New Initiatives for SHG This Fall… - Sacred Heart-Griffin High School

VOLUME 19, NUMBER 2 WINTER 2007
New Initiatives for SHG This Fall…
“Dessert & Dazzle”
Sophomore Julie Thomas (left), freshman Kelsi Frank and
junior Tony Ballweg (above right) helped serve desserts at the
first ever “Dessert & Dazzle” hosted by the SHG Music Department.
This new fundraiser at the Hoogland Center for the Arts
on Thursday, November 9, raised over $7,800 for the SHG Music
Department.
On Saturday, December 2, following an ice storm that left
30,000 in Springfield without power, the first ever Black & Gold
Gala left its mark on the SHG and Springfield communities. The
Booster Club and the SHG Advancement Office hosted over
400 alumni, parents, faculty, staff and friends for an evening that
featured a live and silent
auction, food and fun, all at
SHG’s West Campus, which
was transformed into a
“Winter Wonderland.”
The Gala was a tremendous
SHG Ice Sculpture donated by
“Chip off the ’ole block” in
Staunton, IL.
Black & Gold Gala
SHG Encore, Premiere and Mixed Chorus students sang,
danced, served desserts and coffee, and “dazzled” a crowd of
more than 140 parents, alumni, staff and faculty. Monies raised
will go toward a new sound system for the auditorium, performance
costumes, and underwriting for the 2007 musical…
Seussical.
success, raising approximately $70,000 for all SHG athletic
programs, which in turn greatly impacts the school’s operating
budget. The Fund-a-Project brought in $23,000 which is designated
toward a fitness center specifically for our female athletes,
physical education classes, and faculty and staff. The new center
will be located at the East Campus.
This will be an annual event — please hold the date for
the 2nd Annual Black & Gold Gala on Saturday, December 1,
2007.
For more information about “Dessert & Dazzle” or the Black
& Gold Gala, contact the Advancement Office at 217/787-9732.
Enjoying the Black & Gold Gala are (left to right): Michele Wilson, Dan Dondanville ’78, Linda
Williams, Anne Dondanville, Donald Williams and Peggy Cadigan ’59.

2 Visions, Winter 2007
By Catherine Leatherwood
SHG Junior
Imagine receiving a telephone call one day and a voice on
the other end of the line offers a gift. Only later do you find
out that the gift is one million dollars. That’s what happened
recently to Sr. Katherine O’Connor, O.P., President of Sacred
Heart-Griffin, when an anonymous donor gave one million dollars
to the school.
At a news conference on September 18, 2006, Sr. Katherine
announced the receipt of the gift, the largest private gift in the
school’s history. The donation will be used for financial aid and
scholarships.
“I was shocked, totally shocked,” said Sister when asked of her
initial reaction to the news of the donation. “When the donor said
it [the donation] would be in seven digits, I wanted to make sure
my math was correct and that seven digits was one million
dollars.”
The anonymous donor is a graduate of Cathedral Boys High
School, which later became Griffin High School and eventually
merged with Sacred Heart Academy to become SHG. The donor
gave his gift in honor of Sr. Pauletta Overbeck, O.P., who was
one of his teachers at Cathedral Grade School. The donor said
of Sr. Pauletta, “She wasn’t just an outstanding teacher, but a
very kind person.”
Sr. Pauletta Overbeck entered the convent after she graduated
from Sacred Heart Academy in Springfield in 1932. She
taught at Cathedral Grade School for 14 years before becoming
the founding principal of Little Flower School, where she
worked for 17 years. Sr. Pauletta also served as principal and
director of religious education in multiple parishes in Illinois,
Minnesota and California. In 1989, she began to work with
Illinois Church Action on Alcohol Problems and she now serves
on its board.
Sr. Katherine said that the gift is very important to the future
of SHG. “This gift will help us to welcome a diverse student
population, which is part of our new mission statement,” said
Sister. “The gift will help students who could not otherwise
afford to attend SHG.” Sr. Katherine said that the SHG Advisory
Board will determine whether the funds will be used for a full
scholarship or partial scholarships. The school is treating the
gift as an endowment, which means that only the interest
earnings from the gift will be used. Sr. Katherine hopes that
SHG will be able to earn about $50,000 a year in interest from
the endowment.
Auctioneer Gary Stremsterfer ’60
starts off the bidding.
Scholarship Program at SHG
Continues to Flourish
Fundraising is a very important part of the operation of SHG.
Sr. Katherine said that tuition provides only 60 percent of the
school’s operating budget, with the remaining 40 percent coming
from a combination of special events and private gifts.
Recently SHG has received several generous scholarship
gifts in honor of Catholic education that will benefit students for
years and years to come.
In the fall, a gift of $50,000 was given in honor of Sr. Maristella
Dunlavy, O.P., for her lifelong commitment to Catholic education.
Sr. Maristella served as a teacher and administrator for more than
50 years and dedicated herself to the many students with whom
she came in contact. She retired in May as principal of Cathedral
Grade School, Springfield. The donors, who wish to remain anonymous,
have requested that the scholarship be awarded each year
to a graduating 8th grade student from Cathedral Grade School.
This year the Edward Goetz Memorial Scholarship Endowment
was also established by Ed’s daughter and son-in-law, Dr. James
and Katie ’82 Ambrose. Ed’s family wanted his memory to live
on, so they established this special scholarship to be awarded
each year to a graduating St. Agnes 8th grade student who
demonstrates a commitment to providing service to others.
Ed graduated from Cathedral Boys High School with the Class
of 1948, and was deeply committed to St. Agnes parish. He gave
of his time and talent to various SHG projects — he was a top
ticket seller for the Mega-Raffle each year. Ed will long be
remembered by the SHG and St. Agnes families and will continue
to touch the lives of the young men and women who will receive
this scholarship in the many years to come.
Jerome “Jerry” Konrad was a 1934 graduate of Cathedral
Boys High School who never forgot about the benefits of his
Catholic education. Jerry died in 1997 at the age of 82. In June,
his widow, Hazel, passed. The Konrads wanted to help young
people receive a Catholic education, so they remembered SHG
in their estate plans. The Jerome and Hazel Konrad Scholarship
Endowment will soon be established and each year scholarships
will be awarded to students who take their studies seriously and
who demonstrate financial need.
Many times, individuals would like to help but they don’t
know exactly what they can do to make a difference. The SHG
scholarship program is a perfect way to help a student while at
the same time honoring or remembering a loved one.
If you are interested in providing scholarship support to a
student who demonstrates financial need, please call the
Advancement Office at 217/787-9732 for more information.
At the Black & Gold Gala…
Lisa Burg,
Theresa
Duffin and
Shari
Curry ’75
enjoying
the evening
in style.

12th Annual Raffle Continues to be
Leading Fundraiser at SHG
Sr. Katherine O’Connor, O.P., President, presents Grand Prize
winner Louise Stubbs with her check for $100,000.
The 12th Annual Sacred Heart-Griffin High School Mega-Raffle
was a sell-out again this year, raising over $230,000 for the
school’s operating budget. Four thousand tickets at $100 each
were sold.
This year’s Raffle was chaired for the first time by Chris and
Amy (Segatto) ’83 Perrin and John ’84 and Lynn (DeSalle) Eck ’83.
The Grand Prize winner of $100,000 was Louise Stubbs of
Springfield. Second prize winners of $10,000 were Megan and
Madison Godart of Chatham, and third prize of $3,000 went to
Donald Britton of Petersburg.
Many thanks to the team captains: John and Lynn Eck, Dan and
Peggy Cadigan, Sr. M. Diana Doyle, O.P., Don and Pat Graham,
Doug and Leslie Shevlin, Joe and Sandy Stannard, Mary McMann,
Steve and Alison Cappellin, Rita Nortrup, Pat and Carla Sheehan,
Sam and Ann Witsman, Phil and Lois Seck, Dan and Anne Dondanville,
Gloria Shanahan, Joe Maggio, Tom and Karen Paisley,
Tammie Klein and Joanna Shearer, and the hundreds of sellers,
who make this event such a success year after year!
The seller incentive prizes were won by: Joe Maggio, $1,500;
Steve and Denise Hurt, $1,000; Marilyn Tate, $500; Dan and Sarah
Schuering, $500; Steve and Cindy Megginson, $500.
We look forward to another smashing success in 2007. Thank
you to everyone who participated!
Visions
Alumni newsletter published three times a year,
in the Fall, Winter and Spring, by
Sacred Heart-Griffin Alumni Association
1200 W. Washington St. • Springfield, IL 62702-4794
Lisa Becker Belz, ’83
Jamie Greenwald, ’82
Janice Feld, ’70
Bridget Mahoney DePriest, ’71
Ed Mahoney, ’43
Janice Skube Butler, ’58, Alumni Board
Lisa (Savorgino) Sommer, ’83, Design of Visions Logo
PRO TYPE, Lee Gaeding, ’64, Typesetting/Layout
Jennifer Knuffman-Bettis, Director of Advancement
Sister Mary Diana, ’48, Volunteer
Visions, Winter 2007 3
Chris Perrin, John Eck, Jr. ’84, Lynn (DeSalle) Eck ’83 and
Amy (Segatto) Perrin ’83, co-chairs of the 2006 Mega-Raffle.
It’s Almost Noodle Time!
Save your appetite and mark your calendars!
The Sacred Heart-Griffin Mostaccioli Dinner returns for its 48th
year on Sunday, March 4, 2007. More than 10,000 dinners are
served every year during our annual community-wide tradition.
Join scores of alumni, family and friends as they show their support
for SHG.
The Mostaccioli Dinner has one of the biggest shopping lists in
Springfield — 4,500 pounds of pasta, more than 1,000 gallons of
tomato sauce, 125 cases of lettuce and, of course, 29,000 meatballs.
An event of this scale would not be possible without the help
of hundreds of volunteers during the week before the dinner, as
well as the leadership of the Mostaccioli Dinner Committee in the
months leading up to supper time.
Members of the Mostaccioli Committee include: Carl Affrunti
’76, Jack and Peg Coleman ’46, Mike Costa ’71, Pat Curry, Drew
Dhabalt ’84, Peggy and Todd Egizii, Mike Holmes ’80, Maureen
Long ’71, Al and Sharon Mast, Mary McMann, Vince Moore ’41,
Judy Maher Redick ’58, Carrie Richardson, Mike “Noodle” Ryan
’74, Tom Schweska ’77, Lois Seck ’83, John Stevens, Marilyn
Tate ’48, Dave Thompson ’76, Pat Townsend, Sr. Katherine
O’Connor, Doug Crocher, Beverly Kane and Jeanne and Dave
Urbanek.
This year’s Grand Prize for the annual Mostaccioli Dinner raffle
is a 2007 Ford Focus, or $10,000 in cash. There also will be a
drawing for two $500 cash prizes.
Once again on Mostaccioli Sunday, the Jim Belz Gymnasium
will feature a multitude of exhibitors, a “Kiddie Korner” staffed
by the SHG Student Council and the National Art Honor Society,
the “Country Cupboard,” and entertainment by the SHG Band.
All of our corporate and individual sponsors will be listed in our
advertising book.
If you are an alum and would be interested in volunteering for
the Mostaccioli Dinner (we especially need big, strong ex-
Cyclones to lift pots of pasta and meatballs), or if you want to get
creative and offer something for sale in the “Country Cupboard,”
please call the SHG Advancement Office at 787-9732.
Bon appetit!
Everyone is Welcome!
48th Annual Mostaccioli Dinner
Sunday, March 4, 2007
Serving from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Sacred Heart-Griffin West Campus

4 Visions, Winter 2007
Helen Dulle Retires as Volleyball Coach
After 34 Years and 921 Wins
A total of 921 wins (the most in state volleyball history)…
just 255 losses… 34 years dedicated… at least 56 college
athletes… and, most importantly, over 200 lives touched.
Although the common thread in those more than 200 lives
touched was just a game, it is clear that lessons learned under
one coach’s guidance have and will continue to influence these
lives well into the future.
A familiar sight, as Helen Dulle has spent the past 34 years
coaching volleyball at SHA and SHG.
A pioneer for girls’ athletics, Helen Dulle started the volleyball
program at then Sacred Heart Academy, now Sacred Heart-
Griffin High School, in 1973 and has been a driving force in
the advancement of girls and women in sports ever since. The
200-plus mentioned above all have one thing in common. They
were Blazer volleyball players for Helen Dulle. Some went on
to play collegiate volleyball; some may have even played other
sports (but don’t tell Helen). Some are still students or student
athletes and in that number there are mothers, daughters, grandmothers,
writers, lawyers, doctors, engineers, accountants and
even a golf pro, just to name a few.
Lessons learned on the volleyball court under Helen Dulle’s
guidance have translated into many successes off the court as
well. Her drive and dedication served as an example to all who
called her coach. Her players learned to win, to lose with
grace and not to lose too much, to compete, to work hard to
achieve goals where the faith-filled environment of Sacred Heart
was the setting.
Many articles have been written about the many wins and
the very few losses. This is not one of those. This is a thank you
from us to you for your dedication and commitment to us over
your long and distinguished career. We would be remiss not to
also thank your “sidekick,” Herb, who has been there from the
beginning, tirelessly keeping a record of this volleyball and life
success story. Godspeed, Helen Dulle, and we wish you many
blessings in your well-earned retirement.
— Betsy (Wisnosky) Urbance ’80 and
Debbie (Urbanckas) Jemison ’81
Editor’s Note: Helen Dulle will continue to serve as
SHG’s Women’s Athletic Director in the coming years.
Surrounded by another winning team, Helen Dulle holds the
latest championship trophy. She has coached more than 200
girls in the school’s volleyball program.
2006 Football Cyclones By The Numbers
1 Where Sacred Heart-Griffin was rated in the Associated Press Class 5A poll when the season began.
2 Number of consecutive Class 5A state titles the Cyclones have won. (Also the number of times a high school team
from Springfield has won back-to-back state titles. The 1978 and 1979 Griffin golf teams also won consecutive state
titles.)
6 The number of times both Woodstock and SHG have played in the state championship game. (Marian Central has
won four state titles and SHG has won two.)
28 The number of games Sacred Heart-Griffin has won in a row.
65 Game-time temperature on a beautiful Saturday afternoon at Memorial Stadium.
67.6 Percent of passes Bobby Brenneisen completed as a senior, 198 of 293.
102 Total number of points SHG gave up this season. (The average score of an SHG game was 39-7.)
200 The Cyclones’ rushing yardage Saturday afternoon. They wound up with 474 total yards offense.
215 Ken Leonard’s victory total in 23 seasons at SHG. No football coach in city history is close to that total.
— Reprinted with permission from Jim Ruppert of The State Journal-Register

The 2006 SHG Cyclones won their second straight state
championship in football with a decisive 35-14 win over Marian
Central Catholic. After winning last year’s state title for the first
time in the school’s history, this Cyclone football team again
set their sights high and they delivered. The Cyclones, led by
veteran Coach Ken Leonard, had another undefeated season
with a perfect 14-0 record and improved their winning streak to
28 games.
In addition to winning
two state titles, this senior
class was the first in the
school’s history to complete
all four years with
an undefeated record. The
21 seniors who had four
perfect seasons include:
Bobby Brenneisen, Andrew
Collings, Brandon Dixon,
Mike Edwards, Brian
Fitzgerald, Keenan Gilpin,
Matt Israel, Sean Johnson,
Alex Kararo, David Kavish,
Thomas Kennedy, Kevin
Klemm, Matt Mast, Jason
Moore, Chris Peterson,
Shaughn Reid, Brian Rimini,
Chad Rushing, Tim
Stevens, Mike Stieren and
Nick Thoele.
The Cyclones won their
second Class 5A title game
SHG’s 21 seniors who had a perfect undefeated four-year record in Cyclone football.
on a beautiful Saturday afternoon at Memorial Stadium where the
temperature at game time was 65 degrees. (This was especially
nice if you happened to be at the last two colder championship
games!) There was a huge crowd of SHG fans that made the trip
to Champaign to cheer on their football team and this seniordominated
team did not disappoint them. David Kavish caught
five passes for 86 yards and had two interceptions. Chris
Visions, Winter 2007 5
Undefeated Cyclones Repeat State Title
Once again, “We’re Number One!”
Peterson had 12 carries for 56 yards. Keenan Gilpin scored
two touchdowns while rushing for 70 yards and catching eight
passes for 136 yards. Josh Gossard rushed for 48 yards that
included two touchdown
runs. Quarterback Bobby
Brenneisen ran for one
touchdown and completed
18 of 25 passes
for 295 yards. This was a
team effort and it showed
on and off the field.
“It’s back to back for
gold and black,” stated
Jim Ruppert in the stadium
edition of The State
Journal-Register that was
handed out at Memorial
Stadium after the Cyclones
won. There was a
spirited reception after
the game back at the
school where all the fans
were able to show the
team how much they
appreciated them. Way to
make us proud, Cyclones!
— Lisa Becker Belz ’83
Two very happy Cyclones
rejoice in the victory!
STATE TITLE GAMES
1975 Joliet Catholic 34 Griffin 14
1982 Geneseo 44 Griffin 36
1995 New Lenox Providence 22 Sacred Heart-Griffin 17
2003 Joliet Catholic 24 Sacred Heart-Griffin 21
2005 Sacred Heart-Griffin 28 Rock Island Alleman 21
2006 Sacred Heart-Griffin 35 Woodstock Marian 14

6 Visions, Winter 2007
Members of the Class of 1956 have joined the Nifty Fifty group,
celebrating their 50th reunion in September 2006. Row 1 (left
to right): Elaine (Wanless) Lipe, Bonadell (Gavin) Brown, Sr.
Darlene Fulgenzi, O.S.U. Row 2: Mary Lou (Mehlick) Harris,
Mariella Greenan, Dorothy (Kuzmisky) Laton, Mary Jo Welch,
Barbara (Worthington) Budinger. Row 3: Mary Patricia (Regan)
Dougherty, Barbara (Hunt) Viehmann, Carol (Penn) Napier,
Mary Lou (Miller) Aiello, Mary (Schlosser) Fitzgerald. Row 4:
Dorothy L. Ford, Barbara (Flynn) Musgrove, Kathryn E. (Gust)
Adams, Pat (Houghton) Bertrand, Helen (Neighbors) Wise.
Row 5: Dorothy (Moffat) Christian, Patricia (Delaney)
Murawski, Frank Musgrove, Tony Ward, Nadine (Keeley)
Adelman. Row 6: Jack Butler, Jim “Mac” Graham, Anne (Casey)
Cody, Chuck Robson, Joan (Adams) Boarman. Row 7: Tim
Sullivan, William Rogers, Donald Ryan, Dan Conlon, Bill
Schmidt. Row 8: Joe Fassero, Joe Bascio, John F. Yost, Charles
J. Gramlich, Bill McCain. Row 9: Al Cusick, H.M. Buckley III,
Frank Yoggerst, Paul O’Shea, Tom O’Brien. Row 10: Robert
Kunz, Augie Wisnosky, Walter Barniskis.
Coming up next…
NIFTY-FIFTY
REUNION
(Fifty-plus years of graduation)
is scheduled for
Saturday, June 9, 2007
at Sacred Heart-Griffin High School
Liturgical Celebration at 5:00 p.m.
Dinner in the Commons at 6:30 p.m.
Invitations will be mailed in the spring.
Reunions!
Congratulations to the Class of 1956 who celebrated their 50th
reunion at the Springfield Hilton this past September. The weekend
was spent getting reacquainted with a “human” scavenger
hunt, a history quiz and a roll call, which was taken just like
back in 1956! Fr. Steve Janoski from SHG celebrated Mass.
Welcome to the Nifty Fifty crowd, Class of 1956 — hope to see
you at the Nifty Fifty Reunion on Saturday, June 9th.
Meanwhile, the Class of 2006 celebrated their “sixth month
reunion” at SHG during their Christmas break. Over 30 students
who had just graduated in May of 2006 came back to SHG to eat
pizza and reconnect with their SHG friends after only six months
away. Many commented on how “small” the cafeteria looked!
This first-ever event was sponsored by the Alumni Association
who hopes to continue and expand this program next year.
Following is a list of upcoming reunions and contact information.
Please continue to submit any information you may have
about upcoming reunions to: SHG Advancement/Alumni Office,
1200 W. Washington St., Springfield, IL 62702-4794; Fax 217/726-
9791; or e-mail bettis@shg.org. Look for a comprehensive list of
upcoming reunions in the Spring 2007 issue of Visions.
55th: 1952
September 21 & 22
For more information contact:
Frank “Beaver” Schwartz, 217/546-6160 or e-mail
fschwartz@schwartzcopper.com;
Mike Crowley, 217/483-2764;
Frieda (Kraus) Burg, 217/793-1871; or
Linda (Shirk) Mizeur, 217/528-9129.
35th: 1972
For more information contact:
Bill Moredock, moredock@shg.org.
30th: 1977
For more information contact:
Terry Farmer, terryfarmer@insightbb.com or
Mary Coombe-Bloxdorf, mcbdorf@coombebloxdorf.com.
20th: 1987
August/September 2007
For more information or to participate on the planning
committee, contact Dave Manfredo at 217/793-5273 or
davemanfredo@yahoo.com.
Calling
All
Alums!
Come meet
your classmates
at the
48th Annual
Mostaccioli
Dinner
Sunday, March 4, 2007
Serving from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Sacred Heart-Griffin West Campus

Women and men of the Class of 2006 gathered for a “six
month reunion” pizza party during Christmas break. More than
30 attended.
Visit the SHG Booster Club
Online Store
at www.shgboosterclub.com
At the Black & Gold Gala…
Ryan O’Malley ’98, Chicago Cubs pitcher, auctions
off tickets for a Cardinal/Cub game!
Visions, Winter 2007 7
Reunion planners enjoy the pizza party. Left to right: Jen
Bettis, SHG Director of Advancement; Shari Curry ’75, Kelly
Bunn ’86, Tim Eggleston ’90 and Bev Neisler, Vice-President
for Advancement.
HOLD THE DATE!
25th Annual
Sacred Heart-Griffin
Scholarship
Scramble
Monday, June 18, 2007
Piper Glen Golf Club
Title Sponsor:
CARROLLTON BANK
217/787-9732
Sister Margaret Joanne Grueter, O.P., Principal,
taking a turn on the Vision Elliptical 6200, an
auction item donated by Craig Fisher, Body Quest.

8 Visions, Winter 2007
A L U M N I N E W S
1954
Sr. Mary Dorothea Sondgeroth was inducted into the Mississippi
Business Hall of Fame for her contribution to the
growth and development of business in the state. She is
president of St. Dominic Health Services in Jackson, Mississippi.
Sr. Dorothea also received the Jefferson Award for her
years of dedication, commitment and continued service to
the American medical causes.
1959
Joe “Bobo” Beneky took third place in the men’s division
at the 2006 World Horseshoe Tournament held in Gillette,
Wyoming. Over 900 pitchers participated over a two-week
period. Joe also won first place at the 2006 Illinois State
Horseshoe Tournament held in Casey over the Labor Day
weekend.
1967
Pat (Glosecki) Hunter, principal at Maple Elementary School
in Seattle, Washington, was recently honored, along with
her school, by the U.S. Department of Education as a 2006
No Child Left Behind – Blue Ribbon School. The awards
ceremony took place in Washington, D.C. Maple Elementary
was one of seven schools honored for exceptional scores on
the Washington Assessment of Student Learning.
1968
Roseann Tomko has been appointed editor for Illinois
Audubon Magazine. Roseann is an artist, and teaches digital
photography and graphic design at Peoria High School and
Illinois Central College. She is a freelance writer in the areas
of natural history and horticulture. She received her degree
in art education from Eastern Illinois University, a master’s
in fine arts photography from Illinois State University, and
is completing an associate’s degree in horticulture at ICC.
Roseann is an avid naturalist and fanatic gardener and lives
in Morton. She has two adult daughters.
1973
Kathleen Ann Harvey was united in marriage with Warren
Karl Lutz on August 4, 2006. The couple resides in Springfield.
1979
Louise (Phipps) Senft, of Baltimore, Maryland, was recently
invested as a Dame into the Order of Malta in the Basilica
of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in
Washington, D.C. Louise traveled to Lourdes, France as
part of her preparation and administered to the sick and
injured, carrying them up to the shrine where our Blessed
Mother appeared to Bernadette. She is called a Hospitalier
(a member of a religious military order established in
Jerusalem in the 12th century).
The family of Tracey (Henson) Skokna (1982) includes her
husband, Nick, and nine children.
Kevin Vost, Psy.D. recently published Memorize the Faith!
(And Most Everything Else) Using the Methods of the Great
Catholic Medieval Memory Masters through Sophia Institute
Press of Manchester, New Hampshire. Kevin taught psychology
for 10 years at the University of Illinois at Springfield
and is a research review committee member of American
Mensa, which promotes the scientific study of human intelligence.
His book provides a modern application of an ancient
memory system recommended by St. Thomas Aquinas in
the Summa Theologica. Kevin resides in Springfield with his
wife, Kathy, and sons Eric and Kyle.
1981
Mary Elizabeth “Beth” (Staab) Hemann and her husband,
Tony, welcomed their sixth child, a son, on November 3,
2006.
1982
Amy (Andrew) Barnett and her husband, John, are the
proud parents of Brooke Barnett, born July 21, 2006. The
family lives in Boca Raton, Florida.
Tracey (Henson) Skokna and her husband, Nick, reside in
Hinsdale with their nine children: Matthew, a high school
sophomore, John (13), Theresa (11), Joan (9), Gabrielle (8),
Luke (6), Mark (4), Thomas (3) and Peter (9 months).
1983
Cathy (Bianco) Robertson and her husband, Norm,
relocated with their three children to South Bend, Indiana,
where they are franchise owners of an Express Personnel
staffing firm.
1984
Cynthia (Bono) Johnson and her husband, Erik, welcomed
their new baby daughter, Alexa Grace, on September 27,
2006. Lexie joins her two big brothers, Noah (2) and Ryan
(19 months). The family resides in Orlando, Florida.
Michael O’Shea (1984), president of Harold O’Shea Builders,
recently announced that the company has moved into their
new corporate headquarters, warehouse and milling operations
at 3401 Constitution Drive in Springfield. The company
spent the last four decades at 1941 S. 10 1 ⁄2 Street, until the
March 12 tornadoes destroyed two of their three buildings.
Harold O’Shea (1952) remains active in the business.
Joseph Wayne Vespa and Janet Louise Westenberger
(1986) were married on July 1, 2006. They reside in Springfield.
1985
Elizabeth Cavanagh, M.D. is the 2006-2007 president of the
Missouri Society of Anesthesiologists.
1986
Ronald A. Romanotto married Michelle R. Winans on July 26,
2006. They reside in Rochester.
1988
Missy (Beveridge) Davidson recently opened her own
business called Xtreme Graphics which specializes in screen
printing and embroidery of T-shirts, sweatshirts and hats.
She is a volleyball coach for a local club team and she
and her husband, Tom, also run a girls’ soccer club in
Nixa, Missouri, where they both coach and operate the
club. They have three children, Morgan (12), Maya (8) and
Troy (4).
1989
Elizabeth L. Epping and John P. Sunseri, II were married
August 27, 2005. The couple lives in Portland, Oregon.
1990
James W. O’Connor and his wife, Erica, announced the
birth of their second child on September 1, 2006. The
family, including new daughter Avery Grace, resides in
Erie, Colorado.
1991
Daniel Patrick LaBrier married Jennifer Joan Wood on
May 20, 2006. The couple resides in Mobile, Alabama.

A L U M N I N E W S
1993
Jill Link was named to the dean’s list at Illinois State
University in Normal, where she is a special education major.
1994
Jennifer (Seifert) Bolton and her husband, Chris, recently
welcomed their daughter, Sydney Lane, on October 12, 2006.
They reside in Arlington, Texas.
Barbara (Brumleve) Mittel and her husband, David, welcomed
their second daughter, Sydney Anne, on September
19, 2006. Her big sister is Claire (2).
Catherine Jane Surman married Daniel McCoy on December
17, 2005. The couple lives in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Jennifer Lynn Zock and Peter John Rhoda were married
June 24, 2006. The couple resides in Bloomington, Indiana.
Jennifer is a 7th- and 8th-grade language arts communications
teacher at Monroe County Community School Corp.
and is an associate professor of secondary field experience
in the School of Education at Indiana University.
1995
Terrence Alan Horstman married Laura Marie Brunsman
(1997) on August 6, 2005. Terrence is a graduate of the
University of Illinois and is a policy analyst for the Illinois
General Assembly. Laura is also a graduate of the University
of Illinois and is a teacher with Springfield School District
186. They live in Springfield.
Patrick Selinger and Erin Kelty (1998) were united in
marriage on September 9, 2006. The couple resides in Stuart,
Florida.
Susan (Nash) Waterman married Matthew Waterman on
May 20, 2006. The couple resides in Pawnee.
1996
Heather Ann Stahlberg and Jeremy Leigh Smith were
married on June 10, 2006. They reside in Springfield.
Guilia Tune married Dino Selimagic in October of 2005.
The couple resides in Rosseville, Georgia. Guilia received
an associate’s degree in radiologic technology and works
full-time as an x-ray technician at a local hospital.
Samuel Wheeler was awarded a Dissertation Research
Assistantship from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale
to complete his dissertation, “A Poet in the White
House: The Political Poetry of Abraham Lincoln.” He also
was awarded the Stanley Zucker Paper Prize for Outstanding
Seminar Paper in History. Samuel is a doctoral candidate
studying history. He graduated from Lincoln Land Community
College, Illinois State University and the University of
Illinois at Springfield.
1997
Melissa Kathleen Fuchs and Brent Eugene Schwoerer were
united in marriage on July 29, 2006. The couple resides in
Bloomington.
Tara (O’Hara) Long, John Long and their son Lennon
welcomed a new baby girl to the family. Norah Greene Long
was born on November 18, 2006.
1998
Jason Buraski was recently the subject of an article in
The State Journal-Register concerning his renovation of a
downtown Springfield building dating back to 1880. Jason
has been working for Buraski Builders, which was founded
by his parents, since he graduated from the University of
Illinois at Urbana-Champaign four years ago. The building
he is renovating at 617 E. Monroe is his personal project.
Elizabeth Katherine Kienzler married Michael Timothy
Johnson on June 10, 2006. They live in Chicago.
Sarah Newell has been named associate editor of Country
Living, a lifestyle magazine in New York City. She will cover
new home products and report on decorating trends in
the marketplace while editing the Home Comforts section
of Country Living. She is a 2002 graduate of the University
of Missouri School of Journalism. She has previously held
Visions, Winter 2007 9
positions at Glamour, People en Español and Real Simple
magazines, also based in New York City.
Jill (Livingston) Paul had twin girls, Sophia Marie and Olivia
Ann, on October 17, 2006. They join a sister Ella (4) and a
brother Braden (2). Jill’s husband is Clint Paul, who attended
SHG from 1986-1989.
Melissa Michelle Rakin was united in marriage to Dr.
Kristofer James Mitchell on September 30, 2006. Melissa is
a 2003 graduate of Loyola University at Chicago. She is
employed as a nurse at SIU School of Medicine. The couple
resides in Springfield.
Lindsey (Easley) Shaub and her husband, Bill, welcomed a
son, William “Trace” David Shaub, III, on June 9, 2005.
1999
Kelly Anne Clarke was united in marriage to John Michael
Knolhoff on July 8, 2006. Kelly received the 2006 Gordon
Thomas Memorial Award. She is a doctoral student in
audiology at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri.
Amy Sue Erickson married Andrew Charles Johnson on
May 13, 2006. They reside in Waggoner.
Sean Flesch graduated with a master’s degree in sports
psychology and has taken a position as an inter-operative
neural technician with Sentient Technologies. He will be
located in Charleston, North Carolina.
Mary Michelle Kienzler and Conor O’Grady were married
August 26, 2006. The couple lives in Chicago.
Shana (Erwin) McHugh recently worked as the assistant
editor of “Monster of the Milky Way,” which aired nationally
on October 31, 2006 on PBS. She is a graduate of Southern
Illinois University’s film production program.
Sara Anne Nonneman married Matthew Daniel Wszolek on
July 15, 2006. The couple lives in Chicago.
Brittany Angela Owens and Tyler Anthony Sitko were
married on June 24, 2006. They reside in Springfield.
2000
Stephanie Lynn Frankowiak married Andrew William Sauer
on August 26, 2006. They live in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Rebecca Michelle Lysaker and Paul Thomas Blandina were
united in matrimony on June 10, 2006. The couple resides in
Belleville.
Matthew Menely recently accepted a position as a district
executive with the Boy Scouts of America, Detroit, Michigan
Council.
Mollie Townsend is an intern at the White House in the
Office of Correspondence. She is a junior at Georgetown
University at Washington, D.C., where she is majoring in
government and political economy.
2001
Jackie Ashcraft graduated from Southern Illinois University
at Edwardsville with a master’s degree in clinical child
psychology and school counseling. She was the recipient
of the Katherine B. Skinner Award. She was also appointed
as a graduate student ambassador and employed as a
mental health graduate assistant for the St. Clair County
Head Start program. Jackie is continuing her education at
SIU-E working toward a specialist degree in school psychology.
She is a 2005 graduate of Illinois State University.
Anne Marie Goodrich was united in marriage with David
Allen Timm on May 13, 2006. They reside in Springfield.
Bradley Pierce Leonard and Rebecca Marie Metz (2002)
were married on June 17, 2006. They live in Springfield.
2002
Andrea Renee Bailey and Adam Martin Narup were married
on July 26, 2006. Andrea graduated from Greenville College
with a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education and
is employed at Lake Shore Learning Center. Adam received
his bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from Southern
Illinois University at Carbondale, and is an electrical
engineer for the Simplex Company. They live in Springfield.

10 Visions, Winter 2007
A L U M N I N E W S
Adam Kohlrus, a graduate of Loyola University with a degree
in psychology, signed up as a volunteer for the Peace Corps
right after graduation. He lives in a 150-square-foot tin-roof
hut in the mountains of Swaziland. He is an HIV/AIDS
prevention instructor in the tiny, southern African country,
where he’ll do volunteer work until August 2008. He was
recently featured in an article about his work in The State
Journal-Register.
Laura Link graduated cum laude from Rollins College in
Winter Park, Florida, with a bachelor’s degree in graphic
design.
Jennifer Parker and Noreen Walton graduated from St.
Mary’s College at Notre Dame, Indiana. Jennifer received
a bachelor’s degree in English literature. Noreen received a
bachelor’s degree in elementary education.
Maria Ray placed second in the University of Illinois at
Springfield’s sixth annual Science Symposium with her
project titled “Determination of Humane Endpoints in
Longevity Research.” She is a recent graduate of UIS with
a degree in chemistry.
2003
Sean Flynn, Andy Lantz and Zach Jones, soccer teammates
at SHG, are teammates again for the Prairie Stars at the
University of Illinois at Springfield. Sean, a senior at UIS, is
a center-midfielder for the soccer team. Andy, also a senior,
plays defense.
2004
Joseph Dinardo, Jr. received an engineering internship with
Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida. He is a senior at the
University of Columbia, Missouri, where he is an honor
student majoring in mechanical engineering with emphasis
on aeronautics.
Katherine Sunder has been selected for the 2006 Advanced
Young Rider Olympic Dream Program, which is administered
and funded by The Dressage Foundation. She is a student
at Lake Erie College at Painesville, Ohio. She trains with
Nancy Lewis-Stanton of Chardon, Ohio and is a former
student of Paula Briney of Chatham.
Matthew Vala has been working professionally in the Dallas
area as he finishes up his senior year in college. He recently
performed in Man of LaMancha and was the solo tenor in
Sweeney Todd at the Meyerson Center in Dallas. He also
worked at the Bass Performance Hall doing South Pacific
with Ron Raines of CBS’s “Guiding Light.”
2005
Kelsey McManus was the recent winner of The State Journal-
Register’s Holiday Sweater Contest. Kelsey received 1,756
out of a total of 3,750 votes for the Christmas goose sweater
she inherited from her grandmother. She received a $50 gift
card as her prize.
Eric Peterman, a sophomore at Northwestern University, is
a wide receiver for the NU Wildcats football team. He has
started four games and ranks third on the team with 307
receiving yards.
2006
Elizabeth Eckert is a freshman at Belmont University in
Nashville, Tennessee, majoring in commercial music. She
has released several songs and is finishing up her first
pop CD which will be released under the BTE label. Jim
Thompson (2005), a sophomore at Eastern Illinois University,
has acted as co-writer, composer and producer of
Elizabeth’s songs.
Nick Feller, Jeff Knudsen, Dan Meyer, Eric Seelbach and
Karen Trott qualified for the AP Scholars With Distinction
Award. Students qualified for the AP Scholars With Honor
Award are: James Begando, Brandon Curry and Jennifer
Sheehan.
Matt Thieman was recently named to the top 15% at the
St. Louis College of Pharmacy.
in memoriam
We offer our sincerest condolences and prayers to the families
of our following alumni and friends who have died recently.
May they rest in God’s peace.
Alumni
Sister M. Robert Armstrong, O.P., 1925
Thomas J. Finnegan, 1935
Agnes (Clark) Hansen, 1935
Maurice J. “Bud” Carrigan, 1939
Delores (Lucas) Esela, 1939
Sr. Catherine Fitzgerald, O.P., 1942
Irene C. (Dower) Lavin, 1942
Francis B. Von De Bur, 1943
Eileen F. (Hilliard) Baltusevich, 1945
Ruth P. (Stevens) Dougherty, 1945
Nancy Ann (Ryan) Gillituk, 1946
Floyd E. Thompson, 1946
Don Melton, 1949
John P. “Paddy” Poulson, Jr., 1949
Mary (Williamson) Hochstatter, 1950
Thaddeus J. Sullivan, 1956
Donna Belle (Armstead) Fischer, 1957
Victor C. Mulacek, 1958
Richard A. “Butch” Buscher, 1959
Patricia Anne (Goldstein) Roberson, 1960
Karla A. (Kornet) Dennison, 1963
Joan (Beveridge) Avart, 1967
Genevieve Ann Hughes, 1967
Patrick Jay Langan, 1972
Gregg A. Turley, 1977
Wendy Lynn Howlett-Harman, 1989
Friends
Sr. M. Jeremiah Sullivan, O.P. passed away on November 18,
2006 at Sacred Heart Convent. She served her religious congregation
as prioress general from 1965 to 1977, and many of us
remember her as Mother Jeremiah. She ministered in the Springfield
Diocese as the diocesan superintendent of schools and
director of education from 1978 to 1984. She was a teacher and
principal in the Springfield Diocese for 20 years, with 12 years
teaching kindergarten at Cathedral School from 1942 to 1954.
She served as the office receptionist at SHG from 1990 until she
retired in 1999.
Alumni Reflections
Alumni, take a look back to your days at SHA, CBHS,
GHS, SHG and share some of your memories with us
through Visions.
Send your memories to:
SHG Advancement Office
1200 W. Washington St.
Springfield, IL 62702-4794
Fax: 217/787-9791
or e-mail to bettis@shg.org.
Bonded by Place
Through Time…
Staying Connected

It’s back to back for gold and black.
Registration forms and further information available at www.acis.com.
To view itinerary, click on Trip Finder, choose Italy, scroll to
Return to Sorrento.
For more information e-mail Rebecca Budde at budde@shg.org
or call 217/787-9732 ext. 142.
Travelers under 21 must be accompanied by an adult 21 or older.
Visions, Winter 2007 11
2006-07
Annual Fund
Update
Thank you to all who choose to contribute
to the Annual Fund year after year!
As of January 5, 2007, the 2006-2007
Annual Fund stands at $139,000. Thanks
to you, this amount surpasses where we
stood last year at this same time. There
is still time to make your contribution —
the Annual Fund year (fiscal year) closes
June 30, 2007.
We encourage everyone to make a gift,
big or small, to impact the everyday
expenses SHG encounters — teachers’
salaries, books, technology… the list goes
on. The more we raise through the Annual
Fund to help the everyday operations, the
more we are able to direct toward new
initiatives, financial aid and renovations.
Last year, the Annual Fund brought in
$214,000, and with everyone’s participation
we will see the Annual Fund continue
to grow and benefit every student that
chooses to be a part of the SHG tradition.
For your convenience, there is an envelope
enclosed in this issue of Visions.
Please take the time to make your gift
today and be a partner to all of the
wonderful things going on at SHG.
Thank you for your support!
Roman Holiday
April 6-13, 2007
for SHG friends, families and alumni
Holiday includes:
4 nights in Rome • 2 nights in Sorrento
Hotel accommodations
Air transportation • Ground transportation
Breakfast and dinner
Admission to sites
Full-time tour courier • Basic insurance

12 Visions, Winter 2007
Congratulations to…
AROUND SHG
Sacred Heart-Griffin Illinois State Scholars
The Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC) has
announced the names of this year’s students honored as Illinois
State Scholars. The Illinois State Scholar Program recognizes
Illinois high school students for outstanding academic achievement.
Thirty-six students from Sacred Heart-Griffin High School have
been named Illinois State Scholars. This year’s scholars include
Benjamin Ahrens, Anna Alexander, Brian Bell, Anne Bloechle,
Andrew Collings, Emily England, Greg Filla, Nicholas Fox,
Gabrielle Gee, Michael Genin, Kelsey Gerber, Jennifer Gildner,
Sean Gower, Jason Harvey, Kavitha Jacob, Emily Jones, Thomas
Kennedy, Kevin Klemm, Zachary Knudsen, Nicholas Langellier,
Gregory Larson, Kathleen Louis, Hugh McDermott, Morgan Metz,
Emily Meyer, Elizabeth Peura, Michael Romanelli, Maggie Schaefer,
Breanne Sergent, Jordan Sestak, Casey Sheehan, Colin Shevlin,
Jacob Wear, Richard Wesly, Amy Zappo and Clare Zimmerman.
Students ranking in the top 10 percent of the state’s high
school graduating seniors are named Illinois State Scholars.
Rankings are based on a combination of ACT and/or SAT I test
score results and class rank at the end of junior year of high
school unless the students achieved a score at or above the
95th percentile for Illinois students on one of the standardized
tests.
Twelve SHG students were selected by competitive audition for
the IMEA All-State Music Convention in Peoria on January 24-27.
Anna Han was selected for Orchestra, Nick Langellier was
selected for Band; John Curry, Caitlin Hoemmen and Cameron
Millburg were selected for All-State Choir; and Jessica Ashcraft,
Taylor Fishburn, Zach Gietl, Katie Hamilton, Gina Mayes, Sam
Steere and Will Whalen were selected for All-State “Honors”
Chorus.
2006 Homecoming Court members who were elected by their
fellow seniors are: John Curry, Brian Dondanville, Mike Edwards,
Chris Kaplan, David Kavish, Kevin Klemm, Greg Larson, Colin
McCormick, Jason Moore, Mike Stieren, Anna Alexander,
Meredith Blair, Emily England, Gabby Gee, Jenny Gildner, Tessa
Meyer, Maggie Morphew, Jenna Reid, Jessica Selvaggio and
Jordan Sestak. Special congratulations to Mike Edwards and
Jenna Reid who were crowned king and queen at the Homecoming
Dance.
Following are the 2006-2007 Student Ambassadors. Freshmen:
Elizabeth Farris, Andrew Kelley, Sarah Mast, Chloe Neisler,
Autumn Pedrucci, Chris Ryan and Demi VanDerWal. Sophomores:
Tim Dondanville, Kelsey Edmonds, Jake Erickson, Mallory
Flynn, Katie Furrie and Norah Yu. Juniors: Jessica Ashcraft,
Taylor Fishburn, Josh Gossard, Robby Mosher, Andy Ralph, Sarah
Reid, Anthony Uy, Elle Ward and David Wasser. Seniors: Meredith
Blair, Gabby Gee, Evan Manning, Hugh McDermott, Michael
Romanelli and Sarah Wingbermuehle.
The following students were elected by their peers to represent
the Freshman Class Council: Dominic Antonacci, Peter Eck,
Jessica Edwards, Nick Lanzotti and Alaina Selvaggio.
Senior Katelyn Coady was selected by the administration and
faculty to be honored as the Optimist Club Student of the Month
for December. Katelyn was selected for her character and
positive presence in many areas at SHG.
Sam Steere was selected to perform the National Anthem
during the IHSA Volleyball State Final Tournament, which was
held at the Redbird Arena on the campus of Illinois State
University.
Jenni DeMarco was chosen to sing the National Anthem at
the Trusted Choice Tournament of Champions in Peoria.
Jacob Peters was recently selected to perform in the Bradley
University Freshman/Sophomore Honor Band.
Devin Mapes presented his Gold Medal Piano Recital in
November. Devin has earned three gold cups from the Illinois
Federation of Music Clubs.
Casey Sheehan was the winner of the 2006 Congressional Art
Competition with his piece “Lincoln Downtown.” This will hang
for one year in the Canon Tunnel at the U.S. Capital Building.
Casey also won the 2006 Mayor’s Art Award.
Senior Brian Bell was the winner of IRMCA’s 2006 Robert
“Bob” Pfanenstiel Illinois High School Scholarship. Brian is
currently ranked number one in his class, and will be attending
Purdue University to pursue a degree in engineering. Brian’s
entry has been forwarded to the National Ready Mixed Concrete
Association and his essay will be entered in their national
competition where the winner can earn up to a $5,000 scholarship.
Brian’s award will be presented in the spring.
Judy Shearon, SHG librarian, received an LSTA grant entitled
“Advanced Research I Science” totaling $1,425. The grant will
be used for science books and reference materials.
Judy Smith, teacher at Sacred Heart-Griffin, recently returned
from North Las Vegas where she presented three Anti-Bully
Workshops at the Silver Mesa Recreational Center. Each session
lasted two hours and had a hands-on format. Students as well
as adults attended and learned their rights, the school’s role,
parent’s role, bystander’s role, and the warning signs. She also
helped with the Women’s Self-Defense Workshop.
Fall Sports
Girls Cross Country
• Placed 2nd out of 18 teams at the Granite City Invite.
• In the Running Red Cross Country (Metamora) Invite, the
Blazers were 3rd out of 20 teams.
• Won the City title for the 3rd straight year.
• Finished 2nd in the CS8 Conference
with Jessica Megginson and
Julia Wykoff finishing 1st and 2nd
in the conference meet.
• Placed 5th at the Centralia Sectional,
which qualified the team
for the State meet in Peoria. Prior
to this the Blazers were 1st in the
Class AA Regional.
• Jessica Megginson is The State
Journal-Register CS8 Girls Cross
Country Runner of the Year.
• Jessica was 1st in the CS8 Conference,
1st in City meet, 1st in the
Regional.
• Jessica was the first freshman to Jessica Megginson
win a City title.
• Academic All-Conference: Melissa Gay, Olivia Gay, Milena
Pisani, Jenna Reid, Julia Wykoff.
• First time in school history that the girls and boys cross country
teams competed at the State meet in the same year.
Visit the SHG Booster Club Online Store
at www.shgboosterclub.com

AROUND SHG
Boys Cross Country
• Finished 2nd in CS8 Conference.
• Won 2nd straight City title with Chris Frank as the individual
City title winner.
• Placed 1st at the Halberg Invite and the Springfield Invite.
• Placed 3rd in the Centralia Sectional meet which qualified the
team for the State meet in Peoria.
• Academic All-Conference: Colin McCormick, Jacob Midden,
Patrick Ryan, Jacob Wear.
• City titles for one school hasn’t happened since 1990. SHG
swept the awards; 1st place in both team races and both
individual champions, Eric Henson and Catherine Gaffigan.
Girls Golf
• Won the first CS8 team title since 2001.
• Jenny Gildner qualified for Sectionals for the third straight
year.
• The Blazers won the City title.
• Academic All-Conference: Jenny Gildner, Darian Dolenc.
Boys Golf
• Won City title with Blake Baltusevich
as individual champion.
• Won the Sangamon County title
with Jake Erickson as individual
champion.
• At Regional the Cyclones finished
3rd to qualify for Sectionals.
• The team qualified for State, first
time since 1980, by taking 3rd at
Sectionals. The Cyclones finished
13th at State.
• Blake Baltusevich is The State
Journal-Register CS8 Golfer of the
Year.
• Medalist in all but one tourney. Blake Baltusevich
• Academic All-Conference: Jake
Erickson, Par Farrow, Mike Feller, Clayton Hamrick, Will
Putman, Michael Romanelli, Ross Romanelli.
Boys Soccer
• Finished season 16-6-2.
• Clinched the seventh CS8 Conference
title in nine years.
• Ninth straight Regional title by
defeating Springfield High School
1-0.
• Cyclones ended the season with
0-1, falling to Quincy in an overtime
goal in the Sectional finals.
• SHG received the Sportsmanship
Award in the Sectional. Hugh
McDermott received Sectional
Honors.
• Bobby Smith is The State Journal-
Register CS8 Soccer Player of the Bobby Smith
Year.
• The Junior Midfielder was named to the Illinois High School
Soccer Coaches Association All-State Team.
• Bobby Smith was the top vote-getter in Section 7.
• Academic All-Conference: Val Contri, Sean Gower, Aaron
Holmes, Nicholas Langellier, Hugh McDermott, Seth Miller,
Alexander Nester, Phillip Sherman, Triveni Singh, Bobby Smith.
Visions, Winter 2007 13
Girls Swimming
• Won 1st at the Quincy Invite.
• Fifth straight City championship.
• Won 1st place in CS8 Conference
for the sixth straight year.
• Anna Flessner broke the old 200
freestyle record by .44 seconds.
• The Blazers placed 3rd at Sectionals
where Anna Flessner qualified
for State in the 100-yard freestyle
and Lauren Fyalka qualified for
State in the 200 individual
medley.
• Anna Flessner is The State Journal-Register
CS8 Swimmer of the
Year. Anna finished 28th in the
Anna Flessner
prelims at State, held at Evanston
Township High School.
• Academic All-Conference: Meredith Blair, Anne Bloechle, Kim
Coakley, Katherine Drake, Anna Flessner, Olivia Garcia, Emily
Meyer, Jenny Morris, Clare Zimmerman.
Girls Tennis
• The Blazers placed 2nd at the Galesburg Invite.
• Won 1st at the Jacksonville Invite.
• Placed 2nd in the CS8 Conference tournament.
• The team placed 2nd in Sectionals where two double teams
qualified for State. They are Jane Brown, Jaclyn Tracy, Edie
Graham and Ivy Vaughn.
• Academic All-Conference: Anna Alexander, Jane Brown,
Annalicia Burns, Anne Cumming, Edie Graham, Ivy Vaughn.
Volleyball
• The Blazers won their 27th City title.
• Placed 5th at Lisle Benet out of 16 teams.
• There was a 3-way tie for the CS8 Conference: SHG, Lincoln
and Glenwood.
• The JV Blazers won the JV City tournament, placed 1st in the
Urbana tournament and won the JV Blazer Classic.
• Academic All-Conference: Christine Albers, Rachel Jennings,
Jessica Sestak, Jordan Sestak.
Football
• Bobby Brenneisen is The State
Journal-Register CS8 Football
Player of the Year. Bobby is the
most successful and prolific
quarterback in the history of
the City and the CS8 Conference.
He led the conference for two
straight years in passing yardage,
easily winning the title this
season with 3,125 yards, 38
touchdowns and a completion
percentage rate of 68%. Bobby
is 8th on the IHSA All-Time list
and has the single game passing
mark of 385 yards, set this
Bobby Brenneisen
season.
• Academic All-Conference: Andrew Collings, Jared Dodd,
Tim Dondanville, Donovan Kavish, Thomas Kennedy, Kevin
Klemm, Matt Mast, Zach Moore, Chad Rushing, Nicholas
Varney.

14 Visions, Winter 2007
Mike Sanchez ’00 (left) heads up the food drive. Juniors Kim
and Megan Coakley and sophomore Lydeah Negro (at right)
collect food baskets for the big delivery.
Thanksgiving Food Drive
Surpasses Expectations
While many things have changed this year regarding the Food
Drive, one thing has remained the same: the SHG community
came together to feed hundreds who would have otherwise gone
without. Turkey donations to Catholic Charities were down and
so was the Key Club budget. We were asked for 100 baskets (up
from last year’s 75). While we knew the school could get the baskets
together, we just couldn’t afford that many turkeys. However,
school spirit prevailed and after a few fundraisers, we had more
than enough and were able to give 143 baskets of food to families
this year!
Senior John Curry organizes the baskets.
It is absolutely inspiring to see our hard work pay off. Ask any
of the students who helped out on November 20 and they will tell
you about getting to see and hear the gratitude of the recipients.
Congratulations to Mr. Bluhm’s 4th hour class for having the
most baskets per capita for the second year in a row.
— Mike Sanchez ’00, Key Club Advisor
Tickets on sale NOW!
Call 787-1595 ext. 153

The Alumni & Friends November 4 bus trip to St. Louis sold
out! Forty-eight shoppers had a great time at the Galleria and
Trader Joe’s, and enjoyed a delicious meal at Cunetto’s on
The Hill. We gave away some prizes, filled up on a good lunch
and shopped, shopped, shopped!
More bus trips to come… Look for more information on the
St. Louis Cardinals vs. Chicago Cubs game in the summer issue
of Visions. Tentative date is Sunday, September 16, 2007.
Visions, Winter 2007 15
Bus Trip to the Galleria was a Sell Out!
Sue (Geving) Billington ’80, Michelle (Geving) Mayfield ’86,
and their mom, Pauline White.
Judy Smith, Betty Washko, Edie and Jim Skube ’64.
Kelly Bunn ’86, Jolyn (Butcher) Martin ’86 and Josie Butcher.
SHG Alumni Association
Trip sCHEDULE
• 2007 •
Cardinal Game
Bus Trip
St. Louis Cardinals vs. Chicago Cubs
Tentative Date: Sunday, Sept. 16, 2007
Watch for details in the next Visions
Trips are for alumni and friends.
For more information, call Jennifer Bettis at
217/787-9732 or e-mail bettis@shg.org.
Join us on a trip to New York — Only a few spots left
New York, New York!
A trip to New York on May 29, 2007
is being planned through SHG’s Music Department.
Discover first-hand the sites and history of the Big Apple
in a safe and fun trip.
Information packets are available in the school’s main office
from 8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.
Questions? Call Karen Danner at (217) 787-1595, ext. 212
or contact Worldstrides customer service at 1-800-468-5899.

16 Visions, Winter 2007
Return Service Requested
Sacred Heart-Griffin Hall of Fame
Nominations are being sought for the SHG Annual Hall of Fame. The person/s selected will be inducted during the
Commencement ceremony on Sunday, May 20, 2007 at Sangamon Auditorium, University of Illinois at Springfield.
— Guidelines for Nomination —
Person nominated must have graduated from Sacred Heart Academy, Cathedral Boys High School, or Griffin High
School a minimum of 25 years ago.
Nominee should be an individual who has distinguished him/herself by sharing their time and talent for the
benefit of others, and/or one who has excelled through contributions to society beyond the scope of their chosen
profession.
Complete this form and mail it to the address below to request a Nomination Form. The deadline to return completed
Nomination Forms is March 30, 2007.
— Request for Nomination Form —
Name of Nominee ______________________________________________________________________________________
Maiden Name __________________________________________________________________________________________
School & Graduation Year ________________________________________________________________________________
Address ________________________________________________________________________________________________
City/State/Zip __________________________________________________________________________________________
Name of Nominator______________________________________________________________________________________
School & Graduation Year ________________________________________________________________________________
Address ________________________________________________________________________________________________
City/State/Zip __________________________________________________________________________________________
Phone: Day ________________________________________ Evening ____________________________________________
Completed Nomination Forms must be received by March 30, 2007.
Please return this form to:
SHG Advancement/Alumni Office, 1200 W. Washington Street, Springfield, Illinois 62702-4794
Fax: 217-726-9791 or e-mail: skoconnor@shg.org
Help Us Update Our Mailing List
� If you know of alumni who did not receive this newsletter, or if you are receiving more than one copy, please indicate below and mail this form to us.
� PARENTS: If your alumni son(s)/daughter(s) has a permanent address other than the one given below, please complete the form below giving the
updated address and return the form to us.
� Mail all alumni address information to: Visions, c/o Sacred Heart-Griffin High School, 1200 W. Washington St., Springfield, IL 62702-4794. Or, you can
e-mail us at: bettis@shg.org or smdiana@shg.org or call us at 217/787-9732.
Name __________________________________________________________________ � SHA � CBHS/GHS � SHG Year of graduation __________
Address __________________________________________________________________________________ E-mail address ____________________________
City/State/Zip ____________________________________________________________________________ Phone (________) ________________________
Non-Profit Org.
U.S. Postage
PAID
Springfield, Illinois
Permit No. 789