FS_031518

22 | March 15, 2018 | The frankfort station life & arts
frankfortstation.com
Providence Catholic names Class
of 2018 valedictorian, salutatorian
Chelsea Intermediate School students Alida Ladere (left)
and Emily Gassney participate in the school’s annual Jump
Rope for Heart event. Photo submitted
Chelsea Intermediate
School hosts successful
'Jump Rope for Heart'
Submitted by Frankfort
School District 157-C
This was the 22nd year
of Chelsea Intermediate
School’s participation in
“Jump Rope for Heart.”
This is a national educational
and fundraising program
to benefit the American
Heart Association.
“Jump Rope for Heart”
teaches students about the
importance of a healthy lifestyle
and also demonstrates
that they can be empowered
to provide vital community
service and make a difference.
At the same time, the
children enjoy getting into
the spirit of the fun-filled
event. Students jump for
their own healthy hearts and
to help save the lives of others
because the donations
collected fund research and
training to fight heart disease.
Chelsea physical education
instructors are Randy
Klosowski, Ricky Innocenti
and Matt Dykema. On
Feb. 21 and 22 the Chelsea
third through fifth graders
jumped rope during their
physical education classes.
The students could also
win raffle prizes during the
event.
With their parents’ help,
students could set up their
own Jump Rope for Heart
web page with a photo or
video and email it to friends
and family to ask for their
support. Donations could
be made directly to their
personal web page and they
could watch their progress.
Students could also jump in
honor of someone by making
a heart with their name
to post on the “Wall of Honor.”
Parent volunteers helped
with the event and they were
also invited to participate as
part of the school’s “Parents
in P.E.” program.
Thanks to generous 157-
C families and community
members, Chelsea’s 2018
contributions to Jump Rope
for Heart totaled more than
$49,000.
Submitted by Providence
Catholic High School
Providence Catholic High
School Principal John Harper
announced Megan Kulpinski
as the Class of 2018 valedictorian
and Tianqi “Mike” Hu
as salutatorian.
“We are very proud of these
academically gifted students
who are very strong leaders
among their peers both in
and out of the classroom,”
he said. “We know they have
very bright futures.”
Valedictorian Megan Kulpinski
is the daughter of Todd
and Merita Kulpinski. She is
a graduate of Cardinal Joseph
Bernardin Catholic School in
Orland Hills, a parishioner at
St. Stephen’s in Tinley Park,
and a resident of Tinley Park.
Kulpinski will attend University
of Notre Dame and will
study engineering with a minor
in business.
Kulpinski has been a member
of the Providence Catholic
high honor roll all semesters
and is a member of the
National Honor Society. She
is an Illinois State Scholar
and received numerous academic
subject awards from
the school including Algebra
1 Honors, Physics Honors,
English 3 Honors and the Villanova
Book Award. Outside
of the classroom, she is active
in the Augustinian Youth
Ministry and a sacristan for
all school masses while being
named PCHS Student of the
Month three times. In addition,
she has been a member
of the PCHS volleyball team
and was named captain this
past year. Outside of school,
she has been playing club
volleyball for eight years,
coaches and refs grade school
volleyball and plays the piano
at local parishes.
Kulpinksi credits the help
of Providence Catholic High
School in making her college
decision.
“Providence Catholics really
helps you prioritize what
is important in your life,”
Kulpinksi said. “Putting God
first is very important to me
and I knew I wanted to go to
a Catholic college or university.
Providence has helped
me managed my time academically,
athletically as well
as being able to volunteer my
time to others.”
Salutatorian Tianqi “Mike”
Hu is the son of Weiping Hu
and Hui Wu of Frankfort. Hu
is a graduate of Pleasanton
Middle School in California.
Hu hopes to attend the University
of Illinois and major
in Computer Science.
Mike is a member of the
PCHS National Honor Society
and was recognized as an
AP Scholar with distinction
and National Merit Commended
Student. Hu has also
won numerous class awards
for Algebra 2 Honors, Geometry
Honors, Chemistry
Honors, Web Design, Physics
Honors, Pre-Calc Honors,
AP Computer Science and
AP European History.
He is also the captain of the
school’s Scholastic Bowl and
Math teams. In addition to
Mike’s academic excellence,
he also excels as a member of
the PCHS cross country and
track team.
Hu says Providence Catholic
has prepared him academically
to continue at the
University level.
“I have improved a lot
at Providence,” he said. “I
moved to America from
China at age 14; it was a hard
adjustment, I was taking ESL
classes in grade school and
coming to Providence I was
transferred into English Honors
my freshman year, which
improved my English language
tremendously.”
Megan Kulpinski, of Tinley Park, was named Providence
Catholic High School’s valedictorian for the class of 2018.
Photos submitted
Frankfort resident Tianqi “Mike” Hu is Providence’s
salutatorian for the class of 2018.