Cole Kmet ’17.

Each year, golfers at Saint Viator’s Million Dollar Classic take aim at enhancing the school’s athletic programs and empowering its student-athletes. This year, they had a lot to celebrate, with the baseball team playing in the state semi-final, the lacrosse team reaching the final four, and a state champion in girls’ track and a state finalist in boys’ track.

And that only covers some of the spring sports.

Yes, it was a historic year for Saint Viator athletics, and guests at the 21st annual Million Dollar enthusiastically mingled with the student-athletes on hand at the acclaimed Jack Nicklaus-designed course at Wynstone Golf Club in North Barrington.

Matt Kelsch, Tracy Goepel, Barry Carlson and Scott Beck with their caddie.

The one athlete chosen to address the crowd only underscored the outing’s success.

Senior Cole Kmet ’17 spoke to golfers, just 10 days after helping advance Saint Viator’s baseball team to fourth place in the state, and two days after attending Notre Dame’s Irish Invasion Camp, held for top high school football recruits.

Kmet described working with Saint Viator’s strength and conditioning coach, Rich McLoughlin ’10  in the Murphy Wellness Center — both of which have benefitted from Million Dollar Classic proceeds — and how it helped him become the athlete he is today.

Randall Thompson, Connie Antoniou, JoAnn and Dan Murphy.

“When I was a freshman, I was able to deadlift 225 pounds. Now I can deadlift 500 pounds,” Kmet told an astonished crowd. “I’ve become bigger, faster and stronger, and I credit that to all the strength and conditioning work I’ve done in the Wellness Center. I’m down there every morning.”

Varsity baseball coach and assistant athletic director, Mike Manno ’94, also spoke to the crowd about his team’s historic season and how it was made possible by the support from the Saint Viator community and, specifically, funds raised from the event.

“This year, the baseball program was a great example of Saint Viator athletics,” he said. “This team represents each of our other 27 programs, and like each program, this team would not be successful without the Million Dollar Classic.”

Tim Carlson ’87, Jill Carlson, Jamie Boler, Mike Boler ’82.

Funds raised from this year’s event will continue to support the conditioning initiative, adding more strength and fitness machines at the Murphy Wellness Center, and will be used to purchase a new van to transport players and coaches to off-campus practices and away matches.

“I can tell you, and I’m sure all the other coaches can tell you this, when we get to travel with our kids in the van, it’s not just about traveling to the games. We get to know our athletes and I’m sure they can share a lot of different funny stories with you as well,” Manno said. “We use the word family. We get time to talk about things that are important, not just athletics.”

As the event wrapped up, the event’s hosts and longtime supporters of Saint Viator athletics, Dan and JoAnn Murphy, presented awards to the winning foursomes:

Casey Lynde ’06, Jim Georgalas ’06 and Jared Funk ’06.

3rd Place – Dan and JoAnn Murphy and Connie Antoniou and Randall Thompson
2nd Place – Mike and Jamie Boler, and Tim and Jill Carlson
1st Place – Scott Beck, Barry Carlson, Tracy Goepel and Matt Kelsch

A special thank you to the following…

Wynstone Golf Club Sponsor
Dan and JoAnn Murphy

Hole-in-One Club
Dan, JoAnn, Dan ’04 and Jim ’08 Murphy

Eagle Club
Complete Cleaning Company, Inc.
Weber-Stephen Product- Tom Koos
Motor Werks

Hole Sponsors
Arlington Heights Ford
Barchart.com
The Bricton Group Eagle Ridge & Spa, Marriot Lincolnshire
ECI Executive Construction, Inc.
Fidelitone/Josh Johnson
IHOP
Dennis & Vanessa Kerrigan
Peggy Kinnane’s Irish Restaurant & Pub
Rainbow Hospice & Palliative Care
Dr. Scott G. Smoron ’90 Orthodontist
Caroline Starr/C. Starr Properties
Jim Vandenbergh ’67, John Vandenbergh ’70, Mark Vandenbergh ’97, Erik Vandenbergh ’99

2016 Committee Members
Sean Connolly ’92
Julie Crawford
Jim Frugo ’87
Jennifer Pretto
Bill and Geri Senchuk
Jim ’67 and Sue Vandenbergh

Thank you to the following individuals for their generosity and support
Jim Bristol ’73
Steve Burks
Susie McNamara
Our fabulous event volunteers

It has been 25 years since a tragic auto accident took the life of Andrew Johnstone, the president-elect of the Class of 1992, but his legacy has not been forgotten.

Each year, his name is announced at graduation, in the presentation of the Andrew Johnstone Award, one of two prestigious honors bestowed on outstanding seniors. And each of the last 25 years, Frank and Charlene Johnstone, Andrew’s parents, have attended to present the award.

On Sunday, June 12, Andrew’s memory was celebrated again, at a special Mass held in Saint Viator’s Alumni Memorial Chapel. Fr. Charles Bolser, CSV, presided.

In attendance, were family and friends as well as many of the Andrew Johnstone Award winners, including the first one, Andrew Callaci, from the Class of 1992, and the most recent one, Liam Warner, class of 2016.

It was June 25, 1991, when Andrew—an all-state swimmer, who had set five school records and was captain of the swim team—was driving home from early morning swim practice and suffered fatal injuries in a single car crash.

Fr. Charles Bolser served as president of the school at the time, and he recalls that the entire school mourned his loss.

“He was the kind of leader who knew everyone in the class—not just the jocks and the popular kids,” Fr. Bolser says. “It didn’t matter who you were; if you needed something he was there.”

In consultation with his parents, and the Inter-Class Council, school administrators created a memorial award the next year, to be given to a graduate who showed outstanding leadership and spirit.

Over the years, the award has not only kept alive the memory of Andrew, but it has become one of the most prestigious honors bestowed to a member of the graduating class, and each recipient reflects the kind of leadership among the student body that Andrew demonstrated.

“His leadership was about inclusiveness,” Fr. Bolser adds, “and consensus building.”

Andrew Johnstone Award Recipients:
Andrew Callaci ’92
Jeremy Keenan ’93
Ryan Wilke ’94
Anthony Pollizze ’95
Mark DeMonte ’96
Angela Chaput ’97
Margaret Galassi ’98
Daniel Klimas ’99
Soran Leahy ’00
Jaclyn Galvez ’01
Michael Irmen Jr. ’02
Ann Kinasz ’03
Lauren Griebel 04
John Leahy ’05
Jack Fleming ’06
Joseph Paolelli ’07
Ryan Voyda ’08
Kevin Fernandez ’09
Richard Hutyra ’10
Francis Avino ’11
William Cavanagh ’12
Kevin Schreiber ’13
Alicia Leja ’14
Krystal Harris ’15
Liam Warner ’16

Sarah Schultz paints her ukulele on the second day of camp.

A unique class offering filled up last week at Saint Viator: a ukulele camp.

Led by Mr. Vince Genualdi, director of bands, the camp drew junior high teens as well as current students, all drawn to the pint-sized instrument which is sometimes called a Hawaiian guitar.

They began the week by building their own ukulele, using pieces in a do-it-yourself kit, before painting and personalizing it, and ultimately stringing the instrument. The last two days were devoted to learning its easy chord progressions and strumming out some familiar tunes.

“I play guitar, but it’s cool to see what the ukulele can do,” said Sarah Schultz of Palatine, who just graduated from St. James School. “You get to make your own instrument—while making music.”

That sentiment of making music—together—turns out to be just the point.

Mr. Genualdi earned his degree in Music Education at the University of Illinois, where he was a tuba player and ultimately drum major for the Marching Illini. He also participated in a unique group started in 2002 by Assistant Music Education Prof. Matt Thibeault, called the Homebrewed Ukulele Union.

Its mission is to promote the ukulele, which is small and accessible enough for children, while offering a participatory music experience, where the line between listening and performing is blurred.

“It’s a very versatile instrument,” Mr. Genualdi says, “it allows for students of any age to engage in a participatory performance experience.”

Campers learning how to string the ukulele.

Eighth grader Izabella Majsterek of Wheeling said the size of the instrument was just right for her.

“I always wanted to play guitar, but it’s too big,” she said. “This seems like it’s just right.”

Junior Jacob Turaka of Arlington Heights plays percussion in the Saint Viator symphonic band, but he likes to play the ukulele, so he volunteered to be a counselor for the camp.

“Since it’s so small, it seems to be a much simpler instrument,” Jacob says, “I feel that I learned a lot after completing few sessions.”

Incoming Saint Viator freshman, Olivia Augustine of Arlington Heights, personalized her ukulele with the logo from the band, 21 Pilots, who feature the ukulele in their fusion of pop and lyrical hits.

“I don’t know, the ukulele seems to turn up in happy songs,” Olivia says.

One of the taller students in the class was Br. John Eustice, CSV, a campus minister at Saint Viator. While he plays guitar, he was eager to build his own ukulele and master its unique sound.

“I think it’s great that these kids want to put together their own instrument and then learn to play it,” Br. John said. “What a great way to start the summer—creatively.”