D219 Alumni news published by the District 219 Education Foundation for Excellence for alumni of Niles East • Niles West • Niles North Dr. Cynthia Olsen, DVM (W’97) welcomes student Acey Santos to the Portage Park Animal Hospital for a job shadow experience. Foundation Chair Jeff Burman (E’74), on ladder, and Foundation Director Mark Collins refill the 7-foot gumball machine at Niles West. The Niles West Class of 2010 donated the machine, which holds 20,000 gumballs. Proceeds benefit D219 students in need. Anjali Lakha (N’10) signs her name to the mural she designed at the Northshore Sleep Center Clinic in Evanston. Navy Seaman John “Jack” Schmidt (W’08), and military veterans employed at Niles West are the guests of honor at a Memorial Day concert. WINTER/SPRING 2011 • Vol. 4 Issue 1 Niles West counselor Mitch Stern (W’82) enjoys a slice of Pequod’s pizza during the Education Foundation/Dance Marathon’s Pizza 1 District 219 Education Foundation for Excellence | www.219foundation.org www.219foundation.org Wars. FOUNDATION UPDATE Since 2007, the Foundation has granted over $80,000 to D219 students in need Education Foundation Chair Jeff Burman (E’74) accepts a $1,000 donation from the Niles North Class of 1970, represented by Jim Litwin. Education Foundation Makes a Difference to D219 Students The District 219 Education Founda- Counselors, social workers and other tion for Excellence was formed to staff members gave invaluable input Make checks payable to the assist Niles Township High School to the Foundation on the items that District 219 Education Founda- District 219 students in need. Since their students need. tion for Excellence, c/o 7700 2007, the Foundation has granted Gross Point Road, Skokie, Illinois over $80,000 to D219 students, in Since June 2010, the D219 Founda- 60077. To pay by credit card, go to the form of graphing calculators, tion has provided: www.219foundation.org and fol- scholarships, college application low the Donations link. fees, computer technology, trans- • 70 graphing calculators to students portation fees, and other items. who cannot pay for their own. Thank you for your support. All Approximately 30 percent of D219 • 30 refurbished computers to stu- gifts are tax-deductible, as allowed students qualify for the Free or dents who cannot afford computer by the law. Reduced Lunch program, and thus technology at home. qualify for Foundation funding for • Scholarships for two Niles Central The District 219 Education Founda- other academic needs. This percent- graduates to begin college. tion for Excellence is a 501(c)(3) age continues to grow. • Academic fees such as Advanced organization. Placement tests, transcript and col- Earlier this school year, D219 Foun- leges applications fees for students dation Chair Jeff Burman (E’74), at Niles North, Niles West and Niles Treasurer Ken Clinkman, Director Central. Keith Baker (E’74) and other mem- • Funding for school supplies and bers met with the Student Services breakfast bars for students in need. teams at the high schools. The Foun- dation members outlined how to There are many more students in apply for grants, discussed examples need of basic educational items. of situations in which funding could Please consider making a donation to be provided, and asked for sugges- the Foundation so that these tions on how to best serve students. students can be helped. 2 District 219 Education Foundation for Excellence | www.219foundation.org ALUMNI 2nd Annual Golf Outing a Success ALUMNI TESTIMONIAL As a sophomore in college, I can On June 21, 2010, 89 golfers joined the District 219 Education Foundation for look back and say that the worst Excellence at the Highland Park Country Club for a shotgun start of 18 holes of is behind me. Senior year in high golf. The day started out a little overcast (a tradition for the golf outing), but school was one of my toughest that didn’t deter these diehard golfers. In addition to the many Niles Township years. I was applying to colleges, High School faculty, staff and alumni who participated, corporate sponsors for participating in sports, trying to the event took to the greens as well. handle five AP classes, tutoring, and working 20 to 30 hours a week at A big thank you to American Heritage, Legat Architects, Midwest Energy, Inc., Target. However, the hardest part Positive Connections Bus Company, IHC Construction and Defranco Plumbing. for me was dealing with the fact It is due in part to their support that the annual golf outing was once again a that my father was unemployed and great success. knowing that asking my parents for The Foundation reached its goal of raising $20,000 at the event. One hundred money, to help with the application percent of the profits received from this outing benefits D219 students. process, would place a great strain on them. I did not know how I was The District 219 Education Foundation for Excellence is grateful to all who going to afford to pay to send my continually embrace the Foundation’s mission—enhancing the educational ACT scores/SAT subject test scores, experience for Niles Township High School District 219 students. which are very important during the application process. Fortunately, my Please mark your calendars now for the 3rd annual Golf Outing, to be held once counselor Andrew Johnson told me again at the Highland Park Country Club on Monday, June 20, 2011. not to worry because he knew the Foundation could help students like Please join us! Please see below for all of the details. We are hoping for rain— me. I felt a great sense of relief be- it seems to bring us luck. Details at www.219foundation.org. cause that would be one less thing to worry about. Save the date... The Education Monday, June 20, 2011 Foundation for for the 3rd annual District 219 Excellence gave me hope during a n Education Foundation tio da un n Fo Golf Outing time when I catio District 219 Edu needed it the Join us for a beautiful day of golf with friends, alumni and colleagues. Not a most. golfer? Join us for cocktails and dinner. Net proceeds from this fundraiser They were able to provide me benefit the students of District 219. with enough financial aid to send Highland Park Country Club, 1201 Park Avenue West, Highland Park, IL my test scores, which was a great amount because I was applying to Event held rain or shine. Check-in begins at 12:30 p.m. Shotgun start at 1 p.m. 10 schools! I will be forever grateful Networking/BBQ dinner starts at 6 p.m. to the Foundation that, I can say, helped me to where I am today: a Package includes: Golf, Cart, Box Lunch, BBQ Dinner and more! second year student at Vanderbilt $150/person or $550/foursome. University who happens to be enjoying a year abroad in Aix-en- If you are interested in sponsorship, or donating prizes, please contact Traci at Provence, France! (847) 533-2972 or [email protected]. Find us on Facebook under “District 219 Education Foundation Golf Outing@Highland Park Country Club.” —Edith Rios (W’08) 3 District 219 Education Foundation for Excellence | www.219foundation.org Winter/Spring 2011 3 ALUMNI GIVING BACK invest for their future.” Niles North students can be glad that Steve Ruttenberg (N’05) acknowl- students already enrolled in business Ruttenberg, Walker and Theefs did edges that he wasn’t that involved in or finance. Teams must attend a total not participate in such a contest like extracurricular activities while a stu- of six seminars, given by Ruttenberg, EMC in high school. “We thought, dent at Niles North. If he could have Walker, Theefs, university professors, what better place to start than where been involved with something like or other industry professionals and we came from…we wish that we had Financial Knowledge Initiative’s (FKI) follow along on a blog that discusses had something like this when we Portfolio Management Competition, financial topics and questions. Teams were in high school. It would have he says it would have made quite a are also expected to give monthly changed many decisions that we difference. updates and a presentation on their made going forward,” said Rutten- rationales for investing, and be able to berg. And that’s the point. Ruttenberg, co- answer questions about their financial founder, CEO and Chairman of Finan- strategies. And while this may seem This is the inaugural year for the cial Knowledge Initiative, and Daniel like a lot of work for an extracurricular EMC, with, hopefully, many more Walker (N’05), co-founder and board activity, Ruttenberg said, “I’ve advised years to come. Ruttenberg, ex- member of FKI have brought their fi- them that 15 minutes a day per team pressed the hope that the results nancial expertise to students at Niles member should suffice. The team of the contest would be more than North, in an attempt to excite and should spend about 45 minutes to an transitory, “If we can excite one stimulate them to pursue a financial hour a day, which is far more than is student and get him (her) involved education. Sixteen teams (composed recommended for even an individual in something positive, we’ve done of three to four students) will oversee investor that is maintaining a portfolio something very big.” a portfolio with a hypothetical cash by themselves.” If you would like to support the EMC, level in the first annual Equities Man- or to follow along on the investment agement Competition (EMC). What’s The EMC will continue through April, blog, please visit: at stake? Unlike most high school when the winning team will be se- www.financialknowledgeinitiative.org.