Alumni News

LHS Alumni Newsletter Makes Its Debut

"Volume 1, Issue 1" Has a nice ring, don't you think?  In our world of instant media and 24/7 coverage, there is nothing like a few pages now and again dedicated to the people and places that jump off our computer like a pop-up book from our past. Download the full newsletter.

Alumni Golf Outing Held September 19, 2009

Over 70 alums, friends and guests enjoyed a day of golf and fun at Lisle Park District's River Bend Golf Club in September, 2009.

Organizer Dave King ('75) pulled together the entire event which netted over $5,000 for the Carlin Nall'y Foundation and its goals of funding scholarships and organizing a permanent LHS Alumni Association. 

Alums Dave Coolidge, Dave Fultz, Doug and Terri Overstreet, Jeff Payne, Tim and Connie Krope, and Jim Shamut donated dollars, raffle items or door prizes that really made the event successful.  Carlin Nalley and Rick Beato were there to mingle with alums and Beato did double duty, popping up in the weeds around the course taking pictures as the photographer for the event.

Plans are being made for the next golf outing and expanding the reach and participation.  Stay tuned to www.lislealumni.com for information about the alumni golf outing in the Summer of Fall of 2010.  No experience or expertise required!

Call to Action

Dear Fellow LHS Alumni,                                                                               March 7, 2010

A few years ago a group of LHS alums raised the specter of approaching the District 202 school board with a proposal to name the new auditorium at Lisle High School after retired teacher and drama coach, Beverly Fiore.

Less than two years ago I met with the new Superintendent of Schools and spoke with a pair of school board members who are open to examining this initiative.  The president of the board asked that I present some background information on Mrs. Fiore and the reasons why they should consider this proposal.

I have struggled for months with the best way to take this one shot and summarize her body of work at Lisle High and the Lisle community in general.  I have found that to be much too large a task for one person.  I have my own thoughts and I know they reflect the feelings of many, but I simply cannot summarize her career myself and pretend to do it any justice.

So I am asking for help from my fellow alums.

If you would love to see District 202 honor Beverly Fiore and her 30 years of excellence as a teacher, coach, mentor, pioneer, and friend, please put your thoughts in writing.  I know I will have no problem expressing my thoughts of her impact on me, my classmates and friends, decades of LHS students and the Lisle community.  Please take the time and do the same.

There will be a series of boxes at COMING HOME TO LISLE events for you to deposit your writings and thoughts on Mrs. Fiore and the proposal to name the auditorium after her.  Everything we receive will be copied, bound, and presented to each of the school board members this Spring, along with other supporting documentation, facts, and recommendations.  The originals will be presented to Beverly Fiore from the Nalley Foundation.  Mrs. Fiore will be at the COMING HOME TO LISLE festivities so we hope you will attend and make a point of saying hello.  If you cannot make it to COMING HOME TO LISLE, please send your notes to info@lislealumni.com

The names of leaders and pioneers appear on buildings and places all around the United States.  District 202 has Perry Gymnasium, Nalley Invitational, Schiesher School, Wilde Field and Rapp Auditorium.  If you think the Fiore Auditorium should be added to this list, please help us tell the school board why this should be done.

We know there will be some passionate responses to this issue so we simply ask that everyone respect the decision of the board in this matter, but please take the time to tell them and Mrs. Fiore what her efforts meant to you and LHS during your years at the school and perhaps beyond.

Regards,

Jay Grochowski
Lisle High School
Class of 1977 

Carlin Nalley Foundation Awards $50,000 to Date

Jayson Osika (Piccolo) and Amy Carrabine (Didricksen-Zaharias) were this year's recipients of the $5,000 scholarship donated annually by the Carlin Nalley Foundation in Coach Nalley's name. Osika and Carrabine's awards will put the commitment from the Nalley Foundation at $50,000 over the past five years.

Carrabine and Osika both addressed thank you cards to the CNF.

"I am very honored and grateful" wrote Carrabine.

"I plan to use the scholarship at Grand Valley State in the Fall"  Osika expressed similar thoughts.  "The scholarship will be put to good use" Osika writes in his letter. "I'd like to say thank you" and "I'm honored."  The Piccolo winner will be attending the University of Illinois in the Fall.

In 2005, the first recipients of the Nalley Scholarship were named and awarded on the heels of a grant from Kurt Grutzmacher ('76) with the intent to honor LHS' student-athletes as well as coach Nalley.

The awards are paid in two $2,500 increments as the recipients show proof of enrollment for two successive years of college or junior college.

The Nalley Foundation has announced its goal of adding additional scholarships to honor student and faculty endeavors in the arts, science, and journalism.  The Foundation does not want to be viewed as an organization dedicated to Lisle athletics, but one that is dedicated to all  areas of student excellence.