Schools partner with UNCF for $400K in scholarships
The Superintendents’ Commission for the Study of Demographics and Diversity joined forces last week with the United Negro College Fund to raise money for area students, generating more than $400,000 toward scholarships.
It was the second year the Superintendents’ Commission — a group of 37 suburban elementary and secondary superintendents — and the UNCF partnered for the fundraising event. Last year it raised $200,000, the group said in a news release. Scholarships will be awarded to students at the Superintendents’ Commission annual scholarship dinner on March 21.
Donzell Lee, president of Tougaloo College, a historically Black college in Mississippi, will be on hand at the March event to present scholarships to excelling students from Rich Township, Southland College Prep, Bloom, Kankakee and Hillcrest high schools.
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“The power of our individual districts coming together shows us what is possible,” said Dr. Blondean Y. Davis, Southland’s CEO and superintendent of Matteson School District 162. “We are committed to making sure that our children not only get into college, but they have the financial means to stay in college.”
Last year 75 high school seniors from 14 high schools in suburban Cook County and Kankakee received scholarships as a result of the successful joint fundraising effort, according to school officials.
Lemont superintendent plans to retire
Lemont High School District 210 superintendent Mary Ticknor plans to retire at the end of the 2024-25 school year, completing the second-longest tenure as superintendent in District 210 history, according to a release from the district, which plans to begin the search for her successor soon. Her retirement will coincide with the end of her current contract.
District 210 has had only three superintendents since 1990, according to a news release. Ticknor assumed the role in July 2012, and is one of five superintendents in school history to have served in that role for at least a decade. Edward Bossert (1950-75) is the longest tenured superintendent in District 210 history, and upon her retirement, Ticknor’s 13-year tenure will match George Keough (1928-41) for the second-longest ever in the district. Thomas Madden (1990-2002) and Sandy Doebert (2002-12) served for 12 and 10 years, respectively.
During Ticknor’s tenure, Lemont High School was named an Exemplary High Performing School in the 2017 National Blue Ribbon Schools Program. She was named a 2023 Superintendent of Distinction by her colleagues in the Cook South Region of the Illinois Alliance of School Administrators.
Flossmoor Veterans Memorial moves closer to groundbreaking
Flossmoor Veterans’ Memorial, Inc. is one step closer to a spring groundbreaking for its planed Wall of Honor monument after two unanimous votes from officials in the village. The Flossmoor Plan Commission and Village Board both approved a site plan and special use permit for the memorial.
Former Mayor Paul Braun, who is leading the veterans memorial effort, said the site is owned by Canadian National Railway and the property is zoned for public use, but the Wall of Honor constitutes an adaptive reuse, which is why the municipal action was necessary.
In the two years since the project was launched, organizers have raised more than $110,000 toward the project.
“As we prepare for groundbreaking, we are actively searching for veteran owned and credentialed general contractors who will help us build the Wall of Honor to honor Flossmoor veterans,” Braun said.
The Veterans’ Wall of Honor is planned for a 9,500 square-foot parcel north of Flossmoor Road and east of the Metra/CN railroad tracks. Designed by Flossmoor architect Michael Matthys, the Wall of Honor will be a tribute to all current and former Flossmoor residents who have served our nation’s Armed Forces, officials said in a news release.
Park Forest museum unveils 1950s Valentine’s Day exhibit
The 1950s Park Forest House Museum, inside St. Mary’s Catholic Church at 227 Monee Road, has reopened so patrons can “Step Back into a 1950s Valentine’s Day,” from Feb. 3 to March 9. The museum is open from 1 to 3:30 p.m. Wednesdays and Saturdays and other times by appointment.
One museum room represents a classroom in Forest Boulevard School, which was set up in a row of townhomes, according to a news release from the museum. The classroom is decorated for a 1950s Valentine’s Day party with crepe paper candy baskets, and construction paper heart-shaped Valentine “mailboxes” on each desk. Red honeycomb, puffy hearts and vintage Valentines are on display throughout the house.
Exhibits on the 75th Anniversary of Park Forest will also be on display. Admission is $5 for adults, children 12 and under are free. Information and special tours are with Jane Nicoll, 708-481-4252, or Michael Gans, 708-305-3308, or at www.parkforesthistory.org.
Crafters sought for Stagg High show in March
A.A. Stagg High School Music Boosters organization is accepting applications from crafters and artists for the Art for the Season show on March 16 and 17. The show at Stagg High School, at the intersection of 111th Street and Roberts Road in Palos Hills, is well-received and well-attended, organizers said. Cost is $95 per booth space for the two day run of the show. More information is at 708-974-7520 www.aastaggmusicboosters.org or email [email protected].
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