfilled with the best
colleagues one could ever imagine. Marian has been a true paradigm
shift in my thinking and I couldn’t be happier,” he said.
Along with assisting with a band that has won 33 consecutive Illinois
State titles in class and qualified for the Bands of America Grand
National finals in every year he’s been present, Lambert has stayed at
Marian Catholic because he has carved his own unique niche at the
school as well as in his career. Lambert designed the framework for
Marian Catholic’s copyrighted Leadership Program and led a group
which helped develop the curriculum for the program. Lambert serves
as the first director for the program that began in 2005 and still serves
as a lead teacher for all lesson planning and organization.
From that experience, he began his own business of leadership and
program design for both music programs and full school organizations
called “Custom Consultation.” Each summer, Lambert heads back to
his alma mater where he is the head instructor for the WCU Summer
Symposium Drum Major Camp and is a sought-after guest speaker
and consultant for other high schools and universities.
Lambert devotes tireless hours to the Marian Catholic Band,
which has previously been selected to perform at the Presidential
Inauguration and twice at Disney World in Orlando. In addition, the
band has performed in Hawaii and marched in the Rose Bowl Parade
and Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. The band will march again in
Macy’s Parade in 2013.
Lambert’s students would be wise to follow their instructor’s
journey to success. “I have been fortunate to have many people who
have influenced my path,” Lambert said. “Look to the best people
you know and find out as much about them as possible. Emulate
their actions and associate with them often. When we surround
ourselves with the best people, we will have the best chance for
growth and success.”
SPIRIT OF MARIAN
Deacon Edward Szymanski ’78
Perhaps he feels it is the payback for the
education he earned at Marian Catholic or
perhaps it is just a desire to keep returning
to a place he loves. Whatever the reason,
Edward Szymanski ’78 continues to give his
time and talent to Marian Catholic, ensuring
that today’s students will receive the important
faith development and learning experience that
he came to know while at Marian.
A deacon at his parish, Church of St. Mary in Park Forest,
Szymanski has been a regular on the service trips to Appalachia,
Kentucky, run by Sister Dorothy Marie Solak, O.P. In order to make
this commitment, Szymanski will spend two weeks away from his job
as owner/engineer at Do-Rite Die & Engineering in South Chicago
Heights, IL. On the trip, he displays tremendous patience when
teaching inexperienced student workers and willingly takes on the
dirtiest and most difficult jobs himself.
Szymanski has also become a fixture in Snowball retreats at Marian
Catholic, helping with training, group discussions, and cabin supervision.
“Ed freely gives up a day or more to help with the students and with the
organization,” said Marian Catholic Snowball Director Linda Savick.
“He is tireless in these two (Appalachia and Snowball) endeavors for
Marian and for the Marian students. He gives back unconditionally and
unselfishly. He certainly is a true example of the Spirit of Marian and the
Dominican tradition of unselfish service to others.”
His intense desire to work with and help students comes from
outstanding influences while a student at Marian Catholic. “Marian
influenced me so much that we sent our children, Edward ’03,
Christopher ’04, and Elizabeth ’07 there and I continue to be active
in some of the organizations within the school community,” the
University of Illinois graduate said. “I know so many of the teachers
impacted my life, but I think two stood out more than the others,
Sister Mary Blaise Galloway and Sister Rosalima Blough.
“Sister Mary Blaise taught me that nothing comes easy in life, even
our faith. If it is something important to you, you will have to work
and make sacrifices for it. Sister Rosalima taught that God loves us
no matter what, but that He wants us to be the best persons we can
be. Both taught us that our education and careers were important,
but that God, family, and faith should have the prime spots in our
heart,” he said.
Tireless in these two endeavors for Marian Catholic, Szymanski
gives back unconditionally and unselfishly but with a purpose. “I
want students to understand the most important things in our lives
are our faith in God and our relationships with our family and
friends,” said Szymanski. “If we live that way, we will realize and
appreciate the talents God has given us and allow us to use them to
the best of our ability.”
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