Viking Connection - Homewood Flossmoor High School

The
Viking
Connection
Volume 30, Summer 2012
Homewood-Flossmoor Community High School District 233, 999 Kedzie, Flossmoor, IL 60422 • 708-799-3000
Communication is Key: New Website to Launch in Fall
T
his school year was again a great success. Thank you for your support as
parents and the community for helping us
continue our strong tradition of excellence.
As a result of our collective efforts, H-F
was again ranked one of the best public
schools in the nation by Newsweek, U.S.
News & World Report and the Washington Post. Our studentachievement indicators — such as graduation rate, students attending highly selective colleges, Advanced Placement (A.P.)
and International Baccalaureate (IB) programming, and ACT
— continue to climb to new heights. Our latest ACT composite
score (2011) was 21.5, one of our best in recent years. I would
like to thank all of our students whose individual and group accomplishments have represented our district well in the classroom. Several more of our academic accomplishments are
covered in this issue of the Viking Connection.
Our Fine Arts students continued to provide our community
and the state with a level of performance rarely seen outside of
the professional arena. Our Contest Play – Dream of the Burning Boy — finished 2nd in State and Group Interpretation performance – Mother Hicks — finished 3rd. On page 3, you can
read more about an H-F theatre alumnus, Charlie Lubeck,
who was recently featured on Oxygen’s The Glee Project.
Our students participating in activities and on athletic fields
placed nationally and at the state level. In Illinois, we had five
conference champions, four regional championship teams, two
sectional champs and our football team reached the Elite 8. We
also had two Special Olympics Basketball teams that earned
1st and 2nd place awards at the State Championship! On the
national and international scene, our Debate, Economics and
DECA teams scored big; please see pages 4 and 5 for details.
One of our challenges, however, is
getting this good news out to you in
our community on a consistent basis.
This fall we will be launching a new
website at our current URL —
www.hfhighschool.org — designed to
serve that purpose. The site will inSample screen shot of the clude interactive features, including
new H-F High School website RSS (Really Simple Syndication) feeds,
which will allow you to subscribe to the information that interests you most via email alerts. An internet-based content-management system will allow our staff to easily and frequently
update news, photos and events. A custom mobile site will allow
you to view H-F news on the go via your smart phone, iPod or
tablet. Please log on this fall to stay informed!
Finally, I’d like to invite our alumni back this summer for a
complimentary social gathering on Thursday, July 19, at Flossmoor Country Club. Join us to reconnect; please see complete
details on page 6. Have a great summer!
— Superintendent Dr. Von Mansfield
New Fine Arts Department Chair Moving in from New York
A
n East Coast artist is moving west
this summer to help guide H-F’s most
creative students. Erica Sagerman —
most recently an adjunct music professor
at State University of New York (SUNY)
at Fredonia, N.Y. — will become the
school's new department chair of fine arts
this summer. Sagerman is replacing Dr.
Michael Rogers, an H-F icon who has
retired after 49 years in education.
Sagerman holds bachelor's and master's degrees in music education from
Fredonia State and has taught music in
both public and private schools in New
York and Texas, as well as at the American School of Madrid in Madrid, Spain.
She has presented at international education conferences in Madrid, Paris and
Rome and has been an active member of
the European League of Middle Level Ed-
ucators, the Mediterranean Association
of Independent Schools, the National Association of Music Education and the
American String Teachers Association.
“At Homewood-Flossmoor High School,
we have always taken pride in finding
the best teachers nationwide for our students,” says Dr. Von Mansfield, superintendent. “We are truly fortunate to
have Erica Sagerman join our staff from
New York.”
In addition to her academic career,
Sagerman
plays the
double
bass, cello
and piano
professionally
and enErica Sagerman
joys traveling, having visited 30 countries
during the past five years. At H-F, she
will supervise a busy department that includes 10 faculty and staff members, four
choirs, two symphonic groups, two bands
and nearly 35 programs.
“I am very much looking forward to
joining the faculty at H-F,” says Sagerman. “It is an honor and a privilege to
have the opportunity to work in a community with such outstanding visual and
performing arts instructors, as well as
talented and creative students.”
Principal Dr. Ryan Pitcock is confident she will be a good fit for the school.
“Erica brings with her a wealth of experiences and talents suited to help both
lead the Fine Arts Department and H-F
High School,” he says.
Sport report
SOCCER
After conquering Sectionals, our Girls’ Soccer team made it all the way to
the Super Sectionals, where the team fell to Downers Grove South. The
team was led by Coach Charlie Ward.
Our Baseball
team was the
Regional champion this year.
A heart-breaking,
6-5 loss to Lincoln-Way North in
the Andrew
Sectional SemiFinal ended the
team’s season in
May. The team
was led by Coach
Todd Sippel.
BASEBALL
TENNIS
Several of our football players signed with colleges this year,
including the group above.
COLLEGE SIGNINGS
SOFTBALL
After a good
season, our
Softball team
lost in the
Regional final to
eventual
Sectional SemiFinalist Mother
McAuley at a
home match in
May. The team
was led by
Coach Katie
RIce-Hoger.
WAT E R P O LO
Congratulations to our student athletes, who
signed with universities this past quarter:
Michael Anyiwo (Football) - Robert Morris U.
Sarah Burke (Softball) - St. Mary’s College
Gerald Butler (Football) - St. Joseph’s College
Anfernee Roberts (Football) - IL Wesleyan U.
Gabriella Cimino (Athletic Training) - Millikin U.
Tywan Cofield (Football) - College of DuPage
Jerrell Collymore (Lacrosse) - Augustana Col.
Bradford Eckols (Football) - Quincy U.
Taylor Farley (Track & Field) - DePaul U.
Marquis Green (Football) - College of DuPage
Elizabeth Hassett (Golf) - IL Wesleyan U.
Brad Holt (Tennis) - Western IL U.
Brian Jefferson (Football) - College of DuPage
Darnell Johnson (Football) - College of DuPage
Sean Jones (Football) - St. Xavier U.
Sheldon Jones (Football) - Minnesota State U.
Eric Lewis (Football) - Wartburg College
Willie Lipsey (Basketball) - St. Ambrose
Rebecca Mathews (Water Polo) - Iona College
John Parish (Football) - Carthage College
Devon Porter (Football) - College of DuPage
Emily Schroeder (Volleyball) - Millikin U.
Tyrone Sherman (Basketball) - Wabash Valley
College
Our Boys’ Tennis team won the SWSC Blue Conference this spring! Competitors who earned
medals at the Conference tournament were: Alex
Eng, Adam Griesbach, Brad Holt, Danny Kopas,
Jacob Miguest, Jeremy Miller, Jason Rosche,
Jimmy Rute and Daryl Sullivan. The team was led
by Coach Michael Sacks.
HFHIGHSCHOOL.ORG
Our Girls’ Water Polo team finished on
top of its Conference, then lost to
Lincoln-Way Central in a close
Sectional Final match. The team was
led by Coach Pat Duignan.
Keith Smith (Football) - College of DuPage
Jessica Taylor (Softball) - Roosevelt University
Jake Thompson (Football) - Wabash College
Antoine Ward (Football) - Concordia University
James Warren (Baseball) - Robert Morris U.
Tim Williams (Basketball) - Samford U.
Danielle Woolfolk (Basketball) - Eastern IL U.
And congratulations to Cyanna McGowan for
landing on the cheerleading squad at Vanderbilt
University this fall as a freshman!
VIKING CONNECTION, SUMMER 2012 • 7
2011/12 Second Semester Honor Roll
Congratulations to our honors students! To be eligible for High Honors, students must be enrolled in at least five classes and achieve all
As. Students who are enrolled in at least five classes and receive at least two As and no grade lower than a B are eligible for Honors.
GRADE 9 - Class of 2015
GRADE 10 - Class of 2014
GRADE 11 - Class of 2013
GRADE 12 - Class of 2012
HIGH HONORS: Madysen Bolin •
HIGH HONORS: Kevin Anderson •
Gita Connolly • Kaymen Cook •
Jacob Fontana • Mia Guzynski •
Rachel Husmann • Branden Levine •
Fiona Moran • Kasey Nemitz •
Leah O’Shea • Megan Shockley •
Madison Thiros • Ciara Thomas •
Tinsha Thomas
Crissel Marie Arban • Leslie
Bonthron • Jesse Eshleman • Joriele
Johnson • Emma Lane • Allison
Lessner • Jamison McDermott •
Anna Meehan • Quincy O’Malley •
Jonah Ongman • Christina Price •
Katie Sinwelski • Kristin Spratt •
Nina Sweeney • Brigid Tobin •
Morgan White
HIGH HONORS: David Abramov •
Alexander Bergeron • Erin
Bruggeman • Keith Carter • Kevin
Gislason • Robert Gramillano •
Elizabeth Joyce • Jerin Kurian •
Samantha Larocca • Sara
Lichtenberg • Danielle Markus •
Callie McCarthy • Julia McMurtrey •
Madeline Morris • Connor Quinn •
Elliott Runburg • Sara Ryan •
Lena Schmidt • Kaitlyn Shereyk •
Brianna Stewart • Nancy Tran •
Evelyn Weidman • Evan Wierzbicki
Haley Williams • Stephanie Yohay
HIGH HONORS: Ciara Adkins •
Joshua Barrett • Rebecca Berger •
Amy Blumstein • Justin Caldwell •
Katherine Ciesla • Gabriella Cimino
Allison Fadke • Katelyn Hoag •
Michael Hurley • Kamille King •
Eli Lichtenberg • Morgan Lundblad •
Sarah Marshall • Cyerra McGowan •
Kevin Noe • Ronald Nwumeh •
Jordan Pounder • Isaac Robinson •
Irving Rodriguez • Sophia Sayeed •
Taylor Spencer • Nicholas Thiros •
Katelyn Vendrely • Adam
Wiggenhauser
HONORS: Brenda Aldape • Maya
Apata • Mia Battle • Abraham Bava
Nicole Bell • Jaida Belt • Quewone
Berry • Morgan Bohlman •
Jonathan Boyd • Jonathan Brandt •
Virginia Brunner • Kayla Butler •
Hannah Casey • Peter Cipriano •
Susan Conlon • Joshua Cook •
Ladye Cook • Malik Curtis •
Amanda Czarnecki • Olivia Dau •
Brian Davis • Kennedy Davis •
Micaela Davis • Prosper Diala •
Matthew Dwyer • Adebayo Fatuki •
April Faulkner • Khayleia Foy •
Austin Grandison • Jade Groble •
Liam Gubbins • Rachael Guenter •
Madeline Hallahan • Terez Hobson •
Lindsay Hopson • Lena Howard •
Elizabeth Hrymak • Christine
Hughes • Victor Ibe • Alaa Khalyfa
David Knot • Corey Kosmin • Matea
Larrieu • Emily Leader • Jaida
Lewis • Marcus Mangel • Alecia
Martin • Brian Mayo • Zhamese
Mead • Robert Meagher IV •
Mushaun Miller • Lauren Minga •
Peter Mitchell • Alexis Moffett •
Toluwani Odueyungbo • Joel Osei •
Jeremy Patterson • Nadia Ramos •
Nicholas Reardon • Mariela Reyes •
Arin Richard • Tiffani Riley •
Precious Rose • Evan Runburg •
Christin Salley • Haden Santefort •
Edwin Schaeffer • John Schloen •
Caitlin Shockley • Steven Stilts •
Rebecca Tanner • Zachary Taylor •
Katharine Teykl • Briana Thompson
Tara Troli • Taylor Troli • Jillian
Trompler • Cole Tronsen • Wyatt
Ullberg • Alyssa Villamor Thompkins
Helena Villar • Mylon Walker •
Tajah Ware • Clayton Wassilak •
Elijah Watson • Denee Webster •
Julia Wenckus • Maddison Wians •
Bria Williamson • Alana Willis •
Rachel Wilson • Nicole Wood •
Wesley Woodson • Griffin Wright
HONORS: Naomi Adams • Tyler
Alexander • Desmond Amuh • Cayla
Andrews • Sarah Armstrong •
Isabeau Belisle Dempsey • Brandon
Bell • Brandon Blaszczyk • Marley
Borham • Harrison Brooks • Melody
Byrd • Michael Caffarelli • Brittany
Cannon-Holmes • Madeline Clayton
Sierra Clemetson • Maeve Coates
Welsh • Sean Connors • David
Didier • Elizabeth Drwiega •
Hannah DuBuque • Megan Dunlavy
Richard Dunn • Nicholas Emrick •
Jessica Erman • Ryan Evans •
Darrell Ezell II • Agatha Mari
Fernandez • David Fox • Matthew
Gibson • Nathan Gonzalez • Irie
Grant • Nicholas Gresens • Kayla
Griffith • Reginald Hamilton •
Emma Hanzelin • Karina Hayes •
Jonnea Herman • Kristina Hill •
Yuseff Hill • Savanna Hillegass •
Morgan Hogan • Tiera Hollanquest
Lauren Hurley • Ashley Johnson •
Amara Jones • Ari Jones • Loren
Jones • Shoneia Jones • Jameson
Lamb • Joshua Leake • Naomi
Leonard • Joshua Lewis • Megan
Magurany • Tyler Maxie • Joselynn
Melvin • Damen Miller • Jeremy
Miller • Joshua Miller • Jewell
Minor • MacKenzie Murphy • Mia
Narcisi • Tai Odiase • Kendall Paris
Amanda Polacek • Christina
Redmond • John Reed • MacKenzie
Reid • Gina Rotondi • Victor Rounds
Alayna Rouse • Christopher Russell
Efren Sanchez • Nicholas Sanders •
Timothy Schwieterman • Marcus
Scott • Aaliyah Shaw • Rebekah
Siliezar • Samuel Spencer • Jordan
Stempel • Loretta Sutkus • Mineru
Suzuki • Avery Sykes • Erin
Threlkeld • Kevin Toolan • Regina
Udonkang • Cody West • Kaleigh
Wilkins • Aleigha Williams •
Michaela Williams • Samera Wilson
Sayoko Wilson • Marquise Worley •
Jerome Young
2 • VIKING CONNECTION, SUMMER 2012
HONORS: Frances Aboushousha •
Elizabeth Adeleye • Heaven Allen •
Sharisse Allen • Ian Bannon •
Taylor Bell • Joshua Bilbrew • Alex
Bonk • Theodore Brockly • Deja
Brown • Chasidy Burgess • Samuel
Casella • Anna Ciambrone •
Gabriela Cipriano • Ciara Clay •
Kelly Coderre • Nicholas Conforti •
Cortney Cross • Deanna Kaye Daley
Clara Deck • Lesley Dennison •
Thomas Dobrez • Bryn Dolan • Amy
Donkel • Samuel Dreyfuss •
Natassia Dunlap • Caitlin Dunne •
Johna Edwards • Lauren Emrick •
Alexander Eng • Ima Eno •
Samantha Flory • Dustin Ford •
Jessica Griggs • Gwendolyn
Gummerson • Ceylon Haney • Grace
Hanzelin • Allex Hartog • Michael
Holst • Courtney Hughes •
Princewill Ibe • Mitsuko Ihaza •
Mariah Jackson • Elisa Jimenez •
Eboni Johnson • Janay Kent •
Lionel Keys • Jacob Klemp •
Gregory Kuznieski • Suzanna
Lemmon • Riley Lewers • Rubin
Logan • Rachel Magnabosco •
Madeleine Manning • John Maxwell
Jacob McArthur • Elliot McManamy
Paris Meeky • Amma Mensah •
Aaron Messersmith • Michael Minga
Fallone Moffett • ShKirah Moton •
Justine Moulds • Danielle Nicholson
Morgan Oakes • Taofikat Oyetunde •
Alecia Palmer • Adrianna Parker •
Sierra Proby • Kiya Raines • Cierra
Randal • Rajanee Redmond • Rose
Richard • Noah Risner • Lauren
Roby • Gabriela Rodriguez • Tessa
Rozak • Emily Russo • Taylor
Sanders • Christopher Santucci •
Jamie Schafroth • Anna Schloen •
Madeline Schmidt • Isaiah Sciford •
Stephanie Sigale • Daniel Sims •
Wendolyn Sims-Rucker • Austin
Smith • Jalen Smith • Madelaine
Stanford • Brandon Story • Julie
Tomlinson • Alexandra Ullberg •
Kathleen Wallace • Kelly Ward •
Lerone Weathersby • Mariah Weed •
Brooke Wians • Arica Williams •
Evan Williams • Amaalyah Wilson
HONORS: Abiola Adebayo • Paige
Adenuga • Taylor Anderson • James
Austin • Gina Babinec • Taylor
Bates • Sydney Battle • Tiana
Bowden • Suzanne Bush • Rufus
Coates Welsh • Manju Connolly •
Anthony Crescenti • Quinton Curry •
Tyler Czarnecki • Ayanna Davis •
Jonathan Diemer • Emily Drwiega •
Maija Dunham • Amber Eastling •
Alexander Eberlin • Sean Farris •
Scott Fimoff • Christopher-Rey
Fontillas • Rebecca Glass • Donald
Grasse • Alyssa Gutierrez • Kandace
Hall • Elizabeth Hassett • Jonathon
Havens • Nicole Herkert • Alex
Houghton • Haley Hruska • Hope
Hruska • Martin Johnson •
Mickayla Jones • Spencer Jones •
Colleen Kenney • Kassidy Kleinow •
Taylor Lavizzo • Ethan Lawler •
Luke Lawlor • Nicole Licht • Isaac
Makos • Joseph Marshall • Cyanna
McGowan • Dejah McGrew •
Catelen McLeod • Elizabeth Meehan
Gloria Miller • Melanie Milroe •
Sophie Mimica • Raven Myers •
Miho Nakamura • Kalin O’Connor •
Brian O’Shea • Kamio Owens •
Rafiat Oyetunde • Gloria Petrelli •
Bradley Powers • Adam Ramos •
Francesca Samargin • Dana
Shannon • Tierra Simpson •
DeAnna Smith • Marlena Soto •
Aryn Stanley • Joseph Stempel •
David Stern • Jasmine Taylor •
Jessica Taylor • Anna Tenny •
Matthew Teykl • Megan Thomas •
Raymond Thomas • Taylor Tronsen •
Christian Vendrely • Victoria Vinson
Henry Weeks • Jacqueline Winkler •
Princess Yameini • Dana Yanow
HFHIGHSCHOOL.ORG
HFHS Alumni Association
VIKINGS NEAR & FAR
S
ummer is here and reunion planning in full swing. Below are brief
details on upcoming Homewood-Flossmoor reunions. Please contact the
Alumni Office at [email protected] or
708-335-5530, and I’ll be happy to put
you in touch with the appropriate reunion coordinators. Be sure to pass the
word on to any family members or friends who may be
members of these classes. Please note that the Class of 1972
reunion has already been held.
2012 Reunion Schedule
Class of 1962 ............................................Sept. 21-22
Class of 1967 ............................................July 20-21
Class of 1977 ............................................July 6-7
Class of 1982 ............................................July 21
Class of 1992 ............................................Aug. 17-18
Class of 2002 ............................................Sept. 7-8
— Ann Cherry, director of Development & Alumni Relations
2nd Annual
Summer Social
Thursday, July 19 • 7-9 p.m.
Flossmoor Country Club
H-F alumni age 21 and up are cordially invited to attend
the Homewood-Flossmoor High School Alumni Association’s 2nd Annual Summer Social on Thursday, July 19.
Enjoy hors d’oeurves and a cash bar as you mix and mingle with fellow alumni and friends of H-F. Please RSVP by
Friday, July 13, to 708-335-5530 or [email protected].
Dress is business casual; no jeans. This invitation is for
you and a guest to join us! Space is limited; at least one
person in your party must be an H-F alum.
6 • VIKING CONNECTION, SUMMER 2012
Brooke Steel Lau, Class of 1992
Brooke professes that a physics class taught
by Brian McCarthy in her senior year at H-F
taught her that science wasn’t hard, but fun.
This revelation inspired her to pursue engineering as a major when she entered the University
of Illinois. She was a proud member of the
Viking Marching Band and Symphonic Band,
too. Now a lead engineer at Whirlpool Appliances in St. Joseph, Mich., Brooke likes to say
that she “finds better ways to wash dishes using less water, energy and
time.” She designs dishwashing cycles and holds numerous patents related to the mechanics and elements of dishwasher design and application. Brooke is also a proponent of encouraging girls to choose
engineering as a profession, noting how unusual it was to have women in
engineering classes as she studied both at U of I and later at the University of Michigan, where she received a master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering. Brooke shares her passion for engineering when she teaches
as a Master Black Belt level instructor of an annual class in problem solving using designed experiments and components of variation studies. Her
certificate as a MBB designation marks her as an instructor noted for career excellence for individuals who possess exceptional expertise and
current industry practice. Married to Scot, she is the proud mother of
David and Amelia and finds time to run a small business making and
selling crocheted items. Brooke holds a red belt in TaeKwon Do and is a
girl scout leader for her daughter’s Daisy troop.
Eugene Soltes, Class of 1999
Eugene is an assistant professor of business
administration at the Harvard Business
School, where this fall he will teach the Executive Education course, Program for Leadership
Development, after spending the past two
years teaching in Harvard’s MBA program. His
main area of research and focus is on investor
communications. Professor Soltes credits
much of his passion for economics and business to his high school days at H-F, where he took numerous A.P. classes
with a special interest in economics and computer science. In fact, he
took so many A.P. classes here that he was able to combine his studies at
Harvard to complete both his bachelor’s degree in economics and his
master’s degree in statistics in just four years. He was then off to continue his education at the University of Chicago, where he pursued his
MBA and Ph.D. Yet, Harvard beckoned once more and he was soon back
in Boston. A newlywed, he and his wife, Dr. Jennifer Soltes, a rheumatologist and lecturer at Harvard Medical School, have set down roots in Bean
Town and have purchased a home near Harvard’s historic campus. In addition to his research and teaching duties, he recently led a group of 50
Harvard MBA students on an intensive study trip to Ho Chi Min City, Vietnam, to study emerging international markets. While at H-F, Professor
Soltes was a mathlete, a member of the National Honor Society and the
tennis team. He is not the only high-achieving H-F alum in his family,
however: his sister, Eileen, H-F ’02, attended Cornell for undergraduate
work and just completed her master’s degree from NYU. She works at
Johnson & Johnson and lives in New York City. Professor Soltes finds
many reasons to return to Chicagoland, especially to visit with his parents
— Steve and Anna — who still reside in the neighborhood.
HFHIGHSCHOOL.ORG
Vikings Conquer the Stage
I
n a climate where many school districts are cutting or reducing fine-arts
programs, all curricular areas at H-F receive equal opportunity and equal attention. The school supports two symphonic
groups, two bands, four choirs and offers
unique performing arts classes. The
payoff for this investment is a community that can boast several successful
alumni in arts programs in colleges, universities and beyond.
“H-F not only
believes in the
power of the
arts, but supports them,
funds them and
produces results,” says J.R.
Rose, H-F theNaomi Walley in H-F’s 2007
atre
teacher.
production of A Chorus Line
“Each year, colleges and universities near and far recruit H-F theatre students and name
H-F as producing among the highestquality young actors, technicians, directors, designers and playwrights of any
high school in Illinois.”
The results for H-F also include having several successful alumni in the professional performing arts world:
• Prentice Onayemi (H-F '03) was recently seen on Broadway as one of the
three actors portraying Joey, the lead
horse in Lincoln Center’s production of
Warhorse. Onayemi is a graduate of
New York University’s Tisch School of
the Arts.
• Jessica DiGiovani (H-F '03) was recently seen playing opposite Rosie
Perez and David Hyde Pierce in the
off-Broadway premiere of the play, Close
Up Space. She was also featured in the
movie, The Sitter, and ABC's show,
What Would You Do? She has also done
voice-over work for commercials. DiGiovani studied at Fordham College at Lincoln Center, Moscow Art Theatre,
Chicago's Second City and LAMDA.
• Allison Lani (H-F '03) graduated
from Ithaca College, magna cum laude,
with a degree in acting. She has been
cast all over the country at theaters,
such as First Folio Shakespeare, The
Second City and The Cleveland Playhouse.
• Theresa Rende (H-F '03) graduated
HFHIGHSCHOOL.ORG
from the University of Illinois-Urbana-Champaign
and works in the
Dept. of Education
and Community
Charlie Lubeck in H-F’s
Affairs for
2007 production of
The Wedding Singer
Chicago’s Goodman Theatre.
• Mikey Rohrer (H-F '04) was a technician at H-F before heading to Webster
University to study Technical Direction.
He worked shortly as a technical director for a few theaters in Missouri before
being admitted to Yale School of Drama
master’s program in Technical Theatre.
• Alissa Norby (H-F '05) graduated
from University of Illinois-UrbanaChampaign and was working as a freelance producer and theatre critic in
Chicago, until she landed a job in Hollywood at 20th Century Fox in 2012.
• Stacy Osei-Kuffour (H-F '05) is a recent graduate from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts, where
she majored in drama and trained at
the Stella Adler Studio of Acting. She
has evolved into a playwright: co-directing and starring in her play, In the
Evening, at the Stella Adler Studio.
• Marlon Washington (H-F '06) graduated in 2010 from Bradley University.
He has been cast steadily in professional
theatre in the Chicagoland area and
was featured in the 2011 Theatre at the
Center's production of The Wiz.
• Austin Smith (H-F '06) graduated in
2010 from Columbia University in New
York with a BFA in acting and recently
began his first year of graduate school
at the prestigious Julliard School for the
Arts.
• Charlie Lubeck (H-F '07) has been
cast on this summer’s The Glee Project
on The Oxygen Network. There were
more than 40,000 auditionees, and
Lubeck was one of 14 to make it on the
show that premiered in June. Lubeck
studied acting at the University of Illinois-Urbana-Champaign, where he received his BFA in 2011.
• Naomi Walley (H-F '08) was cast
into the international tour of West Side
Story in the ensemble, understudying
the role of Anita. She left for Germany
to begin her tour in June. She is a graduate of New York University's Tisch
School for the Arts.
J U LY
2-20 ......Summer School Semester 2
7-28 ......Lacrosse Camp (Grades 9-12)
9-12 ......Football Camp (Grades K-8)
9-13 ......Field Hockey Camp (Grades 10-12)
9-26 ......Football Camp (Grades 9-12)
9-27 ......Boys’ Gymnastics Camp (Grades 6-12)
16-20 ....Volleyball Camp (Grades 5-8)
16-27 ....Volleyball Camp (Grades 9-12)
19..........H-F High School Alumni Association
Gathering @ Flossmoor Country Club
20..........Viking Football Golf Outing
20-21 ....Summer Theatre presents
Bye, Bye Birdie
23-26....Pom Pons Camp (Grades 6-8)
23-27 ....Athletic Trainers Camp (Grades 9-12)
26..........H-F Community Band Concert @
Irwin Park, Homewood
30..........New Teacher Week Begins
AUGUST
1-6.........Registration/Fee Payment Days
2 ............H-F Community Band Concert @
Irwin Park, Homewood
3 ............Athletic Physicals
7 ............Transfer Student Pizza Party
8 ............Freshmen/Parent Orientation
8-10 ......Fall Athletic Tryouts (Boys’ & Girls’
Cross Country; Girls’ Diving; Field Hockey,
Football; Boys’ & Girl’s Golf; Boys’ Soccer;
Girls’ Swimming; Girls’ Tennis; Girls’
Volleyball)
14..........Teacher work day
15..........First day of classes
23..........Inspirational Voices Concert
@ Irwin Park, Homewood
Gold Card Club
Seniors age 62 and better can sign up to
receive a Golden Club Card, which will gain
them free or reduced admission to school
special events and activities. Make your request at 708-335-5581,
[email protected].
VIKING CONNECTION, SUMMER 2012 • 3
FYI
Drama at State
H-F's Contest Play and Group Interpretation students succeeded once again this year at the IHSA
State Competition.
The Contest Play production, The Dream of the
Burning Boy, finished in 2nd Place. Congratulations
to the crew; cast members Paul Spaniak, Christopher Kelley, CJ Butler, Kirsten Hedrick, Jade Groble,
Asmera Smith and Charlie Bialobok; Student Director Jo Schaffer; and Director J.R. Rose.
The Group Interpretation production, Mother Hicks,
received 3rd Place at State. Congratulations to the
crew; cast members Abe Van Heest, Anna Meehan,
Donyae Lewis, Giandrea Buckley, Gloria Petrelli,
Joshua Miller, Maddie Schmidt, Rachel Latsos,
Reggie Hamilton and Sean Dolan; Student Director
Eric Johnson and Director Janine Stroemer.
2nd Annual H-F Foundation
Golf Outing: Sept. 7
H-F Economics Students First from Illinois
in National Economic Challenge
In April, four H-F students - Irving Rodriguez, Jordan Pounder, Nick
Thiros and Eli Lichtenberg - represented our school against 36 students
from eight other schools at the 2012 Illinois Economics Challenge State Finals, a program of Econ Illinois that was held at the Federal Reserve Bank of
Chicago. The team came from behind to take first place in the competition,
toppling leading school, Grayslake North.
“It was really enjoyable to watch
them compete and see how they
worked together,” says Dave
Kush, team coach and H-F's director of assessment. “It really was a
team effort. We couldn't be more
proud of them.”
After completing a
written semi-final, the
H-F team then advanced to the National Finals competition in May in New York
City, becoming the first team ever from the state of Illinois to
qualify in the 12 years of the event’s history. In New York, they
competed against three other teams in the Adam Smith division. While they didn’t make it to the final day of the competition, it was still an historic run.
“We had a really talented group of students this year,” says Carl
Coates, team coach and H-F Social Science teacher. “Their innate
ability to grasp economic principles — along with their hard work
throughout the year — paid off in this competition.”
New Director of Special Education Announced
K
The H-F Foundation invites the community to Ravisloe Country Club in Homewood for its 2nd annual
golf outing on Friday, Sept. 7. This scramble-format
outing will feature a round of golf with cart, lunch,
golf prizes, a raffle, silent auction, dinner, cocktails
and admission to that evening’s H-F Homecoming
football game. Sign up by Aug. 24, for Golf & Dinner
($140) or Dinner Only ($40). Sponsorships, donations and silent-auction items are welcome. All proceeds from the outing will be used by the Foundation
to provide grants for student activities at H-F! For
more info, contact [email protected] or
download a registration form at hfhighschool.org.
4 • VIKING CONNECTION, SUMMER 2012
athy Dreger — currently the school's Special Education Vocational Coordinator/Guidance Counselor — will become the school's new Director of
Special Education this summer. Dreger will replace retiring director, Stacey
Rubin. Dreger has more than 30 years experience in Special Education, the
last 12 at H-F. She holds a bachelor's degree from MacMurray College in
Jacksonville, Ill., and two master's degrees from Governors State University.
“Kathy has been an exceptional educator at Homewood-Flossmoor High
School for many years. She has earned the respect of both her department
and the entire school,” says Dr. Ryan Pitcock, principal. “She will do a fantastic job ensuring that all of our students receive the best and most appropriate education possible.”
While at H-F so far, Dreger was instrumental in
collecting data and assisting in writing the proposal
to start a program for 18- to 22-year-old students to
work on vocational skills; facilitated the writing for
the school's Work Enforcement Act grant application;
and helped Special Education students successfully
transition from high school to post-high school experiences.
HFHIGHSCHOOL.ORG
Debate Takes Historic 3rd Place
In May, H-F's Debate Team achieved the single best result in the history of the organization at the most exclusive tournament of the year: the National Tournament
of Champions, held at the University of Kentucky.
More than 1,000 teams from across the country attempt to qualify for this event, but only 74 actually do.
H-F had two teams of students participate: Donald Grasse and Margaret Strong,
and Rufus Coates-Welsh and Adam Griesbach. Of those 74 teams, H-F's team of
Grasse and Strong claimed 3rd place. All competitors debated over this year's national
high school policy debate resolution: “Resolved: The United States federal government
should substantially increase its exploration and/or development of space beyond the
earth's mesosphere.”
Grasse and Strong compiled a 6-1 record in the preliminary debates, defeating the
University of Chicago Lab School, Ill.; the Westminster School, Ga.; Chattahoochee,
Ga.; Glenbrook North, Ill., San Deiguito, Calif.; and the College Preparatory
School, Calif., losing only to Iowa City West, Iowa. They advanced all the
way to the semifinals, where only four teams remained. Grasse and Strong
again faced Glenbrook North, now on the negative side. Here they were
defeated on a 2-1 decision, which took more than an hour to complete,
placing them third at the end of the competition. Grasse was named
8th speaker overall; Strong was named 16th speaker out of the 148 students who attended the tournament.
“To put things in perspective: only one other time has a team from HF reached the elimination phase of this tournament, and it was Donald
and Margaret last year when they finished in round 16,” says Josh
Brown, team coach and H-F English teacher. “Less than 10 other two-person teams from Homewood-Flossmoor have even qualified for this event at all.
This is, by far, the most important award ever won by H-F Debate, stretching all
the way back in its nearly 45 year history.”
H-F's other team — Rufus Coates-Welsh and Adam Griesbach — achieved a 3-4
record in the preliminary debates, defeating Alpharetta, Ga.; Wayzata, Minn.; and
Baltimore City College, Md.
Record Number of Students Attend Intl. DECA
In April, a record number of H-F DECA members — 24 — traveled to
Salt Lake City, Utah, for the International DECA Competition. H-F’s
students competed against more than 14,000 of the best students
from around the world. Emily Drwiega brought home top honors
with a 3rd place finish in the Hospitality & Tourism Professional Selling Event. Toso Mohammed-Haruna finished 4th in the Principles of Business Administration
event. Additionally, senior-driven teams of David Stern, as well as Jordan Pounder and Kevin
Noe, established themselves as two of the best of more than 540 teams that competed nationwide in the Virtual Business Challenge categories. Stern finished 6th in the Virtual Business Sports Challenge, while Pounder and Noe finished 7th in Virtual Business Personal
Finance Challenge, losing to the eventual 1st and 2nd place finishers in the final rounds. Additionally, 16 of the 24 competitors received competency in their events, meaning they
scored higher than 70% in each area of their respective and highly competitive events.
“This year, we had the most dedicated and driven students that I’ve ever had, and it’s reflected by the success we enjoyed throughout the year,” says Mike Patterson, H-F teacher
and DECA advisor. “This group should be extremely proud of their accomplishments and be
recognized for their achievements.”
HFHIGHSCHOOL.ORG
Class of 2012 Viking Scholars
Congratulations and good luck to our top
academic students from this year’s senior
class!
• Ciara Adkins (Harvard University)
• Manju Connolly (University of Minnesota)
• Katelyn Hoag (University of Michigan)
• Michael Hurley (Grinnell College)
• Eli Lichtenberg (Duke University)
• Morgan Lundblad (University of
Pennsylvania)
• Jordan Pounder (Northwestern University)
• Irving Rodriguez (Stanford University)
• Nicholas Thiros (University of Michigan)
• Adam Wiggenhauser (University of Illinois)
Students of the 3rd Quarter
• Christine Aardsma (Guidance)
• Abiola Adebayo (Physical Education)
• Taylor Bates (Business Education)
• Douglas Blakely (English)
• Peter Cipriano (Health)
• Jordan Culpepper (Science)
• Jordan Dingle (Music)
• Amber Eastling (Family & Consumer Sci.)
• Jalen Fair (Guidance)
• Stephanie Halling (Deans)
• Ariel Harrison (Cooperative Education)
• Emma Lane (Career & Technical Ed.)
• Joshua Lendi (Social Science)
• Carlton Lewis (Reading)
• James McCoyne (Art)
• Elisa Powell (World Language)
• Tinsha Thomas (Math)
Two Students Head to ACT-SO
Eugene Mason and Taylor Spencer are going
to compete at the ACT-SO National Competition in Houston, Texas, July 5-10. Eugene will
compete in Music Instrumental Contemporary and Taylor will compete in Oratory. Good
luck, students!
VIKING CONNECTION, SUMMER 2012 • 5
Principally Speaking
As we have concluded
a successful 20112012 school year, I
thought sharing some
of the academic accolades of our graduating class would be appropriate. On
Sunday, June 3, we had 675 students
walk in our 53rd annual commencement.
Thank you to our senior class and their
families for their commitment to H-F and
for everything they have done to bring
fame to our academic institution. Have a
great summer!
Scholastic Pin Recipients: Ciara Adkins • James
Austin • Sydney Battle • Christopher Brown •
Suzanne Bush • Katherine Ciesla • Rufus Coates
Welsh • Manju Connolly • Emily Drwiega •
Allison Fadke • Jessica Gonzalez • David Hamlin
Katelyn Hoag • Alex Houghton • Haley Hruska •
Hope Hruska • Michael Hurley Teresa Jackson •
Martin Johnson • Kassidy Kleinow • Gregory
Knox • Nicole Licht • Eli Lichtenberg • Morgan
Lundblad • Sarah Marshall • Elizabeth Meehan
Melanie Milroe • Sophie Mimica • Miho
Nakamura • Kevin Noe • Ronald Nwumeh •
Kalin O’Connor • Jordan Pounder • Adam
Ramos • Irving Rodriguez • Sophia Sayeed •
Ariana Seals • Dana Shannon • Anna Tenny •
Nicholas Thiros • Jake Thompson • Katelyn
Vendrely • Adam Wiggenhauser • Princess
Yameini
National Merit Scholarship Finalists: Rufus Coates
Welsh • Manju Connolly • Eli Lichtenberg •
Jordan Pounder • Nicholas Thiros
Achievement Scholarship Award Finalists: Ronald
Nwumeh & Daniel Rodgers
National Merit Scholarship Semi-Finalist: John Tobin
Achievement Scholarship Award Semi-Finalist:
Kymberly Smith
Commended Students in the Merit Program:
Jessica Gonzalez • Isaac Makos • Kymberly
Smith
Diemer • Emily Drwiega • Allison Fadke • Scott
Fimoff • Jessica Gonzalez • David Hamlin •
Nicole Herkert • Katelyn Hoag • Alex Houghton
Haley Hruska • Hope Hruska • Michael Hurley
Teresa Jackson • Martin Johnson • Colleen
Kenney • Kamille King • Kassidy Kleinow •
Gregory Knox • Ethan Lawler • Nicole Licht •
Eli Lichtenberg • Morgan Lundblad • Sarah
Marshall • Rebecca Mathews • Cyerra McGowan • Elizabeth Meehan • Melanie Milroe •
Sophie Mimica • Miho Nakamura • Kevin Noe
Ronald Nwumeh • Kalin O’Connor • Jordan
Pounder • Adam Ramos • Sydney Randell •
Irving Rodriguez • Sophia Sayeed • Jasmine
Scholefield • Dana Shannon • DeAnna Smith •
Anna Tenny • Matthew Teykl • Nicholas Thiros •
Megan Thomas • Jake Thompson • Larrissa
Trask • Katelyn Vendrely • Rashaun Warner •
Adam Wiggenhauser • Princess Yameini • Dana
Yanow
— Ryan Pitcock, Ph.D., Principal
National Achievement Program Participants Referred to Colleges: Ciara Adkins • Tiana Bowden
Cahron Cross • Taylor Crossley • Timothy
Johnson • Andray Reynolds • Elise Roberson
President’s Award for Educational Excellence Selection Criteria for Awards: Ciara Adkins • James
Austin • Joshua Barrett • Sydney Battle •
Rebecca Berger • Suzanne Bush • Katherine
Ciesla • Gabriella Cimino • Rufus Coates Welsh
Manju Connolly • Andrew Courington • Jonathan
t h e
V i k i n g
V i e w
In May, Greg Petecki's 3d Studio Art class unveiled its annual sculpture to board
members, administrators, teachers, parents and friends. Board of Education President Rick Lites cut the ribbon on the lumber and metal sculpture, promising unity,
which has been installed along the student path near the center of campus. One of
the goals of the sculpture installations is to bring art out of the classroom and into
the greater H-F community.
homewood-flossmoor community high School District 233
999 kedzie, flossmoor, il 60422
708-799-3000
The Viking connection is a community newsletter for residents of Homewood-FlossmoorCommunity High School District 233.
NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION
U.S. POSTAGE PAID
ECR WSS
FLOSSMOOR, IL
PERMIT NO. 5
board of education
rick liteS, preSident
Jeanne Mcinerney-lubeck
POSTAL CUSTOMER
Dr. DaViD Mayer,
Vice preSident
JoDy Scariano
Dr. John farrell
Mallory Sutton
anDrew linDStroM
Dr. Von ManSfielD,
Superintendent