St. Bede Academy students qualify for Advanced Placement Scholar Award

PERU – The College Board Advanced Placement Program has recognized six St. Bede Academy students as being AP scholars.

The Ap program provides motivated and academically-prepared students with the opportunity to take rigorous college-level courses while still in high school, and to earn college credit, advanced placement or both for successful performance on the AP Exams. About 18 percent of the 1.8 million students worldwide who took AP Exams performed at a sufficiently high level to also earn an AP Scholar Award.

St. Bede students who earned this recognition include Kylie Cofoid, Gianna Grivetti and Madelyn Torrance, who graduated from the academy in May 2023; and Ella Englehaupt, Bella Hagenbuch, who are seniors this year and Greyson Marincic, a junior.

The College Board recognizes several levels of achievement based on students’ performance on AP Exams:

·        Students qualify for the National AP Scholars Award by earning an average score of 4 or higher on a five-point scale on all AP Exams taken and scores of four or higher on eight or more of these exams.

·        To qualify for the AP Scholar with Distinction Award by earning an average score of at least 3.5 on all AP Exams taken and scores of three or higher on five or more of these exams.

·        To earn the AP Scholar with Honor Award, students must score an average score of at least 3.25 on all AP Exams taken, and grades of three or higher on four or more of these exams. 

·        By completing three or more AP Exams with grades of three or higher, students qualify for the AP Scholar Award.

Through more than 30 different college-level courses and exams, AP provides motivated and academically prepared students with the opportunity to earn college credit or advanced placement and stand out in the college admissions process. Each exam is developed by a committee of college and university faculty and AP teachers, ensuring that AP exams are aligned with the same high standards expected by college faculty at some of the nation’s leading liberal arts and research institutions. More than 3,600 colleges and universities annually receive AP grades. Over 90 percent of four-year colleges in the United States provide credit and/or placement for qualifying exam grades. Research consistently shows that AP students who score a 3 or higher on AP Exams (based on a scale from 1 to 5, with 5 being the highest) typically experience greater academic success in college and higher graduation rates than students who do not participate in AP.

St. Bede Academy students awarded academic honors through College Board National Recognition Programs

Pictured are St. Bede students who have been awarded the National Rural and Small Town Award through the College Board National Recognition Programs (back row, from left) Logan Potthoff, Greyson Marincic, Evan Englehaupt; (front row, from left) Bella Hagenbuch and Ella Englehaupt. Not pictured: Ziheng “Gordon” Chen.

Awards recognize high-performing students and help them stand out to colleges

PERU – Six students at St. Bede Academy have earned academic honors from the College Board National Recognition Programs. These programs celebrate students' hard work in high school and showcase their strong academic performance. The academic honors for rural area, Black, Indigenous and/or Latino students are an opportunity for students to share their strong academic achievements with colleges and scholarship programs that are seeking to recruit diverse talent.

The following students from St. Bede have received the National Rural and Small Town Award: Ella Englehaupt, Evan Englehaupt, Greyson Marincic, Bella Hagenbuch, Logan Potthoff and Ziheng “Gordon” Chen.

“We’re thrilled to celebrate our students and recognize them for the great work they’ve been doing. We’re proud of their strong academic performance in the classroom and on College Board assessments like the PSAT/NMSQT, PSAT 10, and AP exams,” said Nick McLaughlin, academy principal. “There’s so much that makes our students unique, and receiving this honor reinforces this as an asset for their future.”

The criteria for eligible students include:

·        GPA of 3.5 or higher.

·        PSAT/NMSQT or PSAT 10 assessment scores that are within the top 10 percent of assessment takers in each state for each award program or earned a score of 3 or higher on two or more AP Exams in ninth and tenth grade.

·        Attend school in a rural area or small town or identify as African American/Black, Hispanic American/Latino or Indigenous/Native.

Eligible students are invited to apply on BigFuture during their sophomore or junior year and are awarded at the start of the next school year in time to share their achievements in high school as they plan for the future. At the same time, colleges and organizations using College Board’s Student Search Service can connect directly with awardees during the recruitment process.

“It’s becoming increasingly hard for students to be ‘seen’ during the college recruitment process. We’re exceptionally proud of the National Recognition Programs for celebrating students who are at times overlooked but have shown their outstanding academic abilities,” said Tarlin Ray, senior vice president of BigFuture at College Board. “This is a benefit not only for students but also for colleges and universities committed to recruiting diverse and talented students.”    

Bruin alumni and friends return to celebrate Homecoming

‘There’s no place like Homecoming’           

PERU– St. Bede’s alumni and friends from far and near reunited over the weekend for the academy’s largest weekend celebration of the year. The annual Homecoming weekend was full of celebrations and recognitions – not to mention the Bruins beat the Elmwood Park Tigers 49-26.

The traditions kicked off on Wednesday evening with the annual girls’ powder puff football game on campus. Then, on Friday evening, St. Bede paraded downtown Peru before the annual variety show in the Abbot Vincent Gymnasium.

Saturday morning after the annual Jim Lattin 5K Run/Walk, the St. Bede Athletic Hall of Fame inducted posthumously St. Bede coach and teacher Ken Anderson, Emily (Arkins) Balestri ’02, Caitlin (Gidcumb) Colling ’06, Ralph Levaccare ’73, Richard “Dick” Verruchi ’66 and the 1972-73 football team.

The Class 1A State Champion Softball Team reunited on the Abbot Philip Davey Field where a recognition ceremony and ring dedication took place among friends, family, fans and former softball players. Four women alumnae, who were players on the first softball team at St. Bede, also were also recognized and received an honorary state championship medal for being the trailblazers in the sport at the academy. Those women were Sam (Lijewski) Pump ’79, Margaret Comiskey ’77, Patricia (Perona) Collins ’76 and Hilde (Luther) Grivetti ’76.

Presenting this year’s game ball at the start of the varsity football game was 1948 graduate Eugene Kunkel, who was celebrating his 75th class reunion. His niece, Rosemary Kunkel-Wall, a graduate from the class of 1973 and one of the first females to graduate from St. Bede Academy, flipped the game coin.

The halftime show featured the Class of 1973 who were escorted by the St. Bede cheerleaders to acknowledge becoming the newest Golden Bedans and recognizing their generous 50th reunion class gift to the academy.  

The Class of 1973 raised funds to renovate a classroom on the first floor of the academy in support of St. Bede’s Legacy Project.  

“This generous gift fulfills a significant project.” stated Julia Yaklich, director of mission advancement and major gifts. “We are blessed that our 50th reunion classes continue to honor their experience at St. Bede by ensuring that today’s Bruins have access to the same life-changing education and experience that they did.”

Alumni and friends had the opportunity to tour the newly-renovated academy building. St. Bede is currently raising funds to complete the final phase of the renovations. The project, which encompasses complete renovations of two floors within the academy, is on track to be completed in 2024 with about $700,000 of $13 million left to raise.

The popular 7th annual BruinsJam took place following the football game on Saturday, which included a lineup of performances by St. Bede alumni.

On Sunday, the St. Bede Alumni Association held its annual Bruins Brunch in the Perino Science Center and presented Fr. Larry Snyder ’68 with the Distinguished Alumnus of the Year Award. In addition, as this year marks the 50th anniversary of admission of women to the academy, the alumni association presented an award to all women graduates of the academy. Accepting the award were three of four of the first-female graduates of St. Bede Academy in 1973 – Debb (Garncarz) Ladgenski, Rosemary (Kunkel) Wall and Lissa (Harrison) Balda.

Save the date for St. Bede’s 2024 Homecoming, which will be held Oct. 18-20.                                

St. Bede hires first-ever school social worker

This school year, St. Bede has welcomed its own Megan (Considine) Theisinger '09 to the Academy's new role as school social worker. Theisinger comes from a long line of proud Bruins dating back to the class of '54. In her new role, Theisinger will work to advocate and be a support for all students, especially those with social-emotional needs impacting learning. Her job will be to intervene and problem-solve so that students not only are taught the skills they need, but also do not fall further behind in academics.

"It's important for students to have access to a social worker because of the rise in mental health needs in teens and adolescents. I think it's important to have this role in a school to be proactive and intervene quickly," she said.

Theisinger explained teens have a lot to navigate between schoolwork, teachers, extra curriculars, friends, etc.

"It can be a lot to juggle, especially when you add traumatic life events such as loss of loved ones, depression and anxiety. Students are challenged with lots of pressure and I am eager to be a friendly face to help them through it," she said.

While a new position at St. Bede, social work is not new territory for Theisinger. In addition to working at The Center for the Homeless in South Bend as part of her internship at Saint Mary’s College in Notre Dame, IN, being a Foster Care Caseworker at the Center for Youth and Family Solutions in LaSalle and working as a Hospice Social Worker at St. Margaret’s Health, she interned as a School Social Worker at LaSalle Elementary during her time at Aurora University, where she earned a master of science degree in social work, and just completed her sixth school year as a School Social Worker within the Streator Elementary School District.

"My experiences working with trauma, anxiety, depression and social skills coupled with my Catholic education and faith have well-equipped me to dive in at St. Bede," she said. "It is so special to be back here. I loved growing up here with my mom, sisters, grandparents and aunts and uncles (all proud alums). This was my favorite spot to spend on a Friday night when I was little. I don't think I would have made it through high school without the support of some amazing people in a variety of roles at St. Bede checking in on me, believing in me and cheering me on. I always had people here that I could count on as a support. I became a school social worker to be what I needed when I was younger. This is an opportunity to be the same support to St. Bede students that I had when I was a student here."

If you or your student is seeking Mrs. Theisinger’s assistance, they can call her at 815-250-0343, or via email at mthesinger@st-bede.com.

St. Bede Academy hosts 21st annual Carus Science Camp

Peru – St. Bede Academy hosted the 21st annual Carus Science Camp July 17 – 21. The Carus Science Camp is designed for incoming 6th-grade students and focuses on understanding the fascinating world of chemistry, exploring local science-related careers and promoting science literacy among the students.

To date, more than 600 students have graduated from camp. The camp is a popular destination for students in LaSalle, Bureau and Putnam counties.

This summer, Dan Fitzpatrick, science teacher at St. Bede Academy, directed the camp with the help of Angelique Depenbrock, science teacher at LaSalle-Peru High School.

Throughout the week, the students not only learned valuable scientific principles but also discovered the wide array of science-related careers that exist right in the local community. We hope this experience has inspired them to consider pursuing their interests in science and contributing to the advancement of knowledge in the future.

Each day was filled with exciting activities that allowed the students to delve into various scientific concepts and gain hands-on experience.

“The summer camp at St. Bede Academy was an unforgettable adventure filled with learning, exploration and fun. It was a privilege to witness the students' enthusiasm and curiosity grow, and I am confident that the knowledge and experiences gained during this camp will leave a lasting impact on their academic journey,” said Fitzpatrick.

On the first day, students embarked on a journey to discover elements through captivating lab experiments. The students were delighted to perform flame testing, reveal fingerprints with iodine, make liquid nitrogen ice cream, witness liquid oxygen demonstrations and explore carbon filtration techniques. These activities sparked their curiosity and set the tone for the rest of the week.

On the second day, the students took a field trip to the city's drinking water and wastewater treatment facilities. Students had the chance to see the water treatment processes in action and conducted water testing themselves. It was a valuable opportunity for them to understand the importance of clean water and the efforts that go into ensuring its quality.

The third day was dedicated to exploring local history and its impact on technology. The students enjoyed a mule-pulled boat ride along the historic Illinois-Michigan Canal, which allowed them to connect with the technological changes that shaped the area. Additionally, the students collected macroinvertebrates at different locations to assess water ecology and played ecological games that reinforced the camp's overall theme.

On the fourth day, the students put their problem-solving skills to the test with an orienteering mystery riddle, using maps of our school grounds to navigate and solve challenges. To ignite their passion for rocket science, they built their rockets to launch with compressed air. The excitement was palpable as they eagerly awaited the moment of takeoff.

And finally, on the last day, students had a friendly competition with student rockets, Alka seltzer rockets and 2-liter water bottle rockets, reaching impressive heights in the air. The support of the camp’s sponsor, Carus Chemical Company, played a significant role in making this day even more special.