Five Alumni Honored at 60th Anniversary

On Saturday, April 29, the St. Francis High School community welcomed alumni, parents, faculty and friends as they celebrated 60 years of educating students, while honoring five outstanding alumni for their achievements.
 
Guests and honorees enjoyed dinner and cocktails while the school’s jazz band highlighted their talents and provided entertainment.  Following dinner, Kevin Flood, member of the St. Francis High School Board of Directors, presented three inaugural awards to the alumni.
 
Illinois Senate President John J. Cullerton, from the Class of 1966 accepted the Pace e Bene Award  for his more than 30 years of service in the Illinois General Assembly, working to pass laws and advocating for the people of Illinois.  Cullerton thanked St. Francis High School for his formative years and said he hoped to continue his service to the people.
 
Sr. Barbara Nelson IBVM ’62 and Fr. Herb Essig ’64 both received the San Damiano Award for their continued service to the Church.  Nelson’s resume includes teaching junior high and high school students, working as a high school administrator, and serving as the Regional Superior of the Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and said it was her honor attend and teach at St. Francis High School.  Essig, whose career as a priest has spanned more than 40 years, encouraged others to be peacemakers, looking to St. Francis and Pope Francis as examples.
 
Ron ’65 and Teri Franklin ’67 Kuhn were recognized with the La Verna Award for their generous philanthropy to St. Francis High School, which has enabled the school to improve their programming and provide space for the safety and comfort for their students and visitors.  Their message for the guests was to remind them to give back when they can and to do it for the students.
 
Ray Reid ’61, Chairman of the Board of Directors, and member of the first four-year graduating class in the school’s history, concluded the evening by thanking guests and sponsors, congratulating the honored alumni and reminding everyone to support the school’s endowment fund to help sustain the future of St. Francis High School for many years. 
 
This event helped raise approximately $120,000 for the school’s endowment fund, which will ensure that a St. Francis High School education is not only as relevant and as stimulating in future years as it is today, but also accessible for all Catholic families.

St. Francis High School