News Archives

Congratulations to Charlie Gross '18 who signed with Fordham University this week! 

In December, the Loyola Academy community hosted its annual Gonzaga Christmas Drive, raising over $30,000 and collecting hundreds of boxes of food and gifts for families in need. The Gonzaga Drive seeks to emulate the life and service of St. Aloysius Gonzaga, SJ, who worked with the poor and afflicted in Italy during the late 16th century. Loyola’s Campus Ministry department hosted the first drive in 2010, and it has since become an important holiday tradition at the Academy.

On Friday, December 8, the President's Leadership Council (PLC) hosted the second session of its networking Breakfast Speaker Series. Peter C. Lee ’97, founding partner of the private investment firm Summit Trail Advisors and Loyola Academy’s youngest trustee, was the event's featured speaker.

On Monday, December 4, Loyola Academy’s President Leadership Council (PLC) partnered with Catholic Charities to host its annual “Celebration of Giving” at the Merchandise Mart in downtown Chicago.

Congratulations to Loyola's own Neal K. Katyal '87 on breaking Thurgood Marshall’s record as the minority lawyer with the most arguments before the U.S. Supreme Court. His career total is 35 cases, with his 36th scheduled for this month.    

On the evening of Wednesday, December 6, officers of Loyola Academy’s chapter of the American Institute of Architecture Students (AIAS) visited the Cliff Dwellers Club high atop 200 S. Michigan Avenue to take part in the annual Christmas Show and Tell event sponsored by the Society of Architectural Historians. The event is a yearly accounting of the work of the members of the Society for the year just ending.

On December 8, Loyola Academy celebrated the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception with an all school Mass in the West Gym. During the homily, Rev. Stanislaw Czarnecki, SJ, encouraged students to recognize the many miracles—both large and small—in their daily lives.

Congratulations to the varsity football team on an outstanding season with an overall record of 11-2! In addition, we honor Head Coach John Holecek, who now holds the record for the most wins in LA history. Here’s a look at some highlights from the 2017 season.

On Thursday, November 30, current students, parents and alumni enjoyed dinner in Loyola’s student center to kick off Loyola Academy’s 2017–18 Student-Alumni Mentor Program. The program pairs young alumni mentors with current Loyola students to create a space for networking and mentorship within the Loyola family. Next is the program's annual dinner hosted by Ryan M. O'Donnell '95 at his Lincoln Park hot spot, Gemini. 

On November 11, approximately 40 Loyola students, along with members of Campus Ministry, the Mothers’ Club, the Fathers’ Network, LAST (Loyola Academy Service Team) and even Santa Claus himself, headed to Maternity BVM, a Catholic elementary school on the West Side of Chicago, for a festive Christmas party to kickoff the start of Loyola’s annual Gonzaga food and gift drive. The event served as a wonderful way to personalize the Gonzaga experience as Ramblers interacted with Maternity BVM students in activities like face painting, making snowflakes, creating scratch art ornaments, playing pin the nose on Frosty, writing letters to Santa and more.

Congratulations are in order for Emmy award winning Ramblers Mike Lowe '97 (WGN) and Timothy Powell ’73 (HMS Media)! On December 3, the Chicago/Midwest Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (NATAS) awarded Emmys for their outstanding work in news reporting.

In November, Loyola Academy’s Counseling Department hosted a series of Career Days for senior students with dozens of guest speakers representing a variety of professions from law, finance, technology, real estate, business, medicine and more. Each speaker provided diverse perspective and a valuable learning opportunity for seniors as they begin to consider their future paths.

Congratulations to Coach Jeremy Schoenecker on his 200th win after the girls' varsity basketball team defeated Phillips 73–72 in the New Trier Tournament over the weekend!

Coach Schoenecker took over the girls' varsity basketball program in 2008. Since then, he has clinched a winning record in all nine seasons—including four regional championships and a fourth place finish in Class 4A in 2012.

Congratulations Coach Schoenecker, and Go Ramblers!

Chicago-based artist Matt Bodett, who uses art to start conversations about mental illness and healing,  spoke to Loyola Academy students in Studio Art I and Studio Art II: Art and Advocacy, an Ignatian Service Learning course.

On Friday, November 10, guest speaker Mr. Terrence Hake visited History of Chicago classes to speak about his involvement in Operation Greylord, the famed 1980s investigation that exposed the corruption of the Cook County Court system. The investigation would become the biggest public corruption case in Illinois to date and remains an important historical and ethical lesson for students.

On Tuesday, November 7, the Honorable Jeffrey S. Sutton visited with AP Political Science students and offered Ramblers a rare opportunity for a candid discussion and insight from an influential member of government.

Congratulations to the Girls' Swimming and Diving team, who participated in the IHSA championships on Friday, November 17, and Saturday, November 18. Shannon Kearney '18 finished second in the 100 back and tenth in the 50 free. Emily Rourke '19 took home an 11th place finish in diving. The 200 medley relay team (Shannon Kearney '18, Alison Mulvey '21, Margaret Guanci '18 and Cassidy Coughlin '18) and the 200 free relay team (seniors Shannon Kearney, Cassidy Coughlin and Margaret Guanci and sophomore Chloe Brown) competed in prelims; however, both narrowly missed out on making the championship round on Saturday.

In August 2017, Illinois Public Act 100-0465 created the Invest in Kids Act (35 ILCS 40/1). This Act has several potential implications for current students and donors.

The Invest in Kids Act allows income tax credits for taxpayers who make authorized contributions to a Scholarship Granting Organization (SGO). The SGOs, in turn, provide scholarships for eligible Illinois students to attend non-public schools in Illinois. Many details about the program and application process are still being finalized, but we can share the following details.

This fall, two engineers from Northrop Grumman Corporation in Rolling Meadows visited computer science classes to discuss technology and big data with Loyola’s budding computer scientists in the school’s brand new STEM lab.  

Congrats Shannon Kearney ’18, Allison Mulvey ’21, Margaret Guanci ’18, Cassidy Coughlin ’18, Chloe Brown ’20 and Emily Rourke ’19, all of whom advanced to the IHSA Swimming & Diving finals this weekend!

Have you noticed an increase in monarch butterflies around Loyola Academy’s Glenview Campus? If the answer is yes, it’s likely thanks to the Eagle Scout Project of Nicholas Mergner '18.

Grace Balestrery ’18 was named to the 2nd All State Team by the Illinois High School Field Hockey Association (IHSFHA) for 2017. 

This fall, students in Studio Art II: Art as Advocacy visited Chicago’s Weinberg/Newton Gallery, an exhibition space that educates the public about social justice issues, drives change and cultivates a culture of consciousness. Ramblers encountered the gallery’s Bold Disobedience exhibition, a collection of works that grapples with issues such as racial justice, economic equity and LGBTQ rights and calls for civic action.

Rambler athletes are achieving success this season both on teams and individually.

On October 21, Ramblers from the Classes of 1977, 1987, 1992 and 1997 gathered at Loyola to celebrate their Rambler Reunions! The atmosphere was nostalgic and joyful as alumni shared stories, memories and endless laughs. 

The Loyola Academy Ramblers will take on the New Trier Trevians in the first game of the IHSA football playoffs on Saturday, October 28, at 2:00 p.m. at home on Hoerster Field.

Presale tickets will be sold on Wednesday, October 25, from 10:50 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. outside the Student Center and in the athletic office from 12:45 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Tickets will also be available during Parent-Teacher Conferences on Thursday, October 26, from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. in the athletic office. Tickets are $5.00 each.

On Tuesday, October 24, the Village of Wilmette Board of Trustees approved Phase 1 of our Campus Master Plan, which includes the construction of a new pool, a gathering space for students and improvements to our traffic management plan and parking lots.

“Loyola is grateful to Village leadership and our neighbors for the collaborative process that has brought us to this important moment in our history,” says Loyola Academy President Rev. Patrick E. McGrath, SJ.

On Friday, October 6, political science classes welcomed guest speaker Ms. Ariel Johnson, leader in education policy and current director of government affairs at the Illinois Network of Charter Schools (INCS), an Illinois education reform nonprofit organization. Johnson, a graduate of St. Ignatius College Prep, John Carroll University and Loyola University School of Law, spoke to students about blending the values of Jesuit education with her work in Springfield to ensure better access to quality education for all Illinois students.

On Wednesday, October 18, the Faith & Service Committee of the President's Leadership Council (PLC) hosted “Staying Grounded: Your Career,” a faith-based professional networking event for young alumni at Luxbar in Chicago. A panel of accomplished Loyola community members from various industries discussed how they have made faith an integral part of their everyday life.  

As the Headquarters company commander and supply officer at the Marine Corps Mountain Warfare Training Center in Bridgeport, California, Captain Edwin B. “Teddy” Powers ’07 knows a thing or two about leadership. But he’s the first to admit that wasn’t always the case. As he began his high school career at Loyola in 2004, Powers recalls, “I was barely able to speak a sentence, much less lead a team.” Through his involvement with Insignis and the Prep student newspaper and as a retreat leader, Powers developed valuable skills that laid the foundation for his future work.

Congratulations to the Boys’ and Girls’ Golf Teams, which competed in this weekend’s state championship series. The girls took 8th place and the boys took 5th place in state!

On Thursday, October 12, Loyola Academy's College Counseling Department hosted its annual College Fair. With over 250 colleges and universities in attendance, it is one of the largest fairs in the state of Illinois.

At this fall’s homecoming game on Saturday, September 23, Rambler fans, past and present, gathered to honor former Loyola coach Bob Spoo, one of the Chicago Catholic League’s greatest football coaches.

Members of the Class of 1962 gathered to celebrate their 55th Rambler Reunion over a fun-filled day on Saturday, October 7.

Loyola Academy is pleased to announce that the 2017 recipient of the Rev. Daniel A. Lord, SJ, Award for Distinguished Service in the Cause of Youth is Boys Hope Girls Hope. The organization will be honored at Loyola Academy’s President’s Dinner. 

In September, the National Merit Scholarship Corporation named eight 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.

Spirit Week is a great tradition in which each day has a themed dress code, unique activities for students and a chance to root for a variety of Rambler athletic teams in anticipation of the homecoming football game and dance.

In June, girls’ varsity lacrosse coach John E. Dwyer III ’67 led the team to its ninth consecutive state title—building a legacy at Loyola and a lacrosse dynasty with a winning streak that is the one of the longest in all of Illinois high school sports history for any sport.

Spirit Week activities continued on Tuesday, September 19, with the annual Powder Puff competition between the juniors and seniors at the Theodore G. Munz, SJ, Campus. 

On September 13, members of both the Loyola Academy and Loyola University communities gathered to pay tribute to Rev. Henry J. Dumbach, SJ, the Jesuit responsible for purchasing the land that would become Loyola University’s Lake Shore Campus. Before moving to Wilmette in 1957, Dumbach Hall was the original home of Loyola Academy when it opened its doors to 71 young men in September 1909.

In August, Loyola Academy fine and performing arts students welcomed John Musker ’71, accomplished writer, director and producer whose filmography includes several titans of the Disney catalog: The Great Mouse Detective (1986), The Little Mermaid (1989), Aladdin (1992), Hercules (1997), The Princess and the Frog (2009) and Moana (2016). 

It was a beautiful day for golf at the Glen View Club as alumni, parents and friends of Loyola Academy hit the links for the 23rd annual Ramblers Golf Outing on September 11.

Members of the Class of 1967 gathered to celebrate their 50th Rambler Reunion over a fun-filled weekend September 8–10.

Former Marine William B. McNulty III '95 is the cofounder of Team Rubicon, a nonprofit organization that unites the skills and experiences of military veterans with first responders to rapidly deploy emergency response teams to the scenes of natural disasters. Members of Team Rubicon headed to Houston and Florida after Hurricanes Harvey and Irma. 

On behalf of the Loyola Academy Mothers' Club Board, it is my sincere pleasure to welcome all the Loyola Academy moms as the 2017–18 school year begins.

The Illinois Civic Mission Coalition (ICMC) has recognized Loyola Academy as a 2017 Illinois Democracy School, an honor that will extend through the 2018–19 school year. Democracy Schools are recognized for providing students with authentic experiences in the rights, responsibilities and tensions inherent in living in a constitutional democracy. Through these experiences, participating schools strive to equip students with the knowledge, skills and dispositions necessary for informed, effective engagement in our democracy.

Loyola Academy welcomed the Class of 2021 with a new freshman orientation experience, including three days of programming and events for incoming Ramblers and their parents. Orientation is a significant occasion at Loyola as it marks the beginning of a four-year journey that will create an unshakable foundation and a world of possibility for each Rambler.

In 2006, Montana Butsch ’97 launched the Chicago Training Center (CTC)—a major sports nonprofit startup that has served thousands of inner-city children in Chicago by providing them with access to free rowing programs. Leveraging the benefits of an “alternative sport” as a way for underserved youth to distinguish themselves, the CTC has a unique approach to creating opportunities and opening doors.

A new partnership with Quest Food Management Services, Inc. brings exciting changes to dining at Loyola beginning in August 2017.

Peter E. Pujals '13 is the first athlete at the College of the Holy Cross to serve as a four-year captain. The distinction puts Pujals in an elite group of college athletes nationwide. During his senior year at Loyola in 2012, Pujals helped lead the Ramblers to the Class 8A semifinals. 

UPDATE: Captain Ryan McCarthy '92 was confirmed as the under secretary of the United States Army by a Senate voice vote on Tuesday, August 1. Loyola Academy extends its congratulations to Captain McCarthy! 

Service is at the core of a Jesuit education, and at the core of Andrew J. Kubicek ’15 is service. Now a junior at Boston College studying finance, entrepreneurship and sociology, Kubicek discovered his passion for serving others on a Loyola summer service trip to Nicaragua in 2014. He has returned every year since—coordinating a trip after graduating in 2015, serving as a graduate student leader in 2016 and now, in 2017, interning with Fabretto, a nonprofit organization run by fellow alumnus Kevin C. Marinacci ’85 that is committed to empowering underserved Nicaraguan children and their families.

This summer, the Varsity and JV Ramblerettes attended the Universal Dance Association (UDA) Dance Camp at Northern Illinois University. Both teams took first place with their home routine, and Varsity qualified for the National Dance Team Championship to be held in February 2018 at Disney World in Orlando, Florida.

On Wednesday, July 19, young Rambler alumni gathered at the Lockton Companies in Chicago to learn more about the President’s Leadership Council (PLC). New and interested members heard from PLC executive board members about Loyola’s junior board and its related committees: Faith and Service, Networking and Professional Development, and Membership and Fundraising.

While the Class of 2012 was celebrating its fifth reunion last month, Peace Corps volunteer Molly A. Matteson ’12 was nearly 6,000 miles away in a small rural village in the Western Region of Ghana. In January, Matteson embarked on a 27-month journey as a health educator for the 500 men, women and children who live in the village. “I was lucky enough to find a way to marry my love of service with my need for adventure,” she says.

In June, Morgan Banks ’18, Peri Ehlman ’17 and Emmet Wills ’18,the winners from this year’s student entrepreneurial LA Tank competition, enjoyed a weeklong series of meetings with alumni and interactive experiences at some of Chicago’s most innovative businesses including Illinois Tool Works, Twitter, The Lakota Group, Geller Capital, Google and 1871.

Singer and songwriter Jess Godwin ’01 returned to Loyola Academy this spring to work with choir students on a songwriting unit. The unit was designed to give students the opportunity to explore songwriting, Apple’s GarageBand software and basic chord progressions. Together, Godwin and Director of Choirs Mr. Matthew Begale worked to have the students explore their own interests and identity and produce their own piece.

On June 27, the Loyola Academy Varsity Football team hosted its 6th annual Misericordia Sports Day on Hoerster Field. This event has become a cherished tradition for Loyola’s football program and provides guests from Misericordia the opportunity to experience the thrill of playing high school football with the Ramblers.

On Saturday, June 24, Ramblers from the Class of 2012 reunited for their five year reunion. As old friends gathered at Standard Bar and Grill in Wicker Park, laughter, hugs and fond memories filled the air.

At the end of each academic year, Loyola Academy’s Dumbach Scholars Honors Program awards the Fausone Medal to an inspiring member of the Loyola community. The award is named for Molly Fausone ’08 who, despite a traumatic accident before her sophomore year, excelled in the classroom, on sports teams and as a key contributor to the Dumbach Scholars, an enrichment program designed to enhance the curriculum of Loyola’s most gifted students. The 2017 Fausone Medal recipient is O’Shaughnessy Program resource teacher and Boys’ Head Tennis Coach Mr. Tom Fitzgerald.

In the spring, Erin M. Conroy ’07 introduced her fitness startup Phyt at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business’s New Venture Challenge—an elite competition known for launching companies like GrubHub and Braintree. Phyt, led by Conroy and her business partners Brie Farmer and Ana Arruda, made it all the way to the competition’s finals in May. And they’re just getting started.

It was the trip of a lifetime for 19 Loyola Academy fine arts students, who spent a star-studded week in Los Angeles with some of Loyola’s most influential alumni in the entertainment industry.

On June 2, alumni members of the LA Bar Association and students from the Howlett Cup Mock Trial team gathered to hear Neal K. Katyal ’87, former solicitor general of the United States, deliver the keynote address at their third annual luncheon. Click here to watch an interview between WGN-TV's Mike Lowe'97 and Katyal.

To kickoff the start of summer, twenty six Loyola Academy choir students traveled to New York where they spent a fun-filled weekend experiencing the sights and sounds of the city and bonding as a choir family.

On Wednesday, June 14, Ramblers from the Classes of 1909–1966 gathered for a special Golden Rambler Reunion, which celebrates alumni who graduated from Loyola 50 or more years ago.

On Saturday, June 10, Ramblers from the Class of 2007 reunited for their 10-year reunion. As old friends gathered at Standard Bar and Grill in Wicker Park, laughter, hugs and fond memories filled the air.

On Saturday, May 27, Loyola Academy celebrated its 107th Commencement Exercises at the Joseph J. Gentile Arena on Loyola University’s Lake Shore Campus. With family and friends present, members of the senior class gathered one last time as classmates and departed as Loyola alumni.

Senior Zachary Holecek was named the 2017 Senior Scholastic Athlete of the Year at the Illinois Water Polo All-State Awards banquet on May 30. Holecek is the third Rambler in as many years to win the award, following Charles R. Hussey in 2015 and Michael J. Considine in 2016.

Loyola Academy students performed their first annual Cabaret Night on May 5. Cabaret is well known in the theater and arts community as an intimate performance that breaks through the “fourth wall” and enables actors to acknowledge and connect with the audience.

Seven Loyola Academy freshmen took the state Latin exam in late April and earned outstanding scores.

Bridget Galassini '12, Madeline Hahn '12 and Mary Kate Vanecko '13 have recently been awarded prestigious Fulbright Scholarships and the opportunity to teach English abroad. The Fulbright Program was established in 1946 and operates in over 160 countries worldwide.

Graduating senior Charles E. Power has been named a National AP Scholar, a prestigious distinction granted to students in the U.S. who receive an average score of at least four on all AP exams taken, and scores of four or higher on eight or more of these exams.

On Tuesday, May 23, Loyola Academy Athletic Director Patrick Mahoney '90 honored twenty-three Rambler student-athletes at the spring National Letter of Intent Signing Day Ceremony.

The Loyola Academy community celebrated its Sending Forth Mass on Tuesday, May 16. The Mass is an annual celebration of the school year, a recognition of the outstanding efforts of distinguished students and faculty and a send off for the senior class.  

This past weekend at the girls’ IHSA Track and Field State Championships, senior Margot Dooley finished in 3rd place overall in the 800 meter run—the highest state finisher in school history.

Students in Mrs. Jennifer Snyder’s Environmental Science Service Learning class were part of a University of Nebraska study of the Mississippi watershed. Over the course of five weeks, the class tested the North Branch of the Chicago River five times for Atrazine, Nitrates, Nitrites and Phosphates. 

A group of Loyola Academy students joined a team of Loyola alumni, parents and friends from Saints Faith, Hope and Charity parish in Winnetka for a service project that benefited Loyola’s own neighborhood.

Senior Jessica Gordon received an honorable mention in the Catholic Campaign for Human Development 2017 Multimedia Youth Art Contest. 

May 12–13 was Ramblerpalooza—a weekend full of fun for Loyola Academy seniors!

On May 9, over 200 Loyola Academy alumni gathered at Google’s Chicago offices to hear from Rambler business leaders and industry influencers. Hosted by Loyola’s President’s Leadership Council, “Growth in Chicago: An Emerging Hub” was a panel discussion and an opportunity for alumni to network across their professional fields.  

The Boys' Varsity Track Team won the Chicago Catholic League Outdoor Championship for the fourth consecutive year on Saturday, May 13, outscoring Marmion Academy by 2.5 points.

Members of the Students Against Violating the Earth (S.A.V.E.) hosted Loyola Academy’s annual Earth Day Fair on April 28. This year’s theme was “Innovation to SAVE Creation.” Exhibits in the student center and on the quad emphasized the important role of technology in creating a sustainable world and combating climate change.  

On April 9, over 260 members of the Loyola Academy community commenced Holy Week in prayer and service.  Rev. Patrick E. McGrath, SJ, celebrated Palm Sunday Mass on a beautiful spring morning. 

All Loyola Academy alumni are welcome to participate in the sixth annual Shoot for Steiner free throw contest benefiting Patrick Stein '11.

In April, Patrick Kramer ’17 represented the United States on the American Football Worldwide U.S.A. Elite high school team. Together with high school football players from across the country, Kramer traveled to Milan where he spent a week touring historical sites before competing in an international game against the National 19U Team of Italy.

The Latin I Certamen Team took first place in the Illinois State Certamen League Novice Division, defeating Hinsdale South High School in the finals in April. Novice team members include freshmen Alyanna Arlegui, Leo Brett, Derek Damasco, Ryan Dombrowski and Jonathan Merchan.  

Liam Stanton ’05 co-founded Buoy, a company which helps employers create better workplaces by providing them an easy way to offer their teams meaningful perks. From improv classes to meditation and yoga, Buoy’s events are designed to bring people together.

As part of Loyola Academy’s celebration of Solidarity Week, Campus Ministry welcomed an array of guest speakers to address this year’s theme of refugees and illuminate the plight of millions of displaced and marginalized individuals around the world. Students attended the presentations with their Theology classes.   

As part of Loyola Academy’s celebration of Solidarity Week in April, approximately 650 juniors in Theology and Ignatian Service Learning classes experienced a refugee camp simulation to illustrate the plight of those displaced by violence, extremism and persecution around the world.

Bridget Galassini '12, Madeline Hahn '12 and Mary Kate Vanecko '13 have been awarded Fulbright Scholarship Awards.

During his senior year at Loyola, Sam J. Serio ’16 hatched Loyola Academy’s LA Tank program to inspire students to explore entrepreneurship while building relationships between Loyola students and alumni. His vision was to bring students and alumni together in a dynamic career program that encouraged Ramblers to embrace innovation and think differently about their future career paths.

Seven Loyola Academy students have been selected from 800 entries from Chicago area high school students to display their work at the sixth annual Juried Student Perspectives Show. 

In April, approximately 70 freshman theology students participated in a Seder meal honoring the Jewish Passover as part of the curriculum for Sacred Stories I: The Old Testament. Taken in the second semester of freshman year, this course exposes students to the story and themes of salvation history by providing them with a strong foundation in Hebrew Scriptures.

Two Loyola Academy students in the Christology/World Religions class of Ms. Mary LaMont are finalists in the 2017 Leo and Antonia Gershanov Memorial Student Arts and Writing Contest sponsored by the Illinois Holocaust Museum and Education Center in Skokie.

In April, Loyola Academy hosted the seventh annual Jesuit National 4x5, a hybrid art show and competition that requires all entries to be just four inches by five inches. The competition is open to all Jesuit high schools and awards prizes in categories such as color drawing, black and white drawing, printmaking, digital design, mixed media, sculpture and more.

For the second year in a row, the Loyola Academy Mock Trial Team captured first place at the Howlett Cup Competition held at the Richard M. Daley Center in Chicago.

On March 24, members of Loyola Academy's Leadership Development and Mentor Program arrived on campus to shadow their current student mentees. The day provided a rare chance for alumni to relive the experience of a Rambler and reconnect with former teachers while getting to know their current student mentees better.

In March, Loyola’s Ignatian Service Learning Program welcomed a panel of alumni speakers to discuss immigration—a topic that has recently made headlines and sparked debate both domestically and abroad. Students from Justice Seminar, Spanish 4 Service Learning, Sociology Service Learning and Ethics classes were in attendance.

In March, approximately 80 freshman formation students spent time in class analyzing their understanding of and perspectives on inequality, marginalization, awareness and advocacy in the Loyola community. The result? A vibrant mural that spans two walls and serves as a visual reminder of the project’s theme—building an inclusive school community—and of students’ commitment to each other.

In March, Loyola Academy voice students hosted two Choir Exchange Programs for visitors from the Blake School in Minnesota and Edgewater High School in Orlando, Florida.

Loyola Academy had 89 performances, both music ensembles and soloists, at the 2017 IHSA Solo and Ensemble Festival on March 4. Musicians were featured from Loyola's orchestra, guitar, band and choir. Performers were rated on their performance and skills by teams of judges from across Illinois.  

Loyola Maroon defeated Crystal Lake South in the White Division State Championship on March 17.

Congratulations to the girls' track team which became Girls Catholic Athletic Conference (GCAC) champions over the weekend. The win marks the team's fourth consecutive championship title.

Loyola Academy's Department of Performing Arts and the Thespian Troupe 4729 performed the musical Urinetown on March 10–12 and March 17–19.

Hugh Neff '85 finished the 2017 Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race in 9 days, 11 hours, 40 minutes and 7 seconds.

During Loyola’s celebration of Diversity Week 2017, singer and songwriter Jess Godwin ’01 held songwriting workshops for students and discussed the challenges and successes of her career as a performer in both the music and theater worlds.

On Wednesday, March 8, Loyola Academy’s Mentor and Leadership Development Program visited NBC studios in downtown Chicago. The group met with Alex Maragos '09, NBC’s morning and afternoon lead anchor, and toured the network’s studios and control rooms.

Cheer on Loyola Academy girls' hockey in the state championship game! The girls' varsity Hockey team is defending its 2016 state title.

Donny Farrell '03, sous-chef at Lincoln Park's Oyster Bah, was featured on WCIU's "You & Me"  in March. Farrell discussed the restaurant's newest brunch creation, Captain Crunch French Toast. 

Loyola Academy welcomed author, activist and world-class athlete Maria Toorpakai during Diversity Week’s lineup of events. Toorpakai discussed her book, A Different Kind of Daughter: The Girl Who Hid From the Taliban in Plain Sight, in which she shares her harrowing journey of escape from an oppressive regime in a tribal region of northwest Pakistan to become, against all odds, one of the world’s top-ranked female squash players.

The capstone event of Diversity Week is International Night, an annual celebration of the unique cultures and traditions that enrich our Loyola community.

Actor, comedian and author John Morello presented his project “Dirt” to Loyola’s freshman and sophomore classes in March. “Dirt” is a one-man show that explores the challenges and decisions young people face every day. The performance raised awareness about the dangers of substance abuse and the importance of building an inclusive community.

Congratulations to Alexandra C. Gambacorata '14 who was honored by the Academic Support Staff at Marquette University as a "Blue & Gold Status" winner.

Congratulations to Johnny Miller '15 who broke two track and field records at DePauw University!

On March 3, the boys' varsity basketball team defeated rival New Trier 43–40 to capture the IHSA regional championship title.

Congratulations to the Latin I Novice Certamen Team, which currently holds first place in the region and will compete in the state finals in April. Novice team members include freshmen Alyanna Arlegui, Leo Brett, Derek Damasco, Ryan Dombrowski and Jonathan Merchan.

In February, Loyola Academy students joined their peers from Christ the King, Cristo Rey and St. Ignatius College Prep high schools to participate in a special Jesuit Day of Service.

Three Loyola Academy hockey players were chosen for the 2016–17 Blackhawk Alumni Association All Star Team.

In the Glenview Art League competition held Saturday, February 25, two photography students took home first place prizes.

Loyola Academy students headed to Chicago at 6:00 a.m. on March 2 for the 38th annual Bank of America Shamrock Shuffle 8K. The group’s Shamrock Shuffle fundraising efforts benefit the Off the Street Club of Chicago, serving more than 3,000 children in one of Chicago’s most impoverished neighborhoods. Two years ago, members of the LA Crew team led the first LA effort at the Shamrock Shuffle. Feedback was so positive that participation grew in 2017, with the group raising more than $4,000 this year—surpassing last year’s results. Congratulations to these women and men for others!

In February, the National Merit Scholarship Corporation named five of Loyola Academy’s six National Merit semifinalists as finalists. The National Merit Scholarship Program honors individual students who show exceptional academic ability and potential for success in rigorous college studies.

Daniel T. Kearns '07 pitched his newly launched start-up, soundBYTE App, at the 2017 South by Southwest (SXSW) Release It Competition in Austin on March 10.

The girls' varsity basketball team won the Class 4A IHSA Regional Championship, defeating Trinity High School 55-51 on Thursday, February 16.

Nothin' but Treble, Loyola Academy's all-female a cappella group, took third place in the Midwest Quarterfinals International Championship of High School Varsity A Cappella competition.

Congratulations to senior Ramar Evans who passed the 1,000-point milestone when he scored 23 points against Fenwich on February 15.

Four Loyola Academy swimmers and two divers qualified for state in the IHSA Sectionals held at Niles North High School.

The Chicago Catholic League (CCL) all-conference and all-league teams were honored before the CCL championship game. Ramblers Julian DeGuzman '17 and Kevin Cunningham '18 were voted all-conference, and Ramar Evans '17 was voted 1st team all-league.

Congratulations to Pat Corcoran '08 who manages Chicago-based artist and now three-time Grammy winner Chance the Rapper.

On February 5, sixteen students attended Loyola's 9th annual ice fishing trip at Liberty Lake in Libertyville, Illinois. The students, many first time ice fishermen, enjoyed a day of beautiful clear skies on the lake.

During his senior year at Loyola, Sam J. Serio ’16  hatched Loyola Academy’s LA Tank program to inspire students to explore entrepreneurship while building relationships between Loyola students and alumni. His vision was to bring students and alumni together in a dynamic career program that encouraged Ramblers to embrace innovation and think differently about their future career paths.

The Loyola Academy boys’ lacrosse team displays sportsmanship on and off the field through service projects to help others in need. On January 28, about 70 Loyola players and a number of parents volunteered at Feed My Starving Children in Libertyville. Founded in 1987, Feed My Starving Children is a Christian non-profit that provides nutritionally complete meals specifically formulated for malnourished children.

On January 30, University of Illinois engineering student Daniel Gardner ’13 had the opportunity to discuss his concept for free solar powered WiFi with Mayor Rahm Emanuel at the ThinkChicago job fair.  

Loyola Academy Athletics welcomed guests from Misericordia, Heart of Mercy for the boys' varsity basketball game against St. Rita High School on February 7.

On January 26, Loyola Academy’s Ping Pong team captured the coveted Golden Paddle after defeating St. Ignatius College Prep. The win represents the Ramblers’ ninth victory in as many years—the team has not lost an annual “Battle for the Paddle” match against St. Ignatius since the event’s inception in 2009.

It was packed house on Friday, January 27, as the Loyola Ramblers welcomed the Wolfpack of St. Ignatius College Prep for the highly anticipated Jesuit Cup basketball game. The game has become an annual tradition between the two Jesuit high schools.

On February 1, Loyola Academy Athletic Director Patrick Mahoney '90 honored eight Rambler student-athletes at the winter National Letter of Intent Signing Day Ceremony.

On January 25, Turkish Consul General Mr. Umut Acar delivered a guest presentation to Honors and AP Political Science students at Loyola Academy. Consul General Acar spoke with students about topics ranging from the war on terror, the refugee crisis, relations with the U.S. and religious and ethnic diversity and conflict in Turkey.  

On January 24, Loyola Academy French language students participated in a special Mass celebrated entirely in French. Rev. Brian G. Paulson, SJ, provincial of the Midwest Jesuits Chicago-Detroit Province and Loyola Academy graduate from the Class of 1977, presided.

In January, eight hockey teams from Jesuit high schools across the nation accepted an invitation from Loyola Academy’s varsity hockey program, Loyola Gold, to participate in the inaugural Jesuit Cup Hockey Tournament hosted by Loyola and St. Ignatius College Prep.

Lillian Tomasiello '18 was chosen to exhibit her photograph "Triangle" at Drexel University Photography High School exhibition.

Congratulations to Brendan Knapp '19, Elias Berhane '19, Mark Kosmerl '19 and Steve Lymperis '19  for representing Loyola Academy in the North Suburban Regional Bridge Contest on Tuesday, January 24. 

On January 20, over 300 students gathered in the east gym for Loyola Academy's first ever all-night dance marathon! Through bake sales, donations and pledges, 44 teams of students raised over $10,000 for Muscular Dystrophy Association Summer Camp.

Congratulations to Loyola Academy’s Varsity Ramblerettes! The team came in fourth at Dance Sectionals on Saturday, January 21—qualifying them for the State competition.

Ana DiVito '17 won the grand prize in the Catholic Campaign for Human Development's 2016 Multimedia Arts Contest, hosted by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Her winning piece, "Neighbors," is composed of several images of faces with diverse expressions.

Do you have a closet full of dresses you no longer wear? Join Junior Student Council in support of Glass Slipper Project, an organization that provides formal wear to young women who would otherwise not be able to afford an outfit for prom. New and gently used formal dresses, bridesmaid dresses, shoes and purses will be gratefully accepted. Donated items may be brought to the Health & Wellness Office (room 3) anytime before March 23. 

On Tuesday, January 17, Loyola Academy physics students put their classroom knowledge to the test in the annual bridge building competition.

“At the heart of my high school education was the idea of being a woman for others, which I really think has led me to where I am now,” reflects Siobhan P. Carey ’07, who recently left a fast-paced career in the corporate world to follow her passion for teaching yoga.

In December, current Loyola Academy senior Matthew Kadus visited MightyVine Farm in Rochelle, Illinois, to learn more about sustainable farming and the next generation of agriculture. 

Visual Arts Department Chair Jane Carney was recently accepted into the Bridgeport Art Center's 5th annual juried art competition with her piece entitled "An Artist's view of the World."

Loyola Academy’s Leadership Development and Mentor program pairs young alumni mentors with current Loyola students to create a space for networking and mentorship within the Loyola family. On Tuesday, January 10, eighty current students and alumni mentors enjoyed a delicious meal together at the program’s annual Dinner in the City event.

The website redesign project began over a year ago and has been a collaborative effort among multiple departments and stakeholders including Loyola students, parents, alumni, faculty and prospective Ramblers. 

The website redesign project began over a year ago and has been a collaborative effort among multiple departments and stakeholders including Loyola students, parents, faculty and prospective Ramblers.