Step into Edwards Hall while on EA’s campus and you see Upper School students and faculty members donning t-shirts that read Release the Hero Within or Outreach360. Ask any of these people to explain the slogans and you will hear, “This is the third time I’ve gone.” “I look forward to going again next year.” “It was a great experience.” “I missed going this year, but I’ll be back next year.” “I learned so much from the kids.”

These comments are from Upper School students at the Academy who spent part of their spring break at an orphanage in Jaibon, Dominican Republic serving others and learning from others. Outreach 360 is a non-profit organization that relies on volunteers to, quite literally, Release the Hero Within. The mission of Outreach360 is to reach out to disadvantaged communities in the Dominican Republic and Nicaragua, serving those less fortunate with basic opportunities, especially education and health. The goal is to create self-sustaining communities.

The purpose of Elgin Academy’s service trip to the Dominican Republic was to donate time and talent to serve those less fortunate. What was received in return from those they served was priceless. Liam Phelan, who has gone on the trip three times, said “You teach and learn. This is an experience you do not for yourself, but for others.”

Students relay personal stories about what they learned from orphanage kids. “We went there to teach, and we were taught,” commented Martin Diaz de Leon and Samayra Siddiqui. Martin and Samayra taught together in a classroom. The school that de Leon and Siddiqui taught in was designed for a maximum of 200 students. The reality is there are more than 700 students that attend every day. Mandatory education in the Dominican Republic is offered for Kindergarten through 8th grade only. Though 8th grade is the highest level offered at school, the ages of children range from 5 years to 18 years old. Small rooms, crowded with students and offering little ventilation and no air conditioning, coupled with sparse teaching materials and kids whose knowledge and abilities ranged from low to high, were challenges that EA Upper School students faced. Señora Rusniak and Ms. Williams, EA faculty who have organized this trip for the past seven years, remarked how hard the Upper School students worked. “Our students were actively involved every day in every way. They taught the kids in the morning and afternoon, planted banana trees to help the orphanage become more financially self-sufficient, organized orphanage supplies, and interacted with the kids playing pick-up basketball games and other activities during afternoons. Not once did they complain about living conditions such as cold showers or a week without favorite electronic devices. They truly enjoyed serving, and reaped rewards that will last a lifetime. Every year it is awesome to see the impact this experience has on our kids’ lives. That is why they return year after year. ”

A group of 40 EA students accompanied by 18 Elgin Academy parents and faculty, as well as Elgin community medical staff, traveled to a small village in the northwest part of the Dominican Republic. Some of the adults in this group included Elgin Academy alumni Michael Cooper, John Cain and Kacy Rauschenberger. The busy week consisted of primarily teaching English as well as other academic subjects to children at the orphanage. Almost 10 adult members of the group donated their dental and medical talents. Some EA students worked with this health team, which included Dr. Jon Kaufman, Dr. Cindy Rauschenberger, Dr. Maria Faklaris, Brenda Mattes-Sica, Bernadette Taylor, Megan Padding, and Alejandra Godinez. In keeping with the mission of Outreach360 to create self-sufficiency and promote health awareness, EA’s dental team focus for the week was saving teeth through teeth cleaning and performing root canals.

Another feature of the D.R. trip was for students to witness a market day at Dajabon, where the border between the Dominican Republic and Haiti opens for Haitians to sell their goods. “We saw people pushing wheelbarrows, carrying baskets on their heads, crossing the bridge or even wading through the water,” said EA students Liam and Martin. Señora commented how people would be selling shoes, but they themselves arrived shoeless. “This was an eye-opening experience for many students.”

Next year’s Elgin Academy Upper School service trip with Outreach360 is already being planned. In the summer, the Upper School holds a used book sale, with proceeds that go toward establishing partial scholarships for Elgin Academy students to use for the cost of the service trip. “We make sure every student in the Upper School has the opportunity to be part of this life-changing experience,” said Williams.

For more information about Outreach360, visit their website: http://www.outreach360.org 

From Courier News Staff Reports   http://couriernews.suntimes.com/sports/11967082-419/elgin-academys-connor-flexman-receives-scholarship.html

Elgin Academy student-athlete Connor Flexman has been awarded one of 20 $20,000 scholarships as part of the first Foot Locker Scholar Athletes Program.

Foot Locker Foundation and DoSomething.org have partnered to honor students who demonstrate academic excellence and show their strength of character and devotion to their sports, as well as their communities.

Flexman, a Sleepy Hollow resident, competes in soccer, basketball and track and field for the Hilltoppers. This past winter he led Elgin Academy’s basketball team with 17.9 points, 6.4 rebounds and 4.2 assists per game and surpassed 1,000 points for his varsity career.

In the last three years, Flexman served as student council representative, treasurer and president. Last year, he founded an environmental club. As president, he completely reorganized the school recycling program, coordinated two fund-raisers, organized several volunteer outings to local forest preserves, and spread school awareness of environmental activism.

“One can only lead if completely unafraid, the best leaders are those who are skilled and smart enough to lead by example,” said Flexman, who plans to study theoretical physics in college and hopes to emulate the iconic leadership of Alexander the Great.

Said Ken C. Hicks, Chairman, President and CEO, Foot Locker, Inc: “We are thrilled to recognize and award the 20 outstanding recipients of our inaugural scholarship program. Connor exemplifies the qualities of leadership, academic excellence and sportsmanship that truly define the Foot Locker Scholar Athlete.”

The Foot Locker Scholar Athletes program is a part of the Foot Locker Foundation, Inc., which is dedicated to providing monetary support for educational and sports programs across the country.

Elgin Image Awards honor ‘building blocks of the community’

By Tara García Mathewson

An Elgin couple that has been committed to their city since high school was recognized Monday for decades of service to dozens of community organizations.

The audience at Elgin’s annual Image Awards ceremony, now in its 20th year, gave a standing ovation to Jack and Marlene Shales as they accepted a citizenship award Thursday.

“We always said if you’re going to complain, you’ve got to do something about it,” Jack Shales said of his and his wife’s incredible amount of service. Their 2011 activities included sponsoring the Community Thanksgiving Luncheon and posing as the King and Queen of Gail Borden Public Library’s Royal Feast to raise money for its new teen center.

The Image Awards seek to recognize individuals, groups and organizations working to make the city a better place. Mayor David Kaptain, in his welcoming remarks, said nominees and award winners are shining examples of what we should be.

“These people are the building blocks of the community,” Kaptain said. “They’re the people we depend on to lead us forward.”

While the Shaleses served Elgin for decades before being recognized with an Image Award, Lasse Ingebretsen accepted one as executive director of the Elgin Technology Center — one more accolade in a hugely successful first year. The ETC opened in January 2011 because Ingebretsen saw Elgin’s potential as a high-tech hub. He accepted his Image Award Thursday, humbled by the show of support.

“To me it was an honor just to be nominated,” Ingebretsen said.

Other winners were:

Ÿ Leo Nelson, who stepped down as president of the Elgin Area Chamber of Commerce in 2011, the latest of his many influential roles in the community.

Ÿ Tim Solarz, who opened Space Taste Gallery in an open storefront on Douglas Avenue, making room for dozens of local artists to offer their art, artifacts, antiques, collectibles and clothing. The award recognized his work bringing new life to Elgin’s downtown.

Ÿ Julie Janik, who emphasizes patriotism and citizenship in her work teaching at Elgin Academy, organizing class projects like shipping care packages to soldiers overseas and conducting community food drives.

Ÿ Administer Justice, which assisted more than 5,500 low- and no-income individuals with legal aid in 2011 thanks to the work of 700 volunteers, including 200 attorneys.

Ÿ Spring Hill Gymnastics, which is home to competitive gymnastics teams and also offers a host of fitness programs, including programs for low-income and at-risk students in their facility and across the community.

Ÿ American Association of University Women, which has remained dedicated to women and girls in Elgin and the advancement of women everywhere for 93 years. The group partnered with other local organizations in December to help bring young Latinas into math and science fields.

Ÿ The Strawberry Festival of Bethlehem Church, which is an annual fundraising event that has significantly benefited the community for 38 years, offering proceeds to seven community agencies each year.

Copyright © 2012 Paddock Publications, Inc. All rights reserved.

http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20120308/sports/703089538/

Connor Flexman named to Daily Herald All-area Boys' Basketball Team

http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20120308/sports/703089534/