Quo Vadis Day Inspires, Informs, and Transforms Students' Career Outlooks

Latin for where are you going?, Quo Vadis Day on Friday, January 27, offered Ramblers the opportunity to discover, explore, and evaluate their future aspirations. "Quo Vadis taps into the power of the Loyola Academy parent and alumni networks to provide students with a road map of inspiration as they prepare for the next step in their journey," explains Assistant Principal Mrs. Terri S. Jackson, who collaborated with Development Chief of Staff & Alumni Relations Mr. Marty Jennings '98 to organize the program. The day included a blend of large forum-style keynote addresses interspersed with small "career conversation" workshops. In total, over sixty Rambler parents and alumni from industries as diverse as healthcare and law to business and journalism spent the day on campus engaging with students and sharing their educational paths, professional experiences, and helpful advice along the way.
Together, Ms. Janet Hayes P’23, ’23, CEO of Crate and Barrel Holdings, and Mrs. Mary Dillon P’13, ’17, president and CEO of FootLocker, kicked off the day as keynote speakers, addressing the student body in the West Gym. They emphasized the importance of hard work, taking risks, and welcoming unexpected twists and opportunities along one’s professional journey. Click here to watch the keynote address

"As a woman looking to pursue a career in business, it was so inspiring to listen to our two women keynote speakers who have dominated the industry," says Lauren Smyth '23, who also attended sessions about advertising and accounting over the course of the day.

Following the morning’s keynote address, freshman students heard from Mrs. Julie Schaefer P’20, ’22, owner and chief advisor of Winning Presence, which helps companies drive performances through leadership communications. Sophomores attended a presentation by Dr. Mark C. Reed, president of Loyola University Chicago.    

At the same time, juniors and seniors attended “career conversations,” which were small group conversations hosted in classrooms around the school. In the weeks leading up to Quo Vadis Day, all students had the chance to indicate their top three career preferences from a list that included accounting, advertising, arts & entertainment, education, engineering, healthcare, information technology, law, real estate, and more. Based on their preferences, students were then assigned to career conversations, hosted by an alum or parent speaker. After lunch and a STEAM fair in the East Gym, where students learned about courses, clubs, colleges, and careers in STEAM fields, freshmen and sophomores attended career conversations of their own.

"My favorite element of Quo Vadis was being able to witness first hand the power of the Rambler alumni network and the diverse panel," says sophomore Mayode Oluwole, who attended a career conversation about law. "Seeing these elements from people that looked like me motivated me and gave me hope to what my future could look like."

To wind down a day packed with learning and exploration, students returned to their homebase classrooms for some reflection time. A turn & talk exercise gave students the opportunity to share what they learned with their neighbors.

"I benefited a lot from my Quo Vadis experience," Oluwole continues.  "I learned that it is not about what school you go to, but your drive. I learned that ambition and hard work outweigh labels. Quo Vadis encouraged me to follow my ambitions from a young age and not to just follow the status quo." 

"Quo Vadis taught me that it’s okay to not know where I’m going, and reminded me how lucky I am to have such a strong foundation set for me by attending Loyola Academy," adds Smyth. "It was such an amazing day."

The day closed with a prayer of the daily Examen and gratitude for the parents and alumni that so generously shared their time with our students:

Kyle Alvares '16 (Design Engineer)
Jamie Baisley '92 (Managing Director)
Diana Barr (Operating Partner) 
Dan Bellino '96 (Attorney) 
Katina Burke '14 (Investor Relations)
Chris Canning '81 (Attorney)
Molly Cinnamon (Principal)
Steve Conway '09 (Associate Partner)
Joe Cook '97 (Attorney)
Tom Craddock '92 (Senior Vice President)
Dick Devine '61 (Attorney)
Anna Devine (Chief Equal Opportunity and Compliance Officer) 
Tim Duet '91 (Vice President)
Evan Fay '10 (Business Development Manager)
Bill Forsyth (President) 
Kristy Gibbs (CEO)
Ken Gillig '00 (Quantitative Trader/Entrepreneur)
Chris Griesmeyer '92 (Partner, founder)
David Haracz '79 (Judge) 
Kathy Jefson '96 (Chief of Psychology/ Adjunct Prof. of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences)
Melinda Jordan (Global Real Estate Advisor)
Cynthia King (Attorney in the Office of Regional Counsel)
Genevieve Kosoko (LeFevour) '99 (Attorney) 
Darren Kriston (COO / Financial Planner)
Peter Lee '97 (Founding Partner)
Gabriella Littleton '04 (Head of Partnerships & Marketing) 
Mike Lowe '97 (News Reporter) 
Jim Lyman '79 (VP Ecommerce) 
Jonathan Maks '89 (Regional Medical Officer)
Alex Maragos '09 (Anchor/Reporter)
Bryant McCray'12 (TV Anchor)
Bill McIntosh '57 (General Partner)
Erin Melley (Physician Assistant )
Erika Mickelburgh (Principal)
Jake Miller '12   (Client Account Executive)
Maureen Miller (Shareholder)
Mark Momongan '89 (Founder & Managing Partner)
Michael Monticello '85 (Managing Director)
Michael Murray '89 (Chief Operating Officer)
Michael Nelson (Managing Partner & Head of Investing)
Drew Nieman '73 (Executive Vice President)
Emily Ocwieja '13 (Nurse)
Nancy Paridy
Chris Phenner '90 (Senior Director, Enterprise Sales)
Chris Pickering '85 (Executive Vice President)
Joe Roddy '82 (Attorney)
Maddy Ryder '15
Jimmy Samartzis '94 (CEO) 
Valerie Schmidt (Emergency Physician)
Stephen Schrantz (Medical Director, Infectious Diseases)
Logan Spurlin '12 (Project Engineer)
Katie Tess '03 (Manager of Professional Development) 
Christopher Waltman (Financial Advisor, Senior Vice President)
Kevin Willer '92 (Partner) 


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    • Quo Vadis Keynote Address: Mary Dillon, Janet Hayes 1.27.2023

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