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28 | May 16, 2019 | the new lenox patriot life & arts newlenoxpatriot.com LWC ROTC student receives awards for her essay Erin Redmond Freelance Reporter If one would’ve asked Abi Knippel about the Air Force Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps three years ago, she might have stared blankly back at them While she hadn’t heard of the ROTC back then, the Lincoln-Way Central junior is well versed in the program now. So much so in fact, her essay about it has received accolades at the regional and state level — and it’s currently in contention to be the best in the nation. Knippel’s essay entitled “How JROTC has prepared me to be a better citizen of the United States of America,” took first place in the state, a honor she was recognized for during a May 11 ceremonial luncheon in Springfield. For winning, the junior took home $1,000 and an engraved sabre. Just weeks before, she had won $150 for the top spot in the regional competition. “It was honestly really easy to write because all I had to do was ramble on about how much I love the ROTC and everything that it’s done for me. It wasn’t terribly difficult,” she said. “... In terms of class essay writing, I’m not amazing. But, I do love writing about things that I like, so this was easy peasy.” The only difficult part of the process, Knippel said, was the application paperwork. After submitting her essay, her Master Sergeant made an announcement in class a couple weeks later that she’d won Regionals and, a couple weeks later, she learned she’d taken the top spot in state, too. Now, she awaits word about how she fares among her peers at the national level. “I’m very nervous,” Knippel said. “I haven’t heard back about that, but I have my finger crossed. … It’s been a little while since it’s been submitted, so I’m hoping it’ll be soon.” In her essay, the Cadet 1st Lieutenant of Unit IL-961 speaks of knowing nothing about a military-based high school or why it would be beneficial. But her curiosity led to speaking with Lt. Col. George Ramey during an eighth grade open house at LWC — and she’s glad she did. “Right then and there, I signed the sheet to get myself into the ROTC and it’s just been amazing since then,” Knippel said. “I love the people. Everyone in it is just so amazing; we’re like a big, ol’ family. My freshman year, I joined the drill team, which was super amazing. I’ve been a commander, I’ve been on almost every single team, it’s been so much. It’s made it so great.” In addition to the people, Knippel said in her essay the ROTC has taught her priceless leadership and life skills. She has learned how to do everything from being a public affairs coordinator to doing her own taxes. Skills, she said make her “prepared to take on the world outside of high school with confidence, knowing that I possess the valuable knowledge needed to be the best citizen I can be.” While she doesn’t graduate until next spring, Knippel is considering what her path will be after high school. And she hasn’t completely ruled out the military. “At this point, I’m kind Abi Knippel holds her Outstanding JROTC certificate. photo submitted of still deciding,” Knippel said. “I’m kind of leaning towards just going to college and doing my own thing, but in the back of my head, it’s kind of telling me ‘Abi, you love this and you might want to do this.’” faith From Page 26 Trinity Lutheran Church (508 N. Cedar Road, New Lenox) Services 5 p.m. Saturdays, 8 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. Sundays. Sunday School and Living Lutheran 9:15 a.m. Sundays. For more information, call (815) 485-6973. Bible Studies 8:30 a.m. Wednesdays and 7 p.m. Thursdays. Sunday School and Adult Bible Class 9:15 a.m. Sundays. Teen Catechesis 6 p.m. Wednesdays Christ Mission Church (22811 S. Cedar Road, New Lenox) Celebrate Recovery 7-9 p.m. every Tuesday. For anyone struggling with hurts, habits, or hang-ups. For more information, call Deb at (708) 516-6318. St. John Orthodox Chapel (112 Church Street, New Lenox) Sunday Services 10 a.m. Sundays. After the service is Introduction to Orthodoxy. Refreshments served, Seekers are welcome. New Life Church (500 Gougar Road, New Lenox) Worship Services 10 a.m. Sundays. For more information, call (815) 462-0202. The Hub (1303 S. Schoolhouse Road, New Lenox) The Landing 6:30-8:30 p.m. every Wednesday. This is a group to help teens break free from hurts, hang-ups and addictions. There is no charge. For more information, search for Freedom Haus on Facebook. Cherry Hill Church of Christ (2749 Lancaster Drive, Joliet) Sunday Services 10:30 a.m. every Sunday; 1 p.m. on the first Sunday of each month and 6 p.m. every Sunday except the first Sunday of each month. Grace Episcopal Church (209 N. Pine St., New Lenox Saturday Service 5 p.m. the first, third and fifth Saturday of each month. Italian Night 6 p.m. Saturday, March 30. Dinner & Entertainment Cornerstone Church (1501 S. Gougar Road, New Lenox) Men’s Bible Study 6-7:30 a.m. every Friday. For more information, call (815) 462-7700. Junior and Senior High Bible Study 6:30-8:30 p.m. every Wednesday. For more information, call (815) 462- 7700. Parkview Christian Church (2121 S. Schoolhouse Road, New Lenox) Worship Services 4 p.m. Saturdays; 8:30 a.m., 10 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. Sundays. Peace Lutheran Church (1900 E. Lincoln Highway, New Lenox) Church Services 5 p.m. Saturdays; 8:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. Sundays. Adult Class 9:55 a.m. Sundays. The adult class usually meets in the back of the sanctuary to discuss a different topic each week. Prayer Group 11:45 a.m. Wednesdays. Denise Jones hosts a monthly gathering for prayer. The prayers include our church, our young people, those on the prayer list from the bulletin, and any other concerns or celebrations. The group will meet on the third Wednesday of each month at 11:45 a.m. Please call (815) 838- 0388 or the church office (815) 485-5327 if you will be attending. Bible Study 10 a.m. Every Wednesday. For more information, call (815) 485-5327. The Journey Church (14414 W. Ford Drive, New Lenox) Reverberate Youth Group 1-3 p.m. Every first Sunday of the month. The group meets to discuss a message geared toward junior and senior high school students. For more information, email youth@our journey.cc. Have something for Faith Briefs? Contact Editor Sean Hastings at sean@ newlenoxpatriot.com or call (708) 326-9170 ext. 48. Information is due by noon on Thursdays one week prior to publication.
newlenoxpatriot.com life & arts the new lenox patriot | May 16, 2019 | 29 Joint Pro’s small staff makes treatment more personal for patients Sean Hastings, Editor Not just anyone can be a physical therapist at Joint Pro in New Lenox, 1405 East Lincoln Highway. From the top down, everyone shares the same values, which is to treat the patient like family. At Joint Pro, there are three physical therapists and when a patient comes in, they get to know everyone there. Physical therapist assistant Amanda Mitchell has been at Joint Pro for about two-and-a-half years and the “team” and “family” atmosphere were keys for her when she was searching for jobs, making Joint Pro the perfect fit. In searching for a job at other places, she learned that some of the bigger chains made their therapists see a certain amount of people in a day. “I thought ‘how in the world am I supposed to do this and actually have quality interactions with these people,’” she said. “When I was interviewing here, it was a long interview process, but because we are so small, we have to click with everyone else here too. It was so much more patient-focused and we just care so much about the people here and every person that walks through the door matters.” Being right out of school, Mitchell wanted to work under someone who had lots of experience, and that person is clinic manager and orthopedic clinical specialist, Michele Deering. Deering has 30 years of experience and is a big reason in why Joint Pro operates the way it does with the team and family atmosphere. Joint Pro celebrated its three-year anniversary May 9 and she has loved to see it grow the way it has. “Being a small private practice, we’re all about giving back to the community,” she said. Joint Pro is owned by Josh Feigl, who also is a physical therapist. Feigl has been treating patients in the Lincoln-Way area for 15 years. The way they like to “give back” to the community and treat them as family is that they treat each patient’s injury special to them. Deering said there is no “cook book” on how they treat a certain injury. The newest member of the staff, Jen Brenczewski spent her last 13 years at a different company but has already adapted to the family style at Joint Pro. “Therapy is expensive and we know that,” she said. “It’s your time, that’s worth a lot. We really want to make sure we’re looking at you as a whole and having the time to facilitate a program that’s tailored toward the individual patient and not just a cookie-cutter program. We want your visit to be more like an impact visit every time you come here, so changing it up, adding a home program, making sure you’re educated along the way making sure you know why you’re doing what you’re doing.” Brenczewski added that the personal touch her and the other therapists show toward the patients makes the patient feel like they are being heard. “I think that they can tell that we are truly listening and paying attention to what it is that ails them and what they need to do to be better instead of just saying, ‘I think this program The space inside Joint Pro is not large, but it really helps the staff keep it’s family atmosphere with themselves and their patients. Sean Hastings/22ndCenturyMedia is going to work because it works for every knee,’” she said. “We’re making a program that works for you as a person.” And with the personal touch and each patient getting know each therapist, it can give them more comfort knowing that the therapist they are seeing that day already knows their injury, how they’re progressing and what is being done to help it. “We do everything as a team,” Deering said. “Every therapist here, knows every single patient. It’s great because you have three therapist’s brains working on the same case all the time. As a patient you may see me as the primary therapist on your case that day and maybe another therapist the next time you come in, but you will always be taking to use every time you’re here. Every patient that comes in, we treat them as part of the family and they become members of the Joint Pro family.” The three agreed that the patients are not treated as number in a list of patients and Deering said the room will never be too filled up. Mitchell added that while they are giving the patient a personalized treatment where they can regularly see them, it becomes rewarding for them to see the patients progress. And being a small practice, Joint Pro does not do any marketing, but rather relies on the word of mouth from their patients, and it has worked well so far. “We had a guy that was about 90 comeback and say ‘I ran Boston 5K,’” Mitchell said. “Almost a year after we saw him and that was amazing. He invited us to his birthday when he turned 90. It’s just cool to see that, because that’s a crazy situation, because how many 90-year-olds are running 5K’s. I’ve had people ride their bike by on the path and say ‘hey look I’m riding my bike, I’m doing great.’ A lot of people will refer to us and I think that’s one of the highest compliments, because they’re trusting their loved ones with our care.” If someone is looking for physical therapy, all they need to do is call and make an appointment and they can be treated, since a new law passed in Illinois that says patients no longer need an order from their physician to go to physical therapy, Deering said. Joint Pro has a pediatric therapist, Stacy Simanis, and a men’s and women’s health specialist, Lauren Mansell. Joint Pro also has another location in Frankfort, and while expanding may be a typical goal for some businesses, that is not the case for Deering and her team at Joint Pro. “We’re here to serve the greater Lincoln-Way community,” she said. “We don’t have aspirations of moving throughout the country. Our focus is on providing the best quality care possible for our community and giving back to the community as much as we can.” For more infomration, visit jointpro.com.
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