News Archives

On Sunday, October 2, more than 350 grandparents and Rambler grandchildren celebrated Mass in the East Gym with Loyola Academy President Rev. Gregory J. Ostdiek, SJ.

In September, the National Merit Scholarship Corporation named two Loyola Academy seniors semifinalists in the 68th annual National Merit Scholarship Program. Congratulations to Chloe C. Molins and Benjamin W. Griesmeyer! The National Merit Scholarship Program honors individual students who show exceptional academic ability and potential for success in rigorous college studies.

October 1 was an evening full of Rambler recollections and reflections as the Classes of 1982, 1992, 1997, and 2002 celebrated milestone reunions at Loyola Academy.

Congratulations to the boys' golf team on their second place finish at the IHSA 3A Regional at Wilmette Golf Course on Wednesday, September 28! The team score was 312. The team was led by Ryan Banas '23 in 5th place with a score of 75. Patrick Rocchio '24 finished in 7th place with a 77, Joey Pieracci '23 finished in 9th place with a 79, Grant Koehler '23 scored an 822, Gavin Smith '24 and Drew Southwell '25 finished with an 81.

Congratulations to the frosh/soph girls' tennis team for capturing the 2022 GCAC JV league championship and tournament championship! This is the second year in a row the girls have won both. The conference team included players Clare Weasler and Coco Callahan and doubles players Lucy Kirkendall, Riley Magner, MK Humphrey, Lizzie Baskfield, Claire Lisowski and Jacquelyn Mark. The frosh/soph tennis team was undefeated in GCAC matches against Providence Catholic, Mother McAuley, St. Ignatius, and Fenwick.

Congratulations to the girls' golf team on their second place finish at the IHSA 2A Regional at Winnetka Golf Course on Friday, September 29! The team score was a 330 led by Katie Magner '24 who finished in 4th place with a 77. Bailey Bitbabo '23 finished in 8th place with an 82, Gigi Zera '24 tied for 9th place with a score of 82, and Abby Dimmberio '24 tied for 13th place with a 88. Abbey Rieske '26 and Macy Schultz '26 also competed for the Ramblers.

This year’s Spirit Week theme, “Rambler Disco,” set the tone for a week of dress-down days with fun themes: “Disco Ball Day” on Monday, “Neon or Tie Dye Day Day” on Tuesday, “Tacky Tourist Day” on Wednesday, “Zoom Business Day” on Thursday, and “Rambler Spirit Deck-Out Day” to close out the week on Friday. Inflatable obstacle courses on the football field, Just Dance in the new theater, Karaoke outside of the McGrath Family Performing Arts Center, and a photo booth were just some of the activities hosted by the Student Activities to energize students throughout the week.

Congratulations to the girls’ varsity golf team on their first place finish at the Girls Catholic Athletic Conference (GCAC) Championship! Katie Magner ’24 earned medalist honors with a low of 72. Katie is a three time GCAC champion. Bailey Bitbabo ’23 finished in second place with a score of 76. Gigi Zera ’24 finished with an 81, and Abby Dimberio ’24 scored an 82. Abbey Riekse ’26 and Macy Schultz ’26 also competed well. Congrats to the team and head coach Katie Hickey and her staff. The girls’ golf team will play in the IHSA Regional on September 29 at Winnetka Golf Club.

Go Ramblers!

Loyola Academy is proud to recognize the following eight seniors as Commended Students in the 2023 National Merit Scholarship Program: Rachel G. Barrientos, August D. Berne, Charles J. Considine, Greg R. Kosmerl, Elise N. McCain, Olivia L. Myers, David J. Patchin, and Emma I. Reynolds.

Congratulations to the boys’ varsity golf team and the boys’ frosh/soph golf team on their first place finish at the Chicago Catholic League Golf Championship

Members of the Class of 1972 gathered to celebrate their 50th Rambler Reunion over a fun-filled weekend on September 16 and 17.

Loyola Academy is pleased to announce a newly formed partnership with Special Gifts Theatre (SGT), a not-for-profit organization that was founded in 2000 to provide individuals who possess a wide array of special needs (physical, cognitive, social, emotional, and learning) the opportunity to experience the joy and enrichment that theatre arts can bring. Launched in September 2022, the SGT x LA Peer Mentor Program gives Ramblers the opportunity to work one-on-one with a Special Gifts Theatre buddy in our beautiful new McGrath Family Performing Arts Center.

On Wednesday, September 14, students filled the East Gym for Loyola Academy’s annual Cocurricular Fair, which gives students the opportunity to learn about Loyola’s clubs while browsing rows of creative table displays created by each student group.

Despite scattered rain and unseasonably cool temps that finally warmed in the late afternoon, it was a wonderful day on the links at North Shore Country Club in Glenview as alumni, parents and friends of Loyola Academy gathered for the 28th annual Ramblers Golf Outing on Monday, September 12.

On Saturday, September 10, Rambler alumni from the Classes of 1952–1962 and Rambler parents of the 70s, 80s, and 90s gathered for a special Golden Rambler Reunion, which celebrates graduates from Loyola 50 or more years ago.

Loyola Academy’s Marching Band, Ramblerettes dance team, and Cheer squad led the Wilmette 150 parade on Saturday, September 10, at a block party celebrating the village’s sesquicentennial anniversary. Officially incorporated in September 1872, the Village of Wilmette saw hundreds come out in support including residents, neighbors, and town officials and dignitaries. Notably, Loyola Academy has called Wilmette home for 65 years since moving from the campus of Loyola University Chicago in 1957.

Over 300 parents and guardians of freshman and sophomore Ramblers gathered on the evening of Thursday, September 8, at a mixer hosted by the Rambler Parent Organization (RPO). The casual event took place outside of the McGrath Family Performing Arts Center and encouraged parents/guardians to get acquainted with one another and meet new friends.

Eleven seniors from the Class of 2023 have been named awardees in the College Board's National Recognition Program, which grants underrepresented students with academic honors that can be included on college and scholarship applications.

On Sunday, August 28, Loyola Academy’s varsity football team opened its 2022 season against the St. Xavier Bombers from Cincinnati, Ohio, as the highly anticipated finale to the 2022 Geico ESPN High School Football Kickoff. The game—in which the Ramblers took a swift and dominant lead and clinched a 44–20 victory—was broadcast to a national audience on ESPN.

Congratulations to Hope Squad member Nora McNabb ’23, who will represent Loyola Academy on the Hope Squad National Council this year! The Hope Squad National Council is composed of high school juniors and seniors who have served on a Hope Squad for at least one year. The National Council leads monthly support calls, organizes and presents at Hope Squad trainings, and participates at national Hope Squad events and conferences.

It was an unforgettable night of music on Saturday, August 20, as hundreds of Loyola Academy parents, alumni, and friends celebrated the opening of the new McGrath Family Performing Arts Center with a private concert by Grammy Award-winning blues legend Taj Mahal. Along with membership in the Blues Hall of Fame and a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Americana Music Association, three Grammy wins—the most recent in 2017—have underscored Taj’s undiminished relevance for more than a half century.

Loyola Academy French Teacher Mr. Tom Sapp has been given the honor of Chevalier dans l'Ordre des Palmes Académiques, a prestigious recognition awarded to outstanding educators by the French government. Originally established in 1808 by Napoleon I, the Order of the Academic Palms is a national order of merit that bestows membership on those who have "rendered eminent service to French education and have contributed actively to the prestige of French culture."

Loyola Academy welcomed 125 incoming freshmen on Wednesday, August 17, to Academic Jumpstart. This free, two-hour tune-up session focused on setting students up for success as they begin their high school journeys and was offered to all members of the Class of 2026.

A small group of fine arts supporters gathered on Thursday, August 18, at the McGrath Family Performing Arts Center to enjoy a light reception, student-led tours of the Leemputte Family Theater, and a blessing of the new space, which officially opened in August.

The Loyola Academy community celebrated its annual Mass of the Holy Spirit on Friday, August 19, marking the beginning of the 2022–2023 school year. The Mass of the Holy Spirit is a longstanding tradition among Jesuit high schools and universities, dating back to 1584. It provides students, faculty and staff a moment to pause, pray and seek the guidance and wisdom of the Holy Spirit in living out our mission to be women and men for others in the upcoming year. This year’s Mass was especially notable as it marked the formal missioning of Rev. Gregory J. Ostdiek, SJ, as Loyola’s ninth president.

The 2022–2023 school year is all about new beginnings! We proudly welcomed a new president, Rev. Gregory J. Ostdiek, SJ; our newest Ramblers, the incoming freshman Class of 2026; and we are beginning to enjoy our new McGrath Family Performing Arts Center, home to the Leemputte Family Theater.

In summer 2022, Loyola Academy’s English Department transitioned away from a summer reading program, which traditionally tasks students with a list of preassigned readings to be completed over the summer months, and launched a more flexible and experiential Summer Learning Experience. With the summer reading requirement lifted, students now had their choice of learning in a variety of creative ways, all centered around the values of RIPLOC. The goal? To develop the mindset that students are lifelong learners beyond a classroom environment.

Loyola Academy's summer service and immersion trips have long been a hallmark of the Rambler experience. Providing real-life, community-based learning for students, summer service trips open the hearts and minds of Loyola's rising seniors. Through the pillars of service, community, reflection and simplicity, the service immersion program is meant to be a catalyst for students to work for greater justice in the world. These five-to-seven-day trips enable students to encounter new perspectives and grow in an awareness of the gifts they have to offer others.

On Sunday, August 28, the Loyola Academy varsity football team will take on St. Xavier (Ohio) in a Jesuit matchup scheduled to be broadcast on ESPN at 12:00 p.m. (CST). The game brings together two powerhouse programs from the Midwest to battle it out at Loyola’s Hoerster Field.

In the spring of 2022, Loyola Academy concluded its most successful capital campaign in school history. Spanning 10 years and raising more than $76 million, the Second Century Campaign surpassed its fundraising goal and has ushered in a new era at Loyola—one defined by amplified funding for tuition assistance, a transformed campus and reimagined programming that will benefit generations of Ramblers to come.

On Saturday, June 4, the boys' varsity lacrosse team defeated Lake Forest High School with a score of 6-5. This is the program's 14th state title and back to back IHSA State Championships.

The 2022 LA Tank competition winners and student leadership team ventured to Washington, DC, on June 2–3 for a whirlwind 24-hour power internship and meetings with members of Loyola’s alumni network on the East Coast.

The Loyola Academy Department of Fine Arts is pleased to announce a collaboration with alumna Jessica “J” Godwin ’01, an immensely talented audiovisual artist and mentor based in Brooklyn, New York. Since the beginning of May, J has led choir students through the invaluable experience of singing harmonies, building lyrics and recording music to produce an EP of their own.

Throughout the 2021–2022 school year, over 50 Rambler student-athletes signed a letter of intent to play their sport at the collegiate level. Athletes celebrated their accomplishments with their teammates, coaches and families during signing ceremonies that took place at Loyola in November, December, February and May.

Congratulations to senior Hope Squad members Lauren Dziedzic, Bradley Orzada, Liam Zidar and Niko Douvalakis, recipients of the 2022 Elyssa’s Mission Scholarship. The scholarship awards up to $5,000 to high school juniors and seniors who have successfully applied the ACT (acknowledge, care, tell) to help themselves or a friend, peer or community member and have promoted the Signs of Suicide (SOS)/ACT message in their community.

At the end of June, Rev. Partick E. McGrath, SJ, will conclude his tenure as president of Loyola Academy and become pastor at Old St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in downtown Chicago. Throughout his thirteen years at the Academy, Fr. McGrath has led Loyola with enthusiasm and a deep care for the school community. Under his leadership and vision, Loyola Academy successfully completed The Second Century Campaign, which supported a master plan of improvements for the school’s campus and programming. Throughout the spring, a series of events were held at LA to honor and celebrate Fr. McGrath.

On the weekend of Saturday, May 28, Loyola Academy joined 271 of the top high school quiz bowl teams at the Atlanta Marriott Marquis for the 2022 High School National Championship Tournament to determine who was the best.

In the days leading up to Memorial Day, Loyola Academy honored alumni killed in action or listed as missing in action during a recognized conflict with the installation of a memorial wall and special dedication ceremony. The outdoor structure is located at the site of the school’s Foley-O’Donnell Athletics Commons, an open gathering space just north of Sachs Stadium. On it are displayed the names of 54 alumni across five panels, each marking a branch of service: Army, Coast Guard, National Guard, Navy and Marines. These soldiers served in World War I through the first Persian Gulf War.

On Thursday, May 26, Loyola Academy honored the retirement of four outstanding faculty and staff members at an end of the year Mass in the Chapel.

In the spring, Loyola Academy students in Honors Spanish 3, Honors Spanish 4, AP Spanish Language and AP Spanish Literature took the National Spanish Exam. "Attaining a medal or honorable mention for any student on the National Spanish Examinations is very prestigious," said Lisa Greenman, National Director of the Exams, "because the exams are the largest of their kind in the United States with over 73,000 students participating in 2022."

The Principal's Office and Student Activities hosted a number of special events and senior-only activities for the Class of 2022. Seniors savored these last opportunities to be together as they transition from Loyola Academy students into alumni.

On Saturday, May 21, Loyola Academy celebrated its 112th Commencement Exercises at Northwestern University’s Welsh-Ryan Arena. With family and friends present, 518 members of the Class of 2022 gathered one last time as classmates and departed as Loyola alumni.

With its strong finish at the Metro North Conference Scholastic Bowl, Loyola’s Scholastic Bowl team proved themselves worthy to play on a national stage. On Friday, May 27, the team will represent LA in a 271-team national competition: National Academic Quiz Tournaments' High School National Championship Tournament.

We are pleased to recognize the achievement of several students!

The Loyola Academy Spring Art Show, held in the Piazza May 10-13, celebrated the exceptional accomplishments of our student artists throughout the year. Students, faculty and staff were able to view the pieces throughout the three-day exhibition. Students created art and designs that expressed vision and insight, capturing the beauty and unique diversity of our shared experiences.

On Wednesday, May 18, fourteen Rambler student-athletes signed a letter of intent to play their sport at the collegiate level. We congratulate the following student-athletes and their parents!

On a beautiful evening in May, Rambler moms enjoyed passed appetizers, cocktails and camaraderie as they soaked in gorgeous lakefront views at Michigan Shores Country Club during the annual Mothers Connect and Celebrate Reception. The event, last held in-person in 2019, gave mothers and female guardians of Loyola students an opportunity to re-engage and welcome mothers of incoming students to the Loyola Academy community.

On Sunday, May 15, senior Ramblers and their parents or guardians gathered in Loyola Academy's East Gym to celebrate the Baccalaureate Mass, held each spring to honor the graduating class.

Loyola Academy Rowing participated in The Midwest Scholastic Rowing Championships on May 14 and 15 at Kensington Metropark in Milford, Michigan.  The crew team competed against 47 other teams and placed 7th overall, with the women's sweeps division taking 3rd place and the men's sweep division taking 9th place.

Loyola won its eighth consecutive varsity outdoor Chicago Catholic League (CCL) outdoor championship on Saturday, May 14. League championships were turned in by Austin Cabanban '22 in the 400m Dash, Spencer Werner '22 in the 1600m Run, and the 4x100m Relay team of Clinton Ofosu '22, Austin Cabanban '22, Emmanuel Ofosu '24, and Emmanuel Akela '22.

Every year, Loyola Academy's Honors Convocation recognizes the academic and cocurricular achievements of students. This year's ceremony was held on Thursday, May 12, in the West Gym.

Congratulations to the girls' track team which competed in the IHSA Sectional on Wednesday, May 11. The team qualified three individuals and two relay teams for the IHSA State Finals at Eastern Illinois University on May 19–21. Good luck to the athletes competing in the State Finals and congrats to the entire team and coaching staff on a great season!

The National Center for Women & Information Technology (NCWIT) announced that six members of Loyola’s Women in STEAM Club received a 2022 NCWIT Award for Aspirations in Computing! Congratulations to Megan Bailey '24 (affiliate honorable mention), Ardyn Chin '22 (affiliate winner), Melanie Clark '24 (affiliate rising star), Addy Needham '24 (affiliate honorable mention), Flor Pallchizaca '23 (affiliate honorable mention), and Michelle Tamas '22 (affiliate honorable mention). This is a tremendous honor for these young women, and the awards demonstrate their interest in technology and their ability to be leaders. In addition, Women in STEAM Club Co-Moderator Mrs. Jan Stoner received an Affiliate Educator Award Honorable Mention. The award recognizes educators for their efforts to promote gender equity in computing.

The Loyola Academy community celebrated its Sending Forth Mass on Friday, May 13. The Mass is an annual celebration of the school year, a recognition of the outstanding efforts of distinguished students and faculty and a sendoff for the senior class. In his homily, Loyola Academy President Rev. Patrick E. McGrath, SJ, reminded students of our many blessings and prayed in thanksgiving for the leadership of the Class of 2022. “Take a minute today to pause and listen,” he said. “Feel the gratitude stir and open your heart to service.”

On Friday, April 29, Loyola Academy hosted its annual One Act Festival, which provides students with the unique opportunity to write, direct and perform their own original productions. This year's festival featured two stellar performances: "Epiphany," written and directed by Ashley Sanchez '22, and "Bars of Ivy: The College Admissions Scandal Musical," by Casey Lyons '22 and Caroline Miller.

The Loyola Academy Dance Company (LADC) was thrilled to host its 2022 Spring Dance Concert back at the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts in Skokie for the first time since 2019! This annual showcase represents the culmination of a year's worth of hard work by the company, which is directed by LADC Moderator and Dance Teacher Debbie Henslee. Held over two days, May 5 and May 6, the dancers inspired audiences with their incredible talent and creativity. The pieces performed were all original works choreographed and performed by LADC, Honors Dance, Dance Beat/Design and Dance Collective.

On Saturday, May 7, approximately 400 members of the Loyola community gathered—in-person for the first time since 2019—for the 53rd Ramble, Love in Action. The evening raised over $1.3M for the Loyola Academy Tuition Assistance Program. The Ramble is Loyola's single largest fundraiser benefiting tuition assistance, and this year's theme, Love in Action, was a beautiful reminder of the work we do as partners in Jesuit education.

During the last week of April, Loyola Academy's Ignatian Service Learning Program (ISL) hosted its annual symposium, where students showcased a year’s worth of their service projects in reflective presentations. The ISL program puts the Jesuit value of service front-and-center in the classroom by combining instruction with meaningful volunteer work in the community. This format enables students to learn about social justice issues in academic courses across the curriculum and apply their knowledge to real-life situations through community service.

Loyola Academy is pleased to announce a newly formed partnership with Northshore Concert Band (NSCB), a 100-member symphonic band active in the Chicago metropolitan area. Beginning at the start of the 2022-2023 school year, this partnership will greatly benefit Loyola students and enable NSCB to regularly utilize our beautiful new Leemputte Family Theater.

In March 2022, more than 12,000 French students from across the country participated in the National French Contest, also known as Le Grand Concours. In the Chicago/Northern Illinois chapter alone, close to 2,500 students participated. Loyola Academy is pleased to announce that several students received medals for their scores, representing a significant accomplishment.

The Spring Orchestra Concert took place in the Loyola Academy Chapel on the evening of May 3 and featured the talents of Loyola's combined orchestras, guitar ensemble and beginning guitar performing well known hits such as "Hallelujah" by Leonard Cohen, "Skyfall" by Adele and "The Pink Panther" by Henri Mancini.

To watch a recording of the concert, click here.

When Loyola Academy's new Center for Performing Arts opens in Fall 2022, the complex will be the newest addition to Loyola's campus—and the greenest. Throughout the visioning and building process, Loyola’s leadership team worked closely with Krueck Sexton Partners (KSP), a Chicago-based design firm active in the fight against climate change.

Loyola Academy hosted its annual Middle School Choir Festival on Thursday, April 28. Seventy students from four Catholic grade schools (Mary Seat of Wisdom - Park Ridge; Our Lady of Perpetual Help - Glenview; St. Athanasius - Evanston; and The Academy of St. Joan of Arc - Evanston) joined current Loyola chorale students to make beautiful music, have fun and learn more about the choir program at Loyola.

On Tuesday, May 3, Loyola hosted local businesses for the first annual Summer Job Fair. Students were able to discuss summer employment opportunities with more than fifteen employers in and around the Wilmette area. Summer jobs are a great way for students to develop their work ethic, learn new skills and engage with their community!

On Monday, April 11, seventy students were inducted into Loyola Academy’s Spanish Honor Society, San Ignacio de Loyola chapter. An induction ceremony took place in the cafeteria, following Mass in the chapel. The Spanish Honor Society is moderated by Spanish Teachers Mrs. Tania Pineda and Mrs. Erica Nathan-Gamauf.

Congratulations to the following inductees!

Throughout the Lenten season, Campus Ministry, Student Activities and Ignatian Service Learning classes hosted a special "Soup and Substance" speaker series on Wednesdays. Students, faculty and staff members were invited to gather and learn more about a topic germane to the LA community over a delicious bowl of soup in the Marillac Room.

In April, the LA Tank program wrapped its seventh year by awarding students an opportunity to collaborate and present their ideas to a panel of Loyola alumni entrepreneurs. The program is structured such that students are grouped into teams and tasked with identifying an existing problem to solve with a new product or idea.

Loyola’s annual Earth Day Fair, hosted by Students Against Violating the Earth (S.A.V.E.), took place Friday, April 8. This year’s theme— “Make Every Day Earth Day!”— presented Ramblers with new ways of approaching the environmental challenges that exist today. Faculty, staff and students enjoyed interactive projects, educational displays and more.

The Science Department hosted its inaugural STEAM Fair in the East Gym on Wednesday, April 6, during lunch periods. Open to all Ramblers, the fair was a wonderful opportunity for students to explore science classes at Loyola and future career opportunities in STEAM fields.

Ten Loyola Academy students spent the day volunteering at L’Arche Chicago in Oak Park on Friday, April 1. Founded in the 1990s, L’Arche Chicago joins more than 146 other communities in 35 countries to form The International Federation of L’Arche. The communities encompass 5,000 people with and without an intellectual disability, speaking more than 20 languages who share their lives in homes, workshops and day programs.

On Tuesday, March 22, Congressman Brad Schneider, representative of Illinois’ 10th district, visited Loyola Academy to speak with social studies classes about the ongoing war in Ukraine and what it is like to serve in Congress as a member of the House Foreign Affairs committee. He provided students with unique insights and background of the military conflict.

On Sunday, April 3, nearly 300 Rambler parents and students participated in the annual Family Mass and Day of Service, sponsored by the Rambler Parent Organization (RPO). The Family Mass and Day of Service has been a Loyola tradition since 2013 and is one of the many ways the Loyola community fulfills the mission to be women and men for others.

During the month of March, Loyola Academy celebrated Women’s History Month with a number of reflective activities and learning opportunities. This year’s special focus was “Women Providing Healing, Promoting Hope,” and Ramblers were encouraged to consider the impact of influential women in their lives.

On Friday, March 25, the AP Studio Art and Design class, taught by Fine Arts Chair Mrs. Colleen Aufderheide, took a field trip to the Museum of Contemporary Art in Chicago. Students analyzed works of art on exhibit for synthesis of ideas, materials and processes.  This is the same process of analysis they undertake for their own AP portfolio works of art.

On Thursday, March 31, Loyola Academy honored twelve faculty members who have earned tenure status. The achievement of tenure is a milestone in an individual's career, and Loyola is proud to recognize members of our community who have embraced the desire to be women and men for others.

Classics Teacher Mrs. Becki Wick has been selected as a recipient for a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) to study in one of its summer institutes. The program is titled: "Timeless Parallels: Classical Literature and Veteran Experiences." As a summer scholar, Mrs. Wick will join an impressive group of educators from all over the country representing many disciplines.

On Monday, March 21, Loyola Academy's College Counseling Department hosted its annual College Fair for students and parents to begin the college exploration process. With over 200 colleges and universities in attendance, Loyola’s College Fair remains one of the largest private high school college fairs in the state of Illinois.

On Thursday, March 17, four Loyola Academy young alumnae spoke to seniors during the Chicago Scholar Program’s Senior Success Seminar. The seminar enabled recent graduates of the program to give advice and tips to current Loyola seniors about finding success in college.

Loyola's Got Talent, our annual talent show, took place on Saturday, March 19. Junior Hailey Guzaman emceed the event, which featured acts from students, faculty and staff. Ramblers showed off their many talents, from magic to music. Special thanks to Ramblers Hailey Guzaman '23, Owusu Peprah '25 and Ashley Zapata '25, who served on Student Council's talent show committee and helped make the night possible.

The girls' track and field team are GCAC Champions! They won the championship, held on March 20, with 200 points.

Continue reading for information on individual finishes.

Congrats to Science Olympiad which placed fourth in their regionals on Saturday and are advancing to state. Good luck!

Seventy sophomore theology students gathered in the theater on Thursday, February 24, to witness a dialogue between Pope Francis and college students from across the Americas—including fifty eight universities from twenty one countries. Nearby, sixty Ignatian Service Learning students from Mrs. Jenny Snyder’s AP Environmental Science class participated from the Marillac Room. The conversation was part of the greater Synod on Synodality (2021–2023) being held across the globe, and Loyola University Chicago served as the North American host for a conversation between North and South American university students and Pope Francis.

Loyola and Saint Ignatius tied for the top spot in the Chicago Catholic League indoor championship and will share the championship plaque.

Continue reading for information on individual finishes.

The 2022 Band Winter Concert took place in the Loyola Academy Chapel on the evening of Thursday, March 10, and featured Loyola Academy’s talented concert band, percussion ensemble and symphonic band. To watch a recording of the band concert, click here.

Two recent milestones celebrated by the Jesuit community—a 500th anniversary and a 400th anniversary—bring us reason for joy and cause for hope.

Six Ramblers are exhibiting their art at The Bridgeport Art Center’s 2022 Northern Regional Exhibition. Congratulations to Emily Bachert '22, Helena Kavanagh '23, Blessed Stephen '22, Rubana Ghioghis '22, Gina Leech '22 and Elise McKeag '22.

Loyola's Spring Choir Concert took place on Wednesday, March 9, and featured a special collaboration between the Loyola Choir and Hope Squad to present "Wellness Awareness," recognizing the importance of mental health through music.   To watch a recording of the Spring Choir Concert, click here.

Loyola boys' gold hockey team won the SHL Championship this weekend, defeating New Trier in two games. They won the first game 6-2 and game two by a score of 3-1. They then advanced to the semifinals in the AHAI State Tournament by defeating Glenbrook South 3-1.

Loyola boys' gold will play Stevenson in the AHAI State Tournament final on Wednesday, March 8. Good luck, gold!

Loyola Academy stands with Ukraine. We pray for peace and, in keeping with the legacy of our founder, who calls us to action and service for others, our community has partnered with Jesuit Refugee Service to host a $2 dress down day on Friday, March 11. Proceeds raised on this day will support the people displaced by the war in Eastern Europe. Bracelets for the dress down day will be on sale Wednesday and Thursday in the Student Activities office. All members of our community are encouraged to wear maroon and gold or blue and yellow, the colors of the Ukrainian flag.

Congratulations to our Scholastic Bowl members who have qualified for the National History Bee and Bowl. Individually, Colin McLaughlin ’24 qualified in the JV division and Ryan McKinney ’23 qualified in the varsity division. Nick Bobay ’25 and Colin McLaughlin ’24 qualified for the JV team event. The events will be held April 24 in Washington DC.

On March 5, Loyola Academy and Francis W. Parker School hosted the second annual Young Women of Color (YWOC) Symposium, which led nearly two hundred 6th to 12th grade participants from thirteen schools in a series of workshops, affinity groups sessions and activities to create a space for conversation, connection and community for students who self-identify as young women of color. The day's conversations were guided by the 2022 theme: Unapologetically Me.

On Saturday, March 5, Loyola’s Honors Orchestra took 2nd place (159 points) in state at the IHSA Class AA Strings Solo & Ensemble Contest. This annual contest gives high school music students an opportunity to perform instrumental solos and ensembles for a juried rating. Loyola’s 2nd place finish marks the first time in school history that the strings received such a high distinction!

The Winter Orchestra Concert took place on Thursday, March 3, in the Loyola Academy Chapel and featured the talents of our beginning guitars, guitar ensemble and the combined orchestra students performing music from Mozart, The Beatles, Vivaldi and the soundtrack from the movie La la Land.

Congratulations to the girls' basketball team on their 31-4 season! The Loyola community is proud of you and your success. The team won both the IHSA 4A Regional and IHSA Sectional. This is the program's first sectional title since the 2011-12 season. The team advanced to the Super-Sectional vs Stevenson, but lost 36-32 in a very competitive game. Congratulations to the entire team and Head Coach Jeremy Schoenecker, along with Assistant Coaches Susie McGovern and Jon Wolfe.

On Friday, February 25, Loyola hosted International Night, an annual celebration of the unique cultures and traditions that enrich our Loyola community. Guests at this year's International Night, or I-Night, enjoyed an array of performances from a number of Loyola's heritage clubs including:

Loyola Academy’s AP Studio Art and Design Exhibition, now in its eleventh year, is an annual celebration of student work in the visual arts held at the Evanston Art Center (EAC). Many of the students exhibiting work in the show have been in art courses at Loyola for two to four years and come from the following disciplines: studio (drawing, painting), graphics, photography and architecture. The opportunity to present in a professional gallery is a unique and valuable experience for students.

Congratulations to the boys' swim team on their 4th place finish at the IHSA state finals! The 200 free relay finished in second place. The 200 medley relay finished in 9th place. The 400 free relay of seniors PJ Spagnolo, Lachlan Andrew, Demetri Zemenides and Andy Kelly, who came from behind in the anchor leg, finished in first place. Andy Kelly '22 also finished 5th in the 100 back, and Lachlan Andrew '22 finished 5th in the 50 free. Congrats to the entire team on a great season!

Freshman Harlee Hiller finished in 3rd place at the first IHSA girls' state wrestling finals! She made history by being the first female wrestler to advance to the finals and her 3rd place finish is the highest finish in LA history for girls' wrestling. Congrats Harlee!

During the month of February, Loyola Academy students had the opportunity to explore and celebrate the contributions of Black Americans to our country and our community. Through powerful displays and reflective activities, Ramblers were encouraged to pause and consider the impact and influence of Black history. This year’s special focus was intersectionality.

On Wednesday, February 24, 200 Rambler parents and guardians gathered in the Chapel for an inspiring reflection delivered by Loyola Academy President Rev. Patrick E. McGrath, SJ: Lessons from a Pandemic: Hope in the Time of COVID. Fr. McGrath spoke to the spiritual and theological lessons we have learned during these past two years. Notably, the evening was a celebration of the final time Fr. McGrath would lead this program as Loyola Academy's president.

Intramurals continue to be a popular flex activity for Loyola students. First semester, there were five intramurals offered to students. Sixty-six pairs of students participated in spikeball. The winning pairs were seniors Charlie Fritzsche and Connor Smyth, juniors Declan Davis and Evan Halkitis, sophomores Davino Douvalakis and Lucas Holubar, and freshmen Kate Dunn and Addison Leadbetter.

The boys' swim team competed in the IHSA sectionals on Saturday, February 19. The team finished in second place at the Niles West sectional. The team finished in first place in the 200 medley relay: Andy Kelly '22, Maximillian Rice '24, Lachlan Andrew '22 and Philip Spagnolo '22; 200 free relay: Lachlan Andrew '22, Philip Spagnolo '22, Jimmy Dukes '22 and Andy Kelly '22; and 400 free relay: Philip Spagnolo '22, Demetrios Zemenides '22, Lachlan Andrew '22 and Andy Kelly '22. All three relays qualified for the IHSA state finals. In addition to the relays, the team had the following individual qualifiers: Jimmy Dukes '22 in the 200 individual medley, Lachlan Andrew '22 in the 50 free, and Andy Kelly '22 in the 100 back. Congratulations to Coach Mike Hengelmann '00 and the entire team. Good Luck at the IHSA state finals this weekend!

Congratulations to the varsity girls' basketball team for winning the regional semi-final game on Tuesday at Maine East. Girls' basketball will play Maine West for the regional championship on Thursday, February 17, at 7:00 p.m. Tickets are $5.00 and are available at the door. Come support the Ramblers as they compete for a regional championship.

The Loyola wrestling team competed in the IHSA sectionals last weekend. Loyola had a great sectional and qualified four athletes for the IHSA state finals! The following boys qualified for the IHSA state finals in Champaign this weekend: Quinn Herbert '24 (4th place), Massey Odiotti '23 (sectional champion) and Cooper Wettig '22 (2nd place). Harlee Hiller '25 qualified for the inaugural IHSA girls' state wrestling finals in Bloomington on February 25–26. Harlee was the sectional champion at the IHSA girls' wrestling sectional and will represent Loyola as the first female wrestler in the IHSA state girls' wrestling finals.

In 2020, the Secretariat for Jesuit Education convened a global task force to create an ecological framework for Jesuit schools. This framework would provide direction and guidance for the Ignatian community as it works together to “care for our common home,” one of the four Universal Apostolic Preferences (UAPs) issued in 2019 to give a ten-year horizon for the whole Society of Jesus. Loyola Academy Science Teacher Mrs. Jennifer Snyder LdM ’90 was named to this global taskforce, an international effort presided over by Fr. José Mesa, SJ, secretary for secondary and pre-secondary education for the Society of Jesus.

Loyola Academy has four solar panels on the concession stand building at the Theodore G. Munz, SJ, Campus, a 60-acre site in Glenview that is home to practice and competition athletic fields. “While they don’t make much power, they are cool for students collecting data and using models for solar installation in the future,” says AP Environmental Science Teacher and Land Management Coordinator Mrs. Jenny Snyder LdM '90.

Jilliana Alfano '23, who serves as the vice president of Loyola's Sociedad Honoraria Hispanica, was selected as a recipient for a Bertie Green Scholarship. The scholarship provides an all-expenses paid trip to Puerto Rico this July sponsored by the American Association of Teachers of Spanish and Portuguese (AATSP). Jilliana is one of only twenty students to be chosen nationwide! Congratulations to Jilliana on this prestigious Spanish Honors Society scholarship.

The Office of Admissions hosted hundreds of accepted students and their parents on Saturday, February 5, for a carnival-themed welcome party in the Loyola Academy West Gym. The event celebrated Loyola's Class of 2026 with fun activities and school tours that enabled incoming freshman families to mix and mingle. It was a wonderful afternoon and a great opportunity for Loyola to show its excitement and gratitude for the newest Ramblers!

A cold February evening didn't stop 300 Rambler dads and daughters from enjoying a night of dinner and dancing at Northshore Country Club on Friday, February 4. Everyone had a fabulous evening at D4: A Dinner Dance for Daughters and Dads! The event, formerly the Father Daughter Dinner Dance, has become one of Loyola’s cherished traditions. After a year hiatus, we were thrilled to be back in-person this year.

After a long weekend of competing at Nationals in Orlando, the Ramblerettes, Loyola Academy's competitive dance team, finished in the top twenty in the nation! "We are so proud of this team’s hard work all year and of all of the performances they gave their all to this weekend," said Head Coach and English Teacher Kerry Dubay. "We left knowing we put our hearts out on that floor and gave our best performances yet, which has always been our number one goal." After not being able to compete in-person last year, the team was thrilled to have the chance to perform and compete together again.

Loyola hosted the boys' swimming and diving Metro Catholic Athletic Conference (MCAC) championship this weekend. On the varsity level, the team finished in 2nd place and earned 1st place in all three relays. Andy Kelly '22 received the MCAC Swimmer of the Year, Lawless Award. Head Coach Mike Hengelmann '00 received the MCAC Lawless Award. On the frosh/soph level, Loyola finished in 3rd place. On the junior varsity level, Loyola finished in first place. 

The Loyola Academy Dance Collective, formerly Company B, presented its 2021–2022 showcase on Friday, February 4, in the theater. Dancers prepared for months to perfect their choreography and articulate nine unique performances before an in-person audience. The dances ranged in style from contemporary and hip hop to jazz and tap. Congratulations to the following Dance Collective company members on this tremendous achievement: Lila Abebe '24, Julia Antar '22, Coco Asante '24, Evanston Barney '22, Issa Barry '25, Caroline Benvenuto '25, Ava Doerscheln '24, Yanni Dunkas '22, Sarah Graham '24, Aleks Hudy '25, Monique Robinson '22,  Ashley Sanchez '22, Lily Sandstrom '24 and Thomas Wulu '24.

Loyola hosted the Girls' Catholic Athletic Conference (GCAC) basketball tournament this weekend. Varsity finished in 3rd place with a victory over Trinity High School. The sophomore team finished in 2nd place and the freshman team finished in 1st place. Congratulations to Angelina Giordono '22 and Morgan Van Horn '22 who received All Conference honors.

The varsity Scholastic Bowl team finished 2nd in the conference. Notably, Mark Gonzalez Jr '22 and River Griesmeyer '22 were named to the All Conference team. In addition, the JV team won the conference championship! Colin McLaughlin '24 was the top scorer. Colin and Jack Lopez '24 were named to the All Conference team.

On Saturday, February 5, the wrestling team competed in the IHSA regionals. Loyola finished in 3rd place and seven wrestlers qualified for the IHSA sectionals. Congratulations to the following regional champions Massey Odiotti '23, Quinn Herbert '24, Pat Zimmer '23 and Cooper Wettig '22! Also qualifying for sectionals with 3rd place in their divisions are:  Kevin Tedeschi '22, Danny Herbert '23 and Mike Williams '22. Congratulations to the entire team and good luck at sectionals.

On Wednesday, February 2, twenty-four Rambler student-athletes signed a letter of intent to play their sport at the collegiate level. Due to inclement weather, the in-person National Letter of Intent Signing Day ceremony was rescheduled to Tuesday, February 15. We congratulate the following student-athletes and their parents!

Congratulations to the following wrestlers who competed at the freshman/sophomore CCLs: Charlie Daly '25–champion; Joe Kelly '24—champion; Harlee Hiller '25–2nd place; Sam Thompson '25–2nd place; Alex Hill '24–2nd place; Jack McEneely '24–4th place; Alex Agalliu '24–4th place; Finn Miller '25–5th place; Aiden Hughes '25–6th place; and Sebastian Gal '24-6th place. The team placed 2nd overall.

Clubs and student activities are a pivotal part of our mission to educate the whole student at Loyola Academy. Loyola's comprehensive program of over 50 clubs and activities offers a wealth of opportunities designed to help students expand their horizons, discover hidden talents, make new friends and share their interests with peers. After students went through the new club proposal process, the Office of Student Activities has added seven new clubs to Loyola’s cocurricular offerings: Fashion Club, Finance Club, Gardening Club, Meditation Club, Photography Club, Poetry and Creative Writing Club, and Space & Aeronautics Club.

Friday, January 28, was a great night for Loyola Academy as we celebrated the 2022 Ramble Rouser and officially kicked off the Ramble season! Despite a heavy morning snowfall, over 300 parents and guardians gathered in the East Gym, which was festively decorated in maroon and gold for the event’s tailgate theme.

Congratulations to the Ramblerettes, Loyola's competitive dance team, who took 8th in state over the weekend. The competition was held at Grossinger Motors Arena in Bloomington. Next up: Nationals! 

The 2022 Jesuit Cup was held at UIC on Friday, January 21.  The annual matchup, played again St. Ignatius College Prep, draws fans from each Jesuit school to this friendly rivalry. The girls retained the cup, defeating the Wolfpack 43–28. The boys lost 37–24, marking their first CCL loss of the season.    

Loyola's wrestling program competed in the Chicago Catholic League (CCL) over the weekend. Congratulations to the team, which placed fifth place overall. A number of Ramblers earned individuals distinctions. First place and CCL champion: Massey Odiotti '23; 2nd place: Mike Williams Jr '22; 3rd place: Quinn Herbert '24; 5th place: Danny Herbert '23; 5th place: Joey Herbert '25; 6th place: Hunter Pacholski '23. In addition, we congratulate Head Coach Matt Collum on being named the CCL Lawless Coach of the Year!

Congrats to Loyola's gold hockey team on winning the 2022 Jesuit Cup in a 3–2 overtime victory over St. Ignatius! Goals by Zachary Waltman '23, Jack Gustafson '22 and Nicholas Malaniuk '22 with Bradin Haynie '23 in the net. The Jesuit Cup is an annual tradition that began in 2017. Now in its fifth year, the competition took place January 15–17. Hockey teams from the following schools competed at Johnny's IceHouse West (Chicago) and American Heartland Ice Arena (Lincolnwood): Loyola Academy, St. Ignatius, Regis Jesuit, Gonzaga, Notre Dame and Rockhurst.

Congratulations to Loyola Academy's dance teams! Both the varsity Ramblerettes and the JV Ramblerettes took first place in the 2022 Catholic League Dance Championship. The competition was hosted at Loyola on Sunday, January 16. Participating schools included Carmel Catholic, Marist, Fenwick, St. Ignatius, Benet and Providence Catholic.

Loyola Academy mourns the loss of longtime educator Joseph R. Taylor, who passed away on December 19, 2021. Joe spent fifty-three years serving our community as a teacher, campus minister and board member. With this wisdom, kindness and exemplary model of faith in action he inspired generations of Ramblers to be women and men for others.

On Saturday, January 8, a group of Loyola Academy students, accompanied by two faculty chaperones, attended the 2022 March for Life at the Federal Plaza in downtown Chicago. Chaperoning the event, which was open to all students, were Campus Ministers Mr. Paul D. Leon and Rev. Stanislaw Czarnecki, SJ. Due to concerns over the current surge in COVID-19 cases, students only participated in the rally’s outdoor programming.

Loyola Academy senior Eveanna “Evey” Mendoza has been awarded admission to college through The Posse Foundation, which works to improve college access and attests that the key to a promising future for our nation rests on the ability of strong leaders from diverse backgrounds. Since 1989, Posse’s sixty three partner colleges have awarded $1.6 billion in scholarships to over 10,000 Scholars.

One of Student Council’s main goals for the 2021–2022 school year is to bring the Loyola Academy community together. The student leadership club hasn’t skipped a beat since classes began in August, and they’ve been focused on connection and community ever since. The first thing they did to achieve this goal? Student Council combined the separate grade level councils of the sophomore, junior and senior classes into one large group. This brought about greater community, collaboration and communication. The change also helped highlight different perspectives since multiple the grade levels were represented at once. For the first semester, the freshman council still met separately to learn leadership skills and get to know one another, but they’ll join the larger council in the second semester.

Loyola’s young alumni in college enjoyed a networking forum on the evening of Tuesday, January 4, in the Marillac Room. Open to alumni from the Classes of 2018 through 2021, the programming was sponsored by the President’s Leadership Council (PLC) and included a panel discussion with fellow Rambler alumni.

Loyola Academy senior Kiet C. “Ken” Lam has been awarded admission to college through QuestBridge, a national nonprofit based in Palo Alto, California, that connects the nation’s most exceptional, low-income youth with full four-year scholarships to top colleges. Ken will attend Hamilton College in New York where he will study neuroscience.