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24 | June 21, 2018 | The New Lenox Patriot LIFE & ARTS
newlenoxpatriot.com
Central grad exhibits dinosaur-sized determination
Zachary Dundek’s
love for dinosaurs
leads him to study to
be a paleontologist
Submitted by Lincoln-Way
Community High School
District 210
Lincoln-Way Central
alumnus Zachary Dundek
joined his classmates last
month to receive his diploma.
Like many of his fellow
Knights, Dundek has plans
to attend college. Unlike
many of his fellow Knights,
Dundek’s wardrobe choice
for graduation will be sure
to include a dinosaur, a tradition
that began more than 14
years ago.
“At one point in preschool
I said, ‘I’m going to wear a
dinosaur on my shirt every
day,’ and I guess I just never
stopped,” he said. “It’s more
a testament to dedication instead
of actively obsessing
over dinosaurs.”
After watching “Jurassic
Park,” Dundek decided he
wanted to be a paleontologist.
Family members and
friends encouraged his interest
by buying him dinosaur
paraphernalia, including T-
Zachary Dundek found a passion for dinosaurs after watching the movie “Jurassic Park.” He
has worn T-shirts that have displayed a dinosaur on it for more than 5,000 days straight.
shirts. Since his declaration
to “always be wearing a dinosaur
T-shirt,” he has never
missed a day, meaning that
his T-shirts have displayed
an extinct species for more
than 5,000 days straight.
Dundek says it hasn’t always
been easy to keep up
with the theme, but he’s always
made sure to “stick to
it” with modifications.
“When I’d dress up, I’d
wear dinosaur T-shirts underneath,”
he said. “Now
I’ve slowly accumulated
more dress clothes with dinosaurs
on them so that I
don’t have to hide them.”
Dundek even drew dinosaurs
on the insides of his
physical education uniforms
throughout high school so
that the tradition wouldn’t be
broken.
“A lot of the gym teachers
are supportive of it,” he said.
When asked how others
react to his wardrobe, he
said, “Sometimes people
don’t notice. Then, when
they do, they don’t believe
me when I say I’ve been
wearing them this long because
it sounds far-fetched.
After they see it a few times,
they realize I wasn’t joking.”
Dundek will attend Miami
University in Oxford, Ohio
this fall and intends to study
biochemistry.
“It’s funny, I wanted to be
Lincoln-Way Central grad Zachary Dundek will carry his
passion for dinosaurs into college, as he will study to be a
paleontologist at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio this fall.
Photos Submitted
a paleontologist when I was
little and now I want to be a
genetic engineer,” he said.
“’Jurassic Park’ was one of
the movies that inspired the
T-shirts, and now I’ll study to
have one of the two careers
highlighted in the movie.”
Aside from his dinosaur
reputation, teachers will
also remember Dundek for
his intelligence and determination.
He will graduate
with 5.51 grade point average.
He was also an active
participant in Mathletes,
Peer Helpers, Lincoln-Way
Central plays and musicals,
Scholastic Bowl, as well as
fencing outside of school.
He intends to wear dinosaur
T-shirts for the rest of his life.
“I’ve gone this far,” he
said. “Why not keep going?”
Wildlife expedition
New Lenox Girl Scouts spend
weekend at White Pines Dude
Ranch
RIGHT: New Lenox Girl Scout Troops 103, 749
and 758 recently spent a weekend together at
White Pines Dude Ranch in Oregon, Illinois.
The girls did numerous activities, including
horseback riding, swimming, hiking, horse
studies with grooming, scavenger hunts,
wildlife education, along with campfires and
nightly games. Photo Submitted