Spring Athletes Earn Statewide Recognition

Our Bruins shined bright this spring, earning accolades at the conference, state and even all-state levels. Here’s a look at the standout performances:

Baseball

Alan Spencer (Senior)

NewsTribune Baseball Player of the Year

All-Conference 1st Team

Geno Dinges (Sophomore)

All-Conference 1st Team

Gus Burr (Junior)

All-Conference 2nd Team

Gino Ferrari (Junior)

All-Conference Honorable Mention

Softball

Lily Bosnich (Junior)

All-Conference 1st Team

ICA Class 2A All-State 3rd Team

Lili McClain (Junior)

All-Conference 2nd Team

Ava Balestri (Junior)

All-Conference Honorable Mention

ICA Class 2A All-State 3rd Team

Maci Kelly (Senior)

All-Conference Honorable Mention

Emma Slingsby (Junior)

All-Conference Honorable Mention

ICA Class 2A All-State 3rd Team

Lily Bosnich

Track & Field

Lily Bosnich (Junior)

NewsTribune Girls Track & Field Athlete of the Year

All-Conference

2nd Place at State – 100m & 300m Hurdles

Class 1A All-State

Greyson Marincic (Senior)

All-Conference

2nd Place at State – 110m Hurdles

Class 1A All-State

Maggie Arkins (Junior)

All-Conference

Emerald De La Torre (Junior)

All-Conference

Kijah Lucas (Freshman)

All-Conference

Kaden Nauman (Senior)

All-Conference

Greyson Marincic

Community rallies to raise $390,000 at 42nd Annual Auction

The spirit of St. Bede was on full display during the 42nd Annual St. Bede Auction on Saturday, June 14. The evening was filled with energy, generosity and Bruin pride.

Alumni and friends of the academy came together for a meaningful evening that celebrated St. Bede’s mission and raised an estimated $390,000. Every dollar raised helps keep tuition more affordable for families, ensuring more students can benefit from its mission.

At the auction, alumni spanning 34 graduating classes – from 1960 to 2016 – were in attendance. Their presence highlighting the lasting connection that generations of Bruins feel toward their alma mater.

This year’s event saw signs of growth, including nine new tables of guests and a 45% increase in sponsorships.

The event included a mobile bidding silent auction, which was filled with a wide range of donated items from supporters and local businesses and 16 live auction packages, which included a variety of unique experiences, leisure get-away trips and fun entertainment such as a wine tasting evening with Fr. Ronald Margherio, OSB ’68 at Rudy’s Tap Room in LaSalle, a private party for up to 35 guests at CatsEye Wine Bar in Ottawa and a seven-night trip to Hawaii.

A highlight of the night was the Fund-A-Need paddle raise, which reached a record-breaking $243,000 in support of the Refectory Revival project - an initiative to renovate one of the most beloved and historic spaces on campus, the student cafeteria.

The refectory project includes installation of two safety exit doors, tin ceiling refurbishment, installation of 17 new windows, electrical and lighting upgrades, wall patching and painting, floor polishing and modern graphic details and windows shades. The project is slated to begin this summer.

“We are deeply grateful for the incredible generosity shown by the St. Bede community at Saturday’s auction. Overwhelming support of the Refectory Revival project affirms our shared vision and strengthens our commitment to the Benedictine mission of providing Catholic education. Thank you for believing in our future,” said Eve Postula, Superintendent.

Those who gave $500 or more to the project will be invited to a special celebration of gratitude on Dec. 11 in the newly revitalized refectory.

Annual Record Destruction is July 3

Saint Bede Academy will destroy 2020 student records. The files slated for destruction are considered temporary records by the State of Illinois. Saint Bede will continue to maintain records for all students including student name, date of birth, birthplace, grades, grade level upon exit, attendance, gender, class rank, date of graduation, state assessment score , and health records. 

The class temporary records of 2020 can be picked upon request from the school through Thursday, July 3. To request records, please e-mail tracymakransky@st-bede.com or call 815-223-3140 and ask to speak to Tracy. Any records not requested will be destroyed after Thursday, July 3. 

Spring 2025 Honor Roll Announced

Freshmen -  Hope Antkowiak, Landon Balestri, Alicia Barreras, Jackson Bogatitus, Gabriel Bunch, Isabella  Camacho, Tongtong  Cao, Ty Carls, Tzu Chang, Kylie Coons, Ayla Coventry, Jameson Daley, David De La Torre, Meilin  Duan, Sadie Dugosh, Quinn Entrican, Luke Fess, Bear Fitzpatrick, Haozhe Guo, Jiahe Guo, Yitong  Han, Nicolette Hanck, Mason Haskell, Connor Holly, Jieming Huang, Olivia Hunter, Jacob Inman, Payden Kelly, Jinseong  Kim, Sadie Leffelman, Kijah Lucas, Jyzel Martin, Gaby Martinez, Parker McClain, Valeria Mendez, Morgan Mercer, Johnathan Michael, Lizet Morales Sanchez, Max Moreno, Teagan Mullane, Maksymilian Niedzwiedz, Theadora Pappas-Anniballi, Lien Phan, Allyn Phillips, Nelle Potthoff, Olivia Raef, Addison Raffety, Graham Ross, Finley Rue, Mary Simonetta, Elsie Soliman, Josephine Trujillo, Preston Vasquez, Hanna Waszkowiak, Yitong  Xue, Ryan Zusefin.

Sophomores -  Faith Ankiewicz, Yesenia Avila, Demian Baker, Caleb Barto, Evan Bernabei, Chloe Brandt, Sean Brayton, Brody Burris, Calen Cass, Geno Dinges, Kate Duncan, Kyra Finley, Daniel Garcia, Cecilia Giacalone, Raudel Hermosillo Jr., Brennen Hirst, Emma Huffaker, Yejun  Jang, Lila Koehler, Ella Lamboley, Chenxuan  Lin, Landon Marquez, Lucy Maus, Emma Mavity, Stuart McGunnigal, Stephanie Ni, Niko Pappas-Anniballi, Chase Riva, Olivia Ross, Ranbir Saini, Alaina Schulz, Ishvir Singh, Macy Strauch, Bryce Stuepfert, Alexandrew Tillman, Alec Tomsha, Judith Torres, Cris Tran, Kerstin Williams.

Juniors -  Margaret Arkins, Alp Arslan, Ava Balestri, Genavyve Barnes, Landon Boggio, Lily Bosnich, Savannah Bray, Noah Buck, August Burr, Drew Carboni, Chuanyang Chen, Jose De La Torre, Simona  Desai, Haoxuan  Du, Madeline Fabish, Harrison Fess, Ashton Gonzales, Mae Hagenbuch, Brody Hahn, Weston Heersink, Aiden Hermes, Zachary Husser, Shuyu  Jiang, Isaac Kang, Bokyung  Kim, Wanyu  Liu, Breanna Martinez, Lili McClain, Ruby Michels, Ella Mudge, Loc Ngo, Sophia Ni, Jillian Pinter, Trajan Raffety, Xiangyi  Ren, Carson Riva, Chipper Rossi, Alyssa Savitch, Emma Slingsby, Lillian Soliman, Ryan Soliman, Shujie  Song, Devin Steil, Khoa Tran, Battista Verucchi, Julian Villava, Peiwen Wu, Xindi  Wu, Hongsheng  Yang, Ayla Yeske, Yannis Yong, Kian Zeller, Ruihan  Zhang, Yijing Zhang.

Seniors -  Teer Ao, Haiden Ator, Andrea Brandner, Adriana Buchanan, Qiyu Chen, Ziheng Chen, Garrett Connelly, Jordan Coventry, Trayger Davis-Rynkewicz, Alondra Delao, Lorelei Denny, Madalyn Dittmar, Bailey Engels, Yibo Fan, Grady Gillan, Phillip Gray, Lacey Griggs, Mirella Haskell, Halden Hueneburg, Elizabeth  Huffaker, Kathleen Hunter, Tyler Jordan, Yuno Kawai, Maci Kelly, Sadie Koehler, Jaxon Kozak, Lin Le, Violet Lopez, Haiqing  Mao, Greyson Marincic, Gavin Marquez, Jack Maschmann, Quinn McClain, Victoria Mendez, Jake Migliorini, Grace Millington, Adeline Mitchell, Mason Moreno, Kaden Nauman, Ryan Nawa, Kaden Newman, Logan Pineda, Mason Ross, Emma Smudzinski, Zixuan Song, Alan Spencer, Nhi Ton, Mina Trandinh, Arthur van den Berg, Samantha Wagner, Tyler Walsh, Abraham Wiesbrock, Kefei Wu, Solomon Zhang.

Refectory Revival Fund-A-Need Project Unveiled

Peru – St. Bede Academy is proud to announce the launch of its 2025 Fund-A-Need Project: Refectory Revival - One Table, Many Stories, which is aimed at restoring and modernizing one of the most cherished and historic spaces on campus - the refectory.

For generations, St. Bede’s refectory has been more than a dining hall. It has served as a central gathering place where students come together to share meals, form friendships and build lasting memories.

St. Bede aims to raise $230,000 for this project, which includes installation of two safety exit doors, tin ceiling refurbishment, 17 new windows, electrical and lighting upgrades, wall patching and painting, floor polishing and modern graphic details and window shades.

“This isn’t just a renovation project,” said Michel Massamba, Director of Mission Advancement & Major Gifts. “It’s an investment in the community and culture of St. Bede. The refectory is the heart of our campus, and we’re inviting our alumni, families and friends to help keep that heart beating strong.”

The Fund-A-Need Project is being launched ahead of St. Bede’s 42nd Annual Auction, taking place on June 14. While a featured paddle raise initiative during the event, donors don’t need to wait until auction night to contribute. Gifts are being accepted now through the evening of the auction. Early contributions are encouraged and will help build momentum toward reaching the fundraising goal.

Gifts of all sizes are welcome to help fund this project. Donors who contribute $500 or more will receive an invitation to the Refectory Appreciation Party on Thursday, Dec. 11.

To learn more about the campaign or to make a gift, please visit www.st-bede.com/fundaneed-2025.