News Archives

Loyola Academy is proud to recognize the following ten seniors as Commended Students in the 2022 National Merit Scholarship Program: Robin B. Chow, Ella G. Conley, Emilia Harrington, Max W. Makowski, Samuel P. Monterola, Grant Racine, Martha E. Santiago, Andrew R. Sheedy, Diana Tuebo and Meghan F. Twohig.

It was a wonderful day on the links at the North Shore Country Club in Glenview as alumni, parents and friends of Loyola Academy gathered for the 27th annual Ramblers Golf Outing on Monday, September 20.

Members of the Classes of 1960 and 1961 gathered to celebrate their 60th Rambler Reunions on Saturday, September 18. Last year’s gathering restrictions prevented the Class of 1960 from celebrating in person, so this year both classes were invited to campus to mark the very special occasion of their 60th reunions.

Members of the Class of 1956 gathered to celebrate their 65th Rambler Reunions over a fun-filled weekend on September 17–19.

On Sunday, March 21, Loyola Academy parents and students participated in the annual Family Mass and Day of Service, sponsored by the Rambler Parent Organization (RPO). Loyola Academy President Rev. Patrick E. McGrath, SJ, presided over a virtual Mass before participants set to work on projects that enabled them to answer the call to serve others.

Nearly 500 parents and guardians of freshman and sophomore Ramblers gathered on the evening of Thursday, September 9, at a mixer hosted by the Rambler Parent Organization (RPO). The casual event took place outside on the Mary and L. Robert Pasquesi '62 Piazza courtyard and encouraged parents to get acquainted with one another and meet new friends.

Freshman families gathered for a beautiful Mass on the morning of Sunday, September 19, under blue skies and bright sunshine. Loyola Academy President Rev. Patrick E. McGrath, SJ, presided over Mass, which took place outside on Hoerster Field. Guests had their choice of seating in the bleachers or on chairs set up on Amato Track. This special liturgy provided a wonderful opportunity for freshmen and their families to pray together in gratitude for the start of a school year.

The Loyola Academy community celebrated its annual Mass of the Holy Spirit on the football field on Friday, August 20, to mark the beginning of the 2021–2022 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 of the Holy Spirit in the upcoming year. This year’s Mass was especially important as it was the first time the school community has been able to gather as a whole in nearly two years.

Hundreds of parents, students and their siblings gathered on Sunday, August 29, to reconnect at Loyola’s Open Campus Day. The event celebrated the start of the 2021–2022 school year and the return to full, in-person learning. Storm clouds cleared and the sun began to shine just in time for the start of Mass presided by Loyola Academy President Rev. Patrick E. McGrath, SJ.

The start of the 2021–2022 school year brought the entire Rambler community back to campus for the first time since the global pandemic forced a closure of schools in March 2020. Last year, Loyola Academy enacted a successful hybrid learning model that blended in-person with remote learning for the entirety of 2020–2021. Fast forward one year and the usual excitement of the back to school season has been amplified by the joy of Ramblers reconnecting with friends and classmates together as a whole.

Loyola Academy’s Rambler Parent Organization (RPO) hosted a virtual trivia night in lieu of the traditional Ramble Rouser, a parent mixer held in the East Gym, on Friday, January 22. The event serves as a kickoff to the Ramble season, and this year’s virtual format provided for a fun new twist on this annual parent gathering.

The Christmas spirit was in full swing with the Rambler Parent Organization's St. Nick's Mass and Drive from Sunday, December 6, to Saturday, December 12.

In September, the National Merit Scholarship Corporation named six Loyola Academy students National Merit semifinalists. The National Merit Scholarship Program honors individual students who show exceptional academic ability and potential for success in rigorous college studies. Congratulations to Morgan C. Baskfield, Matthew J. Griesmeyer, Mark Gabriel C. Gonzalez, John P. Phillips, Amanda M. Rajkovich and Peter D. Scheidt.

Members of the Classes of 1970 and 1971 gathered to celebrate their 50th Rambler Reunions over a fun-filled weekend on September 10 and 11. Last year’s gathering restrictions prevented the Class of 1970 from celebrating in person, so they quickly pivoted to a Zoom celebration in 2020. This year, both classes were invited to campus to mark the very special occasion of their 50th reunions.

On September 11 and 12, the Loyola Academy Sailing Club (LASC) varsity team fielded two boats, one in A division and one in B division, at the Kick Off Classic Regatta hosted by Sheridan Shore Sailing School (SSSS). Loyola placed 3rd overall against 15 teams, several of which were from Wisconsin and Michigan. The competition included: Arrowhead High School, Sheboygan North High School, UChicago Lab Schools, Culver Academies, Jones College Prep, Whitney Young, Marquette University High School, Lyons Township High SchoolS, Detroit Country Day and Lane Tech College Prep, among others.

To honor the 20th anniversary of 9/11, members of Loyola Academy's Student Council led an effort to create a display of American flags at the school's highly visible sign on the corner of Lake and Laramie Avenues.

Loyola Academy held its first meeting of the Bowman Scholars Program for freshmen and sophomores on Monday, August 30, and juniors on Tuesday, August 31. The program was established in 2020 to provide programming and assistance for high-achieving, first-generation-to-college students and is named for Sister Thea Bowman (1937–1990), a Roman Catholic religious sister who was an educator, missionary disciple and advocate for cultural awareness and racial harmony.

Congratulations to the varsity girls' volleyball team which finished first in the 32 team Crimson Classic hosted by Plainfield North!

The arts have the powerful ability to bring communities together through collaboration, vision and shared experiences. At the conclusion of the 2020–21 school year, Loyola students participated in Sending Forth Days, which served as a recommitment to our community goals of wellness and oneness. During Sending Forth Days, Ramblers talked with classmates, shared their creativity and contributed beauty, humor and vision as they participated in a collaborative art project. Small group cohorts each created a square tile comprised of individually made round tiles. In the fall of 2021, faculty, staff and members of the Class of 2025 also created tiles.

Loyola Academy welcomed over 140 incoming freshmen on Monday, August 16, to Academic Jumpstart. This free, two-hour tune-up session was offered to all members of the Class of 2025 and focused on setting students up for success as they begin their high school journeys.

This month, we caught up with Rev. Brian G. Paulson, SJ ’77, who was appointed as the next president of the Jesuit Conference of Canada and the United States by Rev. Arturo Sosa, SJ, superior general of the Society of Jesus. Fr. Paulson has served as provincial of the USA Midwest Province since 2014 and will assume his new position this fall.

This August, MaxPreps recognized Loyola Academy as the top athletics program in the state of Illinois. This is a well-deserved honor for our outstanding athletics program which works nonstop to support our student-athletes.

Loyola Academy students partnered with West Side Coalition (WSC) for a special one-day summer service opportunity at Chicago Jesuit Academy, 5058 W. Jackson Blvd, on Sunday, July 25. WSC was founded by Rambler alumni Taquarius Earl '12, Imani Flowers '13, Martin Hunter '12 and Fredrick Reed '12, and evokes social action through educational and charitable efforts in one of the most highly concentrated areas of socioeconomic disparity, crime and violence in the City of Chicago.

The inaugural class of Loyola Academy’s Bowman Scholars gathered for a retreat on Saturday, June 19. The day was a wonderful welcome for the incoming scholars and their families who had the opportunity to spend time on campus and meet their fellow classmates before beginning classes in the fall. 

Congratulations to our girls' and boys' varsity lacrosse teams—both are 2021 IHSA State Champions!

We congratulate two Loyola Academy alumni who were ordained to the priesthood on Saturday, June 12, at Church of the Gesu in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Fr. Thomas A. Bambrick, SJ, ’99 will serve as director of Jesuit mission and identity at Cristo Rey Jesuit High School Twin Cities. Fr. Hung T. Nguyen, SJ, ’06 will be missioned to serve as parochial vicar at Sacred Heart Parish in El Paso, Texas. Also ordained were Frs. Aaron Malnick, SJ, and Jeffrey Sullivan, SJ, who both completed their regencies teaching Theology at Loyola. Our continued prayers are with Thomas, Hung, Aaron and Jeffrey as they begin this next chapter.

Beginning August 2021, Loyola Academy will move ahead with plans to replace two synthetic turf athletic fields at the Theodore G. Munz, SJ, Campus, a 60-acre site in Glenview that is home to the school’s practice and competition fields in soccer, field hockey, lacrosse, baseball, softball, and cross country. The project is part of the larger Turf and Athletic Enhancement Initiative, an endeavor that began in 2020 with a $1.3M goal to update a total of three athletic fields: one on the school’s main campus in Wilmette and two at the Munz Campus in Glenview.

During the second semester, twenty one students representing all four graduating classes, along with eleven faculty and staff members, collaborated on content to enhance an Ignatian spirituality app sponsored by the Institute for Advanced Jesuit Studies (IAJS) at Boston College. This virtual pilgrimage app, Journey with Ignatius, connects a community of pilgrims and follows the footsteps of Ignatius from his years as a young page in Arevalo, Spain, to his final days as Superior General of the Society of Jesus in Rome, Italy.

When Fulbright Scholar Mary Kate Vanecko ’13 arrived in South Africa in 2017 to teach English to high school students, she wasn’t certain if the boxing gloves she’d brought with her—remnants of her cross-training days on the varsity lacrosse team at College of the Holy Cross—would stir up much interest in her future students. But when she realized that sports options at the high school where she was teaching were limited, she unpacked the gloves and began a boxing program that became a wildly popular after school activity.

Loyola Academy is pleased to announce plans to construct a memorial wall to honor alumni veterans from all branches of service. Notably, those who were killed in action or listed as missing in action during a recognized conflict will receive special recognition and be listed by name. The wall will also honor faculty and staff veterans.

On Thursday, May 27, Loyola Academy honored the retirement of eleven outstanding faculty and staff members at an end of the year Mass in the East Gym.

Three seniors from the Class of 2021 received American Association of Teachers of French (AATF) Awards. Congratulations to Francesca Hamacher and Margaret “Maggie” Enrietto, who each received the Excellence in French Award, and Margaret Kolada, who received the Outstanding Senior in French Award. The AATF was founded in 1927 and has as its mission the promotion of the study of French language and French-speaking literatures and culture at all levels.

On Saturday, May 22, Loyola Academy celebrated its 111th Commencement Exercises at the Allstate Arena in Rosemont. With family and friends present, 479 members of the Class of 2021 gathered one last time as classmates and departed as Loyola alumni.

Recent Loyola Academy graduate Aidan Hulseman ’21 marks the thirteenth and final Rambler to be sent through Loyola Academy by parents Patrice and Paul J. Hulseman ’78! Loyola Academy celebrates and applauds the Hulseman Family’s commitment to Catholic, Jesuit education.

Loyola hosted Sending Forth Days for underclass students on May 24–26. Similar to Orientation Days in August, the Sending Forth Days served as a recommitment to our community goals of wellness and oneness. Freshman, sophomore and junior students were on campus with their entire class for team building activities that included guided reflections, Mass, making art and more. The day provided opportunities to reflect on the year and make connections and preparations for the fall.

The Principal’s Office and the Office of Student Activities worked hard this spring to host a number of special events and senior-only activities for the Class of 2021. These opportunities to be together and spend additional time on campus were much needed after an unusual year of hybrid learning and time spent apart.

On May 12, Hope Squad members Lauren Dziedzic ’22 and Julia Swanson ’22 organized a webinar for Loyola students and parents with two prominent guest speakers, Dr. Elizabeth Lombardo, nationally known as America’s most trusted celebrity psychologist with media interviews including The Today Show, Dr. Oz, Forbes and more, and Loyola alumna Cristin McAuley ’00, LCPC, president of CMCM Services, Inc. The discussion was titled “How Teens Can Cope With the Past Year's Stressors” and focused on overcoming mental health issues within the context of a global pandemic. 

We congratulate Computer Science Teacher Mrs. Anita Debarlaben on becoming a state finalist for the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST)! The Presidential Awards are the highest honors bestowed by the United States government specifically for K–12 science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and/or computer science teaching.

On Sunday, May 16, senior Ramblers and their parents or guardians gathered on Loyola Academy’s Hoerster Field to celebrate the Baccalaureate Mass, held each spring to honor the graduating class. The in-person celebration hosted graduates and their parents/guardians, and a livestream of the event was available to the wider community. In his Homily, Loyola Academy President Rev. Patrick E. McGrath, SJ, told the Class of 2021: “You find yourself at an extraordinarily important and beautiful moment of transition and growth.”

Every year, Loyola Academy’s Honors Convocation recognizes the academic and cocurricular achievements of students. This year’s ceremony, held virtually, premiered on Wednesday, May 12, and a recording is available to view on RamblerStream.

The Ignatian Jubilee Year, which will be celebrated by the Jesuits worldwide and by the Loyola Academy community, commences on Thursday, May 20, 2021. This date is the 500th anniversary of a cannonball shattering the legs of St. Ignatius at the battle of Pamplona in 1521. Often referred to as his “cannonball moment,” this traumatic injury marks the beginning of Ignatius' spiritual journey and the great conversion of his life from soldier to servant of Christ.

Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, there was no social gathering to celebrate and acknowledge this year’s winning student entries in the 39th annual Newhouse Architecture and Design Contest sponsored by the Chicago Architecture Center. This contest inspires high school-aged students from the metropolitan Chicago area to create solutions to very specific site problems. This year’s emphasis highlights the City of Chicago’s new INVEST South/West Initiative by concentrating students’ efforts on projects that improve the quality of life on the city’s south and west sides.

The Loyola Academy Spring Art Show was held in the Piazza April 26–29.  Entitled The Art of Resilience, the show celebrated the exceptional accomplishments of our student artists during this very unusual year.  In a time of uncertainty and challenge, the artists and designers of Loyola triumphed. They created art and designs that expressed vision and insight, capturing the beauty and unique diversity of our shared experiences. The artworks on display represented all the Visual Arts classes at Loyola: Studio 1, Studio 2: Art and Social Change, Honors Studio 3, AP Studio Art, Graphic Design, Architecture 1, Honors Architecture 2, Structural Design,  Photography 1 and Honors Photography 2.  

Students in Mr. Brian Padden’s 6-track freshman Physics class recently had an assignment to build a rollercoaster for a marble out of tubing and any other materials as they saw fit. Continue reading to see photos of the creative results!

The Loyola Academy Dance Company (LADC) Spring Dance Concert, directed by LADC Moderator and Dance Teacher Debbie Henslee, was a delightful example of creativity and collaboration. Congratulations to the following LADC members, who choreographed three original dances: Adriana Ahern ’24, Elizabeth Collins-Ward ’22, Gabby Martinez ’21, Ariana Nebolsky de Ochoa ’24, Lila Noble ’22, Maya Riley ’22 and Samarah Souffrant ’22.

Loyola’s string musicians showcased their talents on the evening of Monday, May 10, in a virtual concert that premiered at 7:00 p.m. on RamblerStream.

Congratulations to Hope Squad members Liam Zidar ’22 and Lauren Dziedzic ’22, who will represent Loyola Academy on the Hope Squad National Council next year! The Hope Squad National Council is composed of 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.

Eleven Ramblers received awards for their outstanding achievement on the 2021 National Latin Exam (NLE) this spring.

On Tuesday, April 27, Loyola Academy Major Gifts Officer Les Seitzinger '88 and Vice President of Alumni and network Engagement Marty Jennings ’98 ventured west to visit with Rambler alumni and benefactors in sunny California.

Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month is celebrated for the duration of the month of May and recognizes the contributions and influence of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders to the history, culture and achievements of the United States. Mrs. Yatabe's Studio 2 Art  and Honors Studio 3 celebrated through the study and creation of drawings, paintings and sculptural artwork.

Loyola Academy’s Virtual Band Concert took place on Wednesday, May 5. Congratulations to our talented musicians who worked hard to produce a beautiful concert!

As a culminating event of the Ignatian Service Learning (ISL) courses, all ISL program students participated in an evening of conversation on Wednesday, April 28. In sessions organized by course and the three service learning pathways, students discussed what they learned about service, social issues and their commitment to justice over the course of the year. The unique virtual forum enabled parents and families to partake and celebrated the year of service learning and civic engagement, despite the ongoing pandemic.

In April, the LA Tank program wrapped its sixth successful year by awarding students an opportunity to collaborate and present their ideas to a panel of Loyola alumni entrepreneurs.

Congratulations to senior and Sociedad Honoraria Hispánica (Spanish Honor Society) member Lily McManamy, who was selected for publication in Albricias, the society's student magazine. The magazine contains essays, poetry, short articles, photography and artwork created by student members and is published twice a year.  

Congratulations to our student-athletes! The spring sports season ended on Saturday, April 24, and the Ramblers had outstanding showings on the court and field. The following Loyola Academy teams competed in a non-traditional shortened spring season, which did not include an IHSA state series, due to the cancellation of their seasons in fall 2020. However, the athletes made the most of their opportunities. Overall 465 athletes competed on 12 teams during the spring sports season.

Congratulations to senior RB Vaughn Pemberton who was named MVP of the Chicago Catholic League Blue (Lawless Award) and Chicago Sun Times 2020–2021 Player of the Year! Next year, Pemberton is taking his talents to Ball State University.

Loyola Academy Choir Program’s spring Pops Concert featured our talented concert choir, contemporary vocal ensemble (CVE), chorale and honors chorale, and honors chamber singers performing pieces such as Frank Sinatra’s  "The Way You Look Tonight," The Beatles’ “Here Comes the Sun,” Louis Armstrong’s “What a Wonderful World,” and Cyndi Lauper’s "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun” among others.

To amplify the electrifying energy of March Madness, Loyola hosted an intramural 3x3 basketball tournament which was open to all students. Throughout the month of March, 472 students played on 118 teams. In total, 245 games were played.

On Tuesday, April 27, and Wednesday, April 28, 104 students were inducted into Loyola Academy’s Spanish Honors Society, San Ignacio de Loyola chapter. The ceremony took place in the Chapel and on Zoom. The Spanish Honor Society is moderated by Spanish Teachers Tania Pineda and Erica Nathan Gamauf.

Congratulations to the Ramblerettes, Loyola Academy's competition dance team and spirit squad, for finishing 9th in the nation for jazz and 10th in the nation for pom at the UDA National Dance Team Championship virtual division!

Every Friday, faculty members in the English department host "The Great English Bake Off," a fun spin on PBS’s “The Great British Baking Show.” “Once we were all vaccinated, we decided to do this as a community building opportunity for our department and others throughout the building,” says English Department Chair Mrs. Elaine Mueller.

After a whirlwind year and before the rush to the cross the line in May, we asked members of the Class of 2021 to reflect on their four years at Loyola. Our seniors began their Rambler journeys in the Fall of 2017. In the time since, they've studied new languages, examined universal themes in literature, completed countless hours of service work and learned important life lessons. They've made new friends, won championships and served as leaders of the school during a memorable time. And, most importantly, they've evolved into young women and men for others, poised to make a profound impact on the world.

The American Association of Teachers of French (AATF) has recognized Loyola Academy’s French program, by unanimous recommendation, as “Exemplary with Distinction" for 2021–2024, the highest recognition possible. Notably, Loyola Academy is the only school in the nation with this designation. Congratulations to French Teachers Ms. Catherine Kendrigan, Mrs. Inna McNally and Mr. Thomas Sapp!

Loyola Academy's Department of Performing Arts and Thespian Troupe 4729 performed the virtual musical “57th National Mathlete Sum-It” on April 15–18. The story follows an almost all-girl high school math team from Waukesha, Wisconsin, as it competes in the National Math SUM-IT. These smart and funny whiz kids must unite to solve difficult math problems without getting distracted by teen drama and pressures.

The National Center for Women & Information Technology (NCWIT) announced that Computer Science Teacher Anita Debarlaben is a 2021 Aspirations in Computing Educator Award Honorable Mention. In addition, five members from Loyola’s Women in STEAM Club also won an NCWIT student award. Congratulations to Grace Beard ’21, Mia Aleman ’21, Amelia Dorgan ’22, Hermella Towodros ’22 and Ardyn Chin ’22.

A vision for the Loyola Academy campus 10 years in the making is now officially underway in Wilmette! A small group of school leaders, benefactors and stakeholders gathered in a private ceremony on Sunday, March 28, to mark the groundbreaking of the new $27 million Loyola Academy Center for the Performing Arts, home of the Leemputte Family Theater. The event hosted a limited number of guests due to current COVID-19 restrictions, and a highlights video was shared with the larger community to join in the excitement of this special milestone in the school’s history.

To align with the celebration of Women’s History Month, the Women Leaders of Loyola Club hosted a “Women in Industry” panel in March with five guest speakers who discussed their careers and paths to success. Four Loyola Academy alumnae and one current Loyola mother shared their stories via Zoom. The panel was hosted during lunch periods and on-campus students were invited to participate in the panel discussion from Loyola’s Theater.

Watch as Head Football Coach and former NFL linebacker John Holecek talks about building Loyola Academy into one of the top high school football programs in the nation. Holecek speaks with High School Football America's Jeff Fisher about his growth as a high school football coach, football during the coronavirus pandemic and more. 

On Friday, March 19, Loyola Academy faculty and staff participated in an annual day of reflection. Situated in the season of Lent—a time set aside for contemplation, spiritual growth, and conversion—faculty and staff engaged in a "forced pause." Using St. Ignatius' Examen as a template, Loyola’s teachers and staff members were invited to reflect on the unexpected graces and blessings of this past year, as well as the ways we have all been called to conversion, to a transformation of our hearts.

This spring, Loyola Academy honors seven 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.

Loyola Academy President Rev. Patrick E. McGrath, SJ, offered a virtual Palm Sunday Mass for the Loyola community on March 28.

Loyola Academy’s Scholastic Bowl team recently joined over one hundred high school students from across the country and globe to compete online in Buzzword, a web-based academic competition with divisions for middle school, high school and college competitors. Players listen to recordings of questions being read and buzz in as soon as they think they know the answer. National Academic Quiz Tournaments created Buzzword to allow academic competitions to continue during social distancing.

A fleet of golf carts, navigated by Loyola faculty and staff members, awaited seniors as they arrived at school on March 25–26 and valeted them in style from the student parking lot to the main entrance for an unforgettable red carpet entry.

On Tuesday, March 23, Loyola Academy's College Counseling Department hosted its annual College Fair for students and parents to begin the college exploration process. Though this year’s event was virtual, with over 100 colleges and universities in attendance it remains one of the largest fairs in the state of Illinois.

On March 19–21, Loyola Academy and Francis W. Parker School in Chicago co-hosted the inaugural Young Women of Color (YWOC) Symposium, which led nearly two hundred 7th to 12th grade participants from twenty schools in a series of workshops, affinity groups sessions and activities that enabled students who self-identify as young women of color to explore and celebrate their identities.

Loyola Academy condemns all acts of violence and stands in solidarity with our brothers and sisters in the Asian-American community.

This past month, Loyola Academy brought back its intramural bags tournament that lasted a span of eight days before crowning new tournament champions. Adhering closely to health and safety guidelines, Mr. Chris Ackels, who leads the intramurals program, and a team of student leaders are dedicated to continuing fun, in-person and socially distant activities for all Ramblers.

Thank you for rallying with your fellow alumni in support of today's students on Ramblers Rally Day on March 11! By the end of the day, more than 256 Ramblers from the Classes of 1937 to 2020 rallied together and contributed more than $145,000 to support our current students. This is the highest number of gifts made from alumni in a single day! See more Ramblers Rally Day results or make your own gift online now.

On Wednesday, March 10, Loyola Academy’s Faith Formation Program was blessed to welcome Daniel P. Horan, OFM, PhD, as its final speaker in the Faith and Culture in Conversation series. The virtual presentation was titled "Seeking Hope in a Time of Fear,” and Fr. Daniel discussed how fear operates in our lives and offered resources from the Christian tradition to assist us in seeking authentic hope.

Ebony Scott '98 was in Loyola's first class to graduate young women. She returned to LA this month to virtually speak with the Ignatian Service Learning (ISL) Program and brought a poignant and powerful perspective to current students. Today, Ebony serves as the partnership director at Family Independence Initiative, an California-based nonprofit that accelerates the exchange of financial and social capital in low-income communities across the nation.

Sisters Meredith McGrath '06, client services and business development executive at The Children's Investment Fund (TCI), and Margaux McGrath '08, management associate at J.P. Morgan, virtually spoke to the Women Leaders of Loyola Club about their college experience at Georgetown University, their career paths and beyond. The informal conversation was ripe with advice for current students, who had many opportunities to ask Meredith and Margaux their questions about navigating life after high school.

The Ignatian Service Learning (ISL) Program recently hosted a panel of Loyola Academy faculty members on the topic of diversity, equity and inclusion and creating a more just community at LA. Faculty speakers included Language Teacher Mrs. Tania Pineda, School Counselor Ms. Rosanna Suh, and Visual Arts Teacher Mr. Keith Brown. The panel was moderated by ISL students Alex Brennan ’21, Amiaya McCord ’21, and Angelica Milkie ’21.

Congratulations to all of the Loyola Academy orchestra students who participated in the IHSA Solo and Ensemble Virtual Contest 2021! Everyone did an outstanding job and received either an excellent or outstanding rank.

Congratulations to our student-athletes! The winter sports season ended on Saturday, March 13, and the Ramblers had outstanding showings in the pool, on the court, and more.

Loyola Academy’s Women in STEAM Club recently hosted a virtual workshop to help local Girl Scout Brownies, ages six to nine years old, earn their computer expert badges. Fourteen participants were led by current Ramblers Kaitlin Vagra ’22, Amelia Dorgan ’22, Sophia Murphy ’22, Paris Gapp ’22, Martha Santiago ’22, Flor Pallchizaca ’23, Ines Galiano ’22, Elizabeth “Zeb” O’Hara ’24, Sophie Monterola ’24, Klaudia Partyka ’22 and Ardyn Chin ’22.

The 2021 virtual Band Concert took place on Tuesday, March 9, and featured Loyola Academy’s talented concert band, percussion ensemble and symphonic band.

Throughout the month of February, Loyola’s Student Diversity Board encouraged  Ramblers to explore and celebrate the  contributions of Black Americans to our country and our community. Opportunities for reflection were on display all throughout the halls of Loyola Academy, urging students to pause and consider the impact and influence of Black history in their own lives.

Loyola’s Spring Choir Concert took place virtually on Wednesday, March 3, and featured the talents of students in chorale, honors chorale, contemporary vocal ensemble, concert choir and honors chambers.

Taking a break from their study of Amanda Gorman’s poem “The Hill We Climb,” Mrs. Stacey Zupec’s sixth period Honors American Literature class recently ended the school day with a fun hybrid dance off. Students in section A-K participated from home while students in section L-Z were in the classroom. The result? “A-K won for best team collaboration and L-Z won for best dance moves,” says Mrs. Zupec. “We love connecting to music in this class, and it was a fun way to wrap up the week.”

The winter Strings Concert took place virtually on Tuesday, March 2, and featured the talents of guitar and string orchestra students at Loyola Academy.

Photography I students had a unique opportunity to learn from guest speaker Jeremy Chou, a professional wedding photographer based in California. The architect-turned-fine-art-photographer is known for his ability to enchant viewers and tell a story through the images he captures. Chou's work has been featured in Harper's Bazaar, The Knot, and in the online blogs of The New York Times, Wedding Wire, and Martha Stewart.

Loyola Academy’s International Night, an annual celebration of the unique cultures and traditions that enrich our Rambler community, took place virtually on Friday, February 26. Heritage clubs worked diligently to keep many of the event’s beloved traditions, despite a modified virtual format and other limitations set in place due to COVID restrictions and health and safety guidelines.

On Tuesday, February 23, Honors Dance presented its concert titled “4,” a celebration of the four seasons. This year’s virtual concert marks the first collaboration between dance and film classes.

In 2018, when Patrick J. “PJ” Dwyer ’08 joined the team at Nosotros Tequila, the relatively unknown brand of small-batch agave spirits from Hermosa Beach had just stunned the industry when it was awarded Best Tequila, Best Silver/Gold (Unaged) Tequila, and a Double Gold Medal at the 2017 World Spirits Competition in San Francisco. As newcomers in the dense and notoriously competitive spirit industry, the company’s strong showing was anything but expected. And while these accolades put Nosotros Tequila on the map, an emerging partnership with one of the most recognized corporations in the world would soon open a new chapter for the young brand that holds its roots firmly in the pura vida lifestyle of Costa Rica, the rebel spirit of Mexico, and the laid back vibe of sunny California.

Loyola Academy’s AP Studio Art and Design Exhibition, now in its tenth 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 varsity and junior varsity Ramblerettes! The two teams had outstanding showings at three competitions this weekend: the Marist High School IHSA Invite, the Deerfield High School IHSA Invite and the UDA Spirit of the Midwest Competition.

Loyola Academy President Rev. Patrick E. McGrath, SJ, celebrated Ash Wednesday Mass on February 17 before school in the Chapel. The Mass was open to any students, faculty and staff in the building on the day’s B schedule, though space was limited in accordance with current COVID-19 restrictions. For those unable to attend, Mass was live streamed on Loyola’s website at goramblers.org.

The Loyola Academy Dance Collective, formerly Company B, is proud to virtually present its 2020–2021 showcase! Dancers have been preparing for months and have seamlessly incorporated technology into their rehearsals and choreography to bring their performances to life. The video broadcast was made possible by a collaboration with Rambler Stream, a student-led organization that delivers both live streams and pre-recordings of performances, athletic events and more.

Fifteen young alumni across a variety of industries and disciplines have signed on to mentor current students in the 2021 LA Tank entrepreneurial competition. The program was hatched by Sam J. Serio ’16 during his senior year at LA and is designed to inspire students to explore entrepreneurship while building relationships between Loyola students and alumni.

Loyola Academy’s National Merit semifinalist, senior Charles S. "Charley" Radtke, named by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) in September, has advanced to finalist standing. The NMSC honors individual students who show exceptional academic ability and potential for success in rigorous college studies.

On Wednesday, February 3, Loyola Academy Vice President of Athletics and Fitness Genevieve Atwood honored seventeen Rambler student-athletes at the February National Letter of Intent Signing Day Ceremony. Congratulations to the following student-athletes and their parents!

In March 2020, one month after Loyola Academy launched Hope Squad, a peer-to-peer program that trains "squads" of students to recognize peers at risk for suicide and then access immediate help from an adult, the global COVID-19 crisis took hold, forcing most schools and businesses into a strict lockdown. For a program modeled on building connections between students, the situation presented a seemingly insurmountable challenge. But, for the eighty-nine members of Loyola's Hope Squad, adaptability was the name of the game.

The National High School Strength Coaches Association (NHSSCA) announced its Coach of the Year award winners for each state on January 6. The organization named Loyola Academy Strength Coach Jeff Lindeman the winner in Illinois!

At the end of January, students were encouraged to listen to the speeches of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and create art and poetry inspired by his words. The result? Deeply moving images and poems expressing students’ anxieties, fears, and hopes for the future.

The month of February is dedicated to honoring the ways that the Black community has contributed to America's history and culture. Mrs. Yatabe's Studio 1, Studio 2 Art and Social Change, and Honors Studio 3 classes interpreted quotes from Black History into artwork to celebrate Black History Month.

Seniors Sean F. Dougherty and Charles S. "Charley" Radtke have been named candidates in the 2021 United States Presidential Scholars Program. Of the millions of high school seniors graduating this year, Sean and Charley are among only 4,500 students to receive an invitation to apply. Being selected as a candidate is a tremendous mark of distinction, and becoming a Presidential Scholar is one of the highest honors our nation’s high school students may receive.

Loyola’s Women in STEAM Club welcomed Tara Larrue ’09, a Chicago-based data scientist with a special interest in sustainability and the circular economy, to speak to Ramblers via Zoom about her career path. Larrue currently works at Civis Analytics, a data science consultancy dedicated to doing social, environmental and economic good. Specifically, her team supports the Governor’s office on matters related to COVID-19.

January is Human Trafficking Prevention Month. To increase awareness of this important humanitarian crisis, the Women Leaders of Loyola Club invited students to hear from a local survivor via a digital event on Wednesday, January 27. The survivor, Kimberly, shared her story and explained how the organization Selah Freedom has helped the mother of two rebuild her life.

We are pleased to announce that Loyola Academy is recognized for closing the gender gap in AP Computer Science Principles (CSP) and has earned the College Board's AP® Computer Science Female Diversity Award for expanding young women’s access to the AP course. This award acknowledges schools for their work to engage more female students toward equal gender representation in computer science classes. Loyola is one of only 831 schools to be recognized for achieving this important result in CSP.

When Loyola Academy adopted a hybrid schedule to maximize in-person learning, teachers went above and beyond to make the new model work for students. Director of Orchestras Mr. Patrick Rustandi knew that achieving harmony, even while apart, was essential for his music students. He has since made the most of the hybrid schedule with the help of a carefully curated selection of applications and software that creates a feeling of cohesion and unity, whether at-home or in-person, among the budding musicians in his classes.

Two Loyola Academy seniors, Omaru Konneh and Carla Flores, have 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 to develop solutions to complex social problems.

Loyola’s girls’ varsity basketball team, led by Head Coach Jeremy Schoenecker, has been recognized as one of the area’s best teams of the decade by Journals & Topics online. The team boasts six regional titles, one sectional, one super-sectional and a fourth place finish in 2012.

Loyola Academy is a proud partner in the North Shore Coalition for Drug-Free Communities (NSCDFC), which has recently received a federal grant of up to $625,000 over five years to implement evidence-based substance use prevention programming. The Coalition brings together committee members from Loyola with colleagues from New Trier and North Shore Country Day School as well as police officers and drug and alcohol counselors. Loyola Academy students have and will continue to benefit from NSCDFC programming, including educational webinars, presentations, training and materials on current drug and alcohol trends, and more. 

Brendan Cowhey ’10 and Brian Daly ’10, executive board members on Loyola’s young alumni President’s Leadership Council (PLC), recently sat down with Shawn Kohli ’00 and his business partner, Anthony Scala, who are new owners of City Volkswagen of Evanston. The interview is the first installment of a new video series called “How We Got Here” and explores paths to success for Rambler alumni across all industries.

Check out this wonderful feature of Loyola Academy's Vice President for Athletics and Fitness Genevieve Atwood in the Northshore Weekend's popular "Sunday Breakfast" series!