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

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