OLCHS seniors shine in literature contest
Several Oak Lawn Community High School seniors advanced in literature in the 2021-2022 PTSA Reflections Contest.
Emma Jacobs’ “How Forgiveness Can Change the World” advanced to the national level. Sara Bishawai, Alex Garcia, Jeremy Gravelle, “Boz” McTeague, Brandon Swiatek and Jacobs were recognized at the state level for literature, while Colin Duggan, Joshua Bernal and Fatima Karabegovic received honorable mentions at the regional level.
Senior Nabil Kanan, juniors Kayla Bass, Hadeel Jaradat and David Ortega and sophomore David Favela were recognized at the state level for photography. Sophomore Hailey Rabideaux’s film submission advanced to the national level and received the Merit Award, Bronze Medal.
The film will be featured in the national traveling exhibition.
Providence’s Olczyk, Plantz and Ternik honored
Providence athletic director Doug Ternik, an alumnus of the school, was recently chosen as the Chicago Catholic League Dan O’Brien Man of The Year.
Ternik started his career as a teacher at Providence, where he developed the health program curriculum. He has served as AD since 2006 and overseen seven IHSA state titles in a 16-year span.
The CCL also honored Cindy Olczyk, a longtime volleyball coach who led the girls program to four regional titles, two sectional championships and two state appearances. She began teaching at the school in 1990 and developed the boys volleyball program in 1992.
Ron Plantz, an alumni parent and father of current head football coach Tyler Plantz, was also recognized.
He played in the NFL and later served as offensive line coach at Naperville Central. In 2004 he cofounded the Frankfort Falcons Youth Football and Cheer Program. His four children attended Providence.
Franciscan Health announces excellence award winners
Franciscan Health Olympia Fields recently presented its 2022 excellence awards to Norman Lazo, Melissa Zartuche and Kathleen Markus.
Lazo, a registered nurse and patient care coordinator on the 2500 unit, was named Nurse of the Year. Zartuche, an RN and manager of the inpatient rehabilitation unit, was named Nurse Leader of the Year, and Markus, an imaging services CT technician, was selected 2022 Team Member of the Year
Omicron Delta Kappa celebrates new members
Country Club Hills: Jade Washington (Indiana State University); Frankfort: Madison
Glatz (University of Alabama), Mark Wroblewski (Augustana College); New Lenox: Marie Moore (University of Alabama), Josephine Schmitt (University of Alabama); Orland Park: Aaron Hanania (Augustana College)
Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society inductions
Beecher: Peter Pollachek (University of Southern California)
Bloom Alternative High School student awards
Bloom Alternative High School recently hosted its inaugural Chicago Area Alternative Education League Celebration to culminate a year of hard work and dedication for students and staff in sports. Students Tariq Clark, Equilla Coleman, Montell Day, Chance Eberhardt. Tashaun Franklin, Isaiah Hawkins, Janayah Moore, Jaron Morris Jr., Michael Lopez Ruiz, Aaliyah Roberts, Ashley Roberts, Ignacio Valdez and Asharionna Wilson were among those recognized.
Silver Cross’ Colby receives leadership award
Silver Cross Hospital President and Chief Executive Officer Ruth Colby has been named the recipient of the prestigious Volunteers of American Illinois Profile in Leadership Award for 2022.
VOA President/CEO Nancy Hughes Moyer said Silver Cross Hospital’s groundbreaking partnership with VOA, which ultimately yielded the 67-unit Hope Manor Joliet veterans’ apartment complex on the hospital’s former Joliet campus, would have been more than sufficient to earn Colby the 2022 award but cited it as just one of the many ways Colby has worked tirelessly to better the community.
St. Norbert College spring graduates list
Homewood: Brendan Hurley; Oak Lawn: John Horan; Orland Park: Austin Smith; Tinley Park: Brooke Schuler, Katherine Trudeau
Trine University Order of the Engineer induction list
Frankfort: Meghan McGonagle, Manuel Urcino
University of WisconsinMilwaukee spring graduates list
Burbank: Natasha Vitas; Evergreen Park: Margaret Miller; Flossmoor: Wesley Blakely; Peotone: Ava Ferrier