News Archives

Rambler spirit was on full display last week as the school community celebrated Fall Spirit Week! Lake and Laramie was transformed into Grant Park for this year's theme: LaLaPalooza. Students enjoyed dress-down days and activities, including scavenger hunts, bingo, and competing on inflatable obstacle courses. Additionally, balloon toss, a flex favorite among students, made its return into the fold of Spirit Week activities.

On Friday, September 26, Loyola Academy officially opened its Athletic Performance Center (APC) with a blessing and celebration, welcoming donors, alumni, faculty, students, and friends to showcase the school’s newest state-of-the-art facility that will transform training for generations of Ramblers. The event highlighted Loyola’s commitment to nurturing students’ mind, body, and spirit through thoughtful, intentional investments in campus spaces.

Loyola Academy is thrilled to recognize the following ten seniors as Commended Students in the 2025 National Merit Scholarship Program: Elizabeth Baskfield, Ana Bradley, William Doonan, Henry Farris, Henry Fisk, Griffin Huntington, Daniel Malan, Riley Murray, Quinn Reynolds, and Josephina Sprang.

Ramblers and their grandparents enjoyed a beautiful afternoon at Loyola Academy for the annual Grandparent & Student Mass and Reception on Sunday, September 21. Families filled the West Gym, where Loyola Academy President Rev. Gregory J. Ostdiek, SJ, and Campus Ministers Rev. Stanislaw Czarnecki, SJ, and Rev. Arek Ciemiega, SJ, presided over Mass.

This September, five Loyola Academy seniors were recognized by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation for their exceptional academic achievement. Congratulations to Jenna Crosswhite, Olivia Galiano, Julianne Miller, Bennett Olsen, and Alexander Persohn, who have earned the distinction of National Merit semifinalists.

This past weekend, the Classes of 1980, 1985, 1995, 2000, and 2005 returned to Loyola Academy to celebrate their milestone reunions. The Class of 1985 got an early start to their 40th reunion festivities on Friday, September 12. Alumni teed off at The Evans at Canal Shores in Evanston, enjoying a round of golf at the historic course. The day continued with a lively reception at Stormy’s Tavern and Grill in Northfield, graciously underwritten by Bobby Largay ‘85. Friends reconnected, stories were shared, and classmates raised a glass to four decades of Rambler friendship.

A crisp autumnal evening set the scene for the annual Parent Welcome Mixer in Loyola Academy's Performing Arts Center Quad on Thursday, September 4. This year's event, hosted by the Rambler Parent Organization (RPO), saw a record number of parents and guardians in attendance to mix and mingle, reconnect with friends, and get involved at Loyola. The Parent Welcome Mixer also serves as an opportunity to welcome families of the Class of 2029 and those who have joined the Rambler community in the 2025-26 school year.

It was a picture-perfect September afternoon when alumni, parents, and friends gathered at North Shore Country Club in Glenview for the sold-out 31st annual Ramblers Golf Outing on Monday, September 8. Now in its fourth decade, this cherished Loyola tradition has contributed more than $250,000 in support of Rambler families, extending the gift of a Jesuit education to current and future generations of Ramblers.

On Sunday, September 7, the Dumbach and Clavius Scholars inducted their newest members during a wonderful Mass presided over by Loyola Academy President Rev. Gregory J. Ostdiek, SJ. These enrichment programs are designed to enhance the curriculum of Loyola’s most gifted and motivated students.

Students poured into the East Gym on Wednesday, August 27, to sign up for cocurriculars for the 2025–26 school year. Cocurriculars and student activities exemplify Loyola's cura personalis, or care for the whole person and the growth and development of each student, a cornerstone of Jesuit education. With over 70 clubs and activities offered, students are bound to find an avenue to explore their passions, gain new interests, and expand their horizons. Offerings include a wide range of academic competition clubs, cultural and affinity groups, sports and social clubs, and more.

School is back in session at Lake and Laramie! Loyola welcomed Ramblers back with a week of orientations that culminated in the Mass of the Holy Spirit—a time-honored tradition for Jesuit schools around the globe.

In early June, winners of this year's LA Tank competition embarked on a whirlwind 36-hour power internship in New York City. During their roughly two-day stay, students toured several companies and shadowed alumni to explore different career possibilities. The trip also gave students a glimpse into the expansive Rambler alumni network.

Over Spring Break, 28 Ramblers and three teachers traveled to France, with a one-day stop in Loyola, Spain, to visit Saint Ignatius of Loyola's family home and the sanctuary dedicated to the saint.

On Tuesday, May 13, Loyola Academy hosted its annual Bowman Scholars End-of-Year Celebration, honoring the resilience and achievements of first-generation to college students. Rooted in the spirit of Sister Thea Bowman, FSPA, the event brought together students,and faculty and staff for an afternoon of gratitude and reflection.

On Thursday, May 15, Loyola Academy hosted its annual Honors Convocation, a cherished tradition that celebrates academic achievement, cocurricular leadership, artistic distinction, and service rooted in Jesuit values.

Held in the McGrath Family Performing Arts Center, the evening featured remarks from Loyola President Rev. Gregory J. Ostdiek, SJ, and Principal Tim Devine '88. Awards were presented to students across a broad spectrum of disciplines, including English, math, science, world languages, fine arts, service and leadership, and national merit recognitions.

With joyful hearts full of hope and gratitude, we join the universal Church in prayer for our newly elected Holy Father, Robert Francis Prevost, OSA, who has chosen the pontifical name of Pope Leo XIV. Born in Chicago in 1955, Pope Leo XIV is the first American-born pope in the history of the Catholic Church, making this a moment of profound significance for the faithful in the United States and around the world.

Loyola Academy's annual Love in Action Symposium, held from April 29 to May 2, once again brought the Ignatian call to faith, justice, and service to life across campus. Sponsored by the Department of Ignatian Service Learning and Engagement, the symposium offered students, faculty, and staff a rich, multi-day exploration of how to place love into action through works of justice and accompaniment, echoing the vision of St. Ignatius of Loyola and the leadership of Fr. Pedro Arrupe, SJ.

On Tuesday, April 22, Loyola Academy held its annual Language Honor Societies Induction Ceremony, celebrating the academic achievements and global citizenship of 149 students across five language disciplines. Students were formally inducted into the Chinese National Honor Society, the Société Honoraire de Français (French National Honor Society), the Latin Honor Society, the Greek Honor Society, and the Sociedad Honoraria Hispánica (Spanish Honor Society).

Loyola Academy is proud to announce that John (Jack) Ehlert '25 has been selected as a National Merit $2,500 Scholarship winner through the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC), a distinguished academic honor awarded to only 2,500 students nationwide.

Congratulations to Loyola Academy senior and Thespian Society Board Member Tommy Grant, who has been named a nominee for the Illinois High School Musical Theatre Award (IHSMTA) for Best Performer in an Actor Role! Sponsored by Broadway in Chicago and NBC, this prestigious honor recognizes Tommy’s outstanding portrayal of Cornelius in Loyola’s spring musical, Hello, Dolly!

Loyola Academy joins the global Church in mourning the passing of Pope Francis, the first Jesuit Pope, who entered eternal life on Monday of the Octave of Easter. A man of deep humility and unwavering faith, Pope Francis brought the heart of Ignatian spirituality to the papacy, serving the world with compassion, courage, and conviction.

On Saturday, April 12, thirteen individuals and five teams were inducted into Loyola Academy's Athletic Hall of Fame. In addition, two special awards were presented to honor the support and commitment of individuals to Loyola Athletics. Director of Advancement Marty Jennings '98 served as the evening's emcee. Family and friends of the inductees gathered for the celebration in the East Gym to celebrate this year's honorees and their contributions to Loyola athletics. Family members, former teammates, friends, and coaches reflected on the athletic career of each honoree as they were introduced throughout the program.

On Sunday, April 13, nearly 300 Rambler parents, guardians, and students participated in the annual Family Mass & Morning of Service, sponsored by the Rambler Parent Organization (RPO). The Family Mass & Morning of Service has been a Loyola tradition since 2013 and is one of the many ways the Loyola community heeds the call to be women and men for others.

Loyola Academy Department of Performing Arts and Thespian Troupe 4729 performed the musical Hello, Dolly! to a delighted audience on April 11–13. Set in the 1890s, Hello, Dolly! follows the spirited and resourceful matchmaker Dolly Gallagher Levi as she embarks on her most ambitious undertaking yet: securing a suitable wife for the wealthy and cantankerous Horace Vandergelder—while secretly planning to marry him herself. As Dolly makes her way from Yonkers to New York City, she leaves a trail of romantic mischief in her wake, influencing the lives of Horace’s clerks, a hopeful milliner, her assistant, and a pair of young sweethearts. Filled with charm, wit, and vibrant musical numbers, Hello, Dolly! is a heartwarming celebration of love, second chances, and the transformational power of one remarkable woman.

On Saturday, March 15, members of the Loyola Academy community celebrated Ramble 2025: May God Hold You. Thanks to the generosity of Loyola parents, alumni, and friends supporting our Tuition Assistance Program! Your support makes a difference in the lives of many of our students, and we thank you.

On Monday, March 10, Loyola Academy's College Counseling Department hosted its annual College Fair for students and parents to begin the college exploration process. With over 160 colleges and universities and over 600 Ramblers in attendance, Loyola's College Fair remains one of the largest private high school college fairs in the state of Illinois. Entrance to the fair was staggered to allow juniors and their parents to enter first, optimizing their time, followed by sophomores and their parents slightly later.

On Wednesday, March 5, Loyola celebrated Ash Wednesday with an all school Mass in the West Gym. During his homily, Campus Minister Rev. Arek Ciemiega, SJ, encouraged Ramblers to take time during the Lenten season to slow down and reflect on ways to open their hearts, live authentically, and embrace community through service.

On Wednesday, February 5, 16 Loyola Academy student-athletes signed a National Letter of Intent (NLI) to play their respective sports at the collegiate level. Congratulations to the following students and their parents!

Ramblers in Loyola's Orchesis Dance Company lit up the stage on Friday, February 7, and Saturday, February 8, during a spectacular performance in the McGrath Family Performing Arts Center. This annual performance celebrated the talent and hard work of our dancers, featuring student-choreographed routines in contemporary, jazz, and hip-hop.

Our school community gathered on Monday, January 13, for a special assembly to celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The assembly examined Dr. King's six principles for nonviolence and how they can be used to achieve The Beloved Community.