Loyola Academy

Loyola Academy
Women and Men for Others
Address
1100 Laramie Avenue Wilmette, Illinois 60091 United States
Coordinates	42°5′1″N 87°45′39″W / 42.08361°N 87.76083°WCoordinates: 42°5′1″N 87°45′39″W / 42.08361°N 87.76083°W
Information
School type	Private, parochial, secondary
Denomination	Roman Catholic
Established	1909
Authority	Archdiocese of Chicago
Oversight	Jesuits
CEEB code	144403[1]
President	Rev. Patrick E. McGrath, SJ[2]
Principal	Dr. Kathryn Baal[2]
Grades	9–12
Gender	Coeducational
Campus type	Suburban
Color(s)	Maroon      Gold[3]
Athletics conference	Chicago Catholic League Girls Catholic Athletic (GCAC)
Team name	Ramblers[3]
Accreditation	North Central Association of Colleges and Schools [4]
Publication	Menagerie Arts[5]
Newspaper	The Prep[6]
Yearbook	The Year
Affiliation	Jesuit Secondary Education Association
Website	goramblers.org

Loyola Academy is a private, co-educational college preparatory high school, located in Wilmette, Illinois, a northern suburb of Chicago, and in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago. It is a member of the Jesuit Secondary Education Association and the largest Jesuit high school in America, with over 2,000 students from more than 80 different zip codes throughout the Chicago area.

History

Loyola Academy was founded as a Roman Catholic, Jesuit, college preparatory school for young men in 1909. The school was originally located in the Rogers Park neighborhood of Chicago, on the campus of Loyola University Chicago's Dumbach Hall; it moved to the current Wilmette campus in 1957. Both Loyola University and its prep school adjunct, Loyola Academy, grew out of St. Ignatius College Prep, a Roman Catholic, Jesuit college preparatory school in Chicago that was founded in 1870 as St. Ignatius College, with both university and preparatory programs for young men. While St. Ignatius transitioned to being solely a preparatory school and remained in the same location, Loyola Academy and University were established in Rogers Park. All three institutions were named after the Basque intellectual and Spanish Army General, St. Ignatius of Loyola, who founded the Jesuits.

As a precondition to granting approval to move to the suburbs, the Archdiocese of Chicago required the Jesuits to stipulate that they would continue to serve the young Roman Catholic men of the city of Chicago. Consequently, Loyola Academy has had a significant representation of Chicago residents of various financial means, giving the school an economic diversity fairly unique in the Chicago area. This as achieved through the use of various scholarships and forms of financial aid.

Loyola Academy maintained the strict disciplinary and academic regimen seen in most of the exclusive American prep schools during the bulk of its history. Students were required to wear blazers and ties, maintain silence when moving between classes, attend weekly Mass on campus, address their teachers as either "sir" or "Father", and also maintain a demeanor befitting the Jesuit educational ideal of "Men for others."

One of Loyola's "sister schools" was Regina Dominican High School, an all-girls Academy located less than a mile away in Wilmette. Beginning in 1970, small groups of select Regina students began commuting to Loyola to take selected advanced science and computer science classes, as these classes were unavailable on their campus at the time.

The Jesuit presence has fallen off from what it once was, with some 40 priests teaching and working at the school in 1961, down to 11 out of roughly 200 staff members in 2007.^[7] Several priests have left due to disagreements with the policies of Pope Francis, while several others left for touching students inappropriately, although the Jesuits covered it up for a long time.^[8]

Loyola Academy merged with Saint Louise de Marillac High School, an all-girls high school from Northfield, Illinois and became co-educational in 1994. The merge was done for financial reasons. The President of Marillac was approached by Loyola to consider a co-ed option on the North Shore as requested by the Archdiocese.^[9] About that same time, Loyola added on to their existing building. In 2003, Loyola Academy opened a new 60-acre (240,000 m²) campus in Glenview, Illinois. The property, once part of the decommissioned Glenview Naval Air Station (NAS Glenview), was purchased by Loyola in 2001 and now houses several athletic fields for lacrosse, baseball, softball, and soccer, a cross country path, and a wetland preserve area that has been used as a natural laboratory for science classes.

While Loyola Academy is a Jesuit, Catholic school, it has always admitted non-Catholics seeking a Loyola education.

Academics

Loyola Academy offers a comprehensive liberal arts curriculum with over 110 courses in language arts, fine arts (dance, music, theater, visual arts, and architecture), foreign languages (Spanish, French, Latin, Mandarin Chinese, and Ancient Greek), mathematics, physical education, science, social studies, and theology. (As it is a college-preparatory high school, it does not offer any true vocational courses.) The school has two competitive honors programs (the Dumbach Scholars and the Clavius Scholars) and a plethora of students enrolled in AP classes. Loyola also offers the O'Shaughnessy Program, which assists students who show the potential for success in college but may require smaller classes and extra help from teachers. Annually, about 99% of students are accepted by four-year universities.

The school fields a Certamen team and in 2005 six students received perfect scores on the National Latin Examination. Loyola is also very active in forensics, Scholastic Bowl, and Science Olympiad competitions. In 2013, Loyola's scholastic bowl team placed third at both NAQT HSNCT and PACE NSC, the best performance of a team from Illinois at both national championship tournaments.^[10][11]

Service

Loyola places a strong emphasis on community service, encouraging students to be "Women and Men for Others, Leaders in Service." During the summer, many students join service sites across the United States and around the world, and during the school year Loyola's "Life! Be In It!" program allows students to in participate in Amnesty International, Habitat for Humanity International, and various other community outreach programs. One of Loyola's stated objectives is that every graduate be "committed to doing justice", and thus it encourages students to contribute to their communities and learn more about the world around them. These service programs are complemented by a series of religious retreats. During a student's junior or senior year, he or she can choose to participate in the Kairos retreat.

Athletics

Loyola Academy

Loyola Academy offers 16 women's sports and 17 men's sports, the Ramblers (borrowing their nickname from the teams at Loyola University). The school competes as a member of the CCL.

In 2009, the women's softball program won their first IHSA state championship, beating Edwardsville 2-0 in the championship game.

In 2009, the men's cross country team was ranked #1 in the nation for a week by Dyestat, was state runner-up, third at the Nike Cross Nationals Midwest Regional, and received an at-large bid to join York and Neuqua Valley at the national meet in December. They continued to earn fourth place at the Nike Cross Nationals meet, the best of any team in the Midwest that year.

The men's lacrosse team won three straight championships from 2002 to 2004, with its most recent in 2016.^[12]

Prior to the IHSA Football Championships (1974), Loyola won the Prep Bowl in 1965, 1966, and 1969. Loyola won the IHSA State Championship in football in 1993 and 2015 and was runners-up in 1992, 2011, and 2013. LA football coach John Holecek has led Ramblers to the state playoffs every year since 2006, including three of the last five Illinois State 8A Finals. In November 2011, the Loyola Academy football team lost to Bolingbrook in the class 8A Illinois State championship. In August 2012, the Loyola Academy football team, along with Loyola students, faculty, families and alumni, traveled to Dublin, Ireland to participate in a football tournament. The Ramblers played a Jesuit high school powerhouse from Texas. In a thrilling game with a last minute field goal, the Ramblers fell to the Rangers 30-29. In the Semifinals of the IHSA playoffs, a valiant comeback by the Ramblers fell short. They were upset 27-24 by Glenbard North, finishing the season with a record of 11-2. In 2013, Loyola lost to Naperville Central, 13-10, in the 8A State Football Championship. Loyola beat Marist 41-0 to claim the 2015 IHSA 8A Football Championship on November 28, 2015.

In 2014 Loyola won the Illinois State Girls Swimming Championship and defeated Fenwick 11-10 (OT) to capture the IHSA Boys Water Polo State Championship. The Ramblers were also State Water Polo Champions in 1978.

Notable alumni

Athletics

• Jamie Baisley was a linebacker for the San Francisco 49ers (NFL), [Denver Broncos]] (NFL), Jacksonville Jaguars (NFL), Chicago Enforcers (XFL) and the Rhein Fire (NFLE). He played at Loyola Academy from 1989–1992 and then played four years at Indiana University (1993–1996).^[13][14]
• Dan Bellino is a Major League Baseball Umpire
• George Bon Salle was a first round draft pick in the 1957 NBA draft. He played briefly with the Chicago Packers.^[15]
• John Dee was the head men's basketball coach at the University of Alabama (1953–56) and the University of Notre Dame (1964–71).^[16]
• Robert J. Dunne was an Olympic decathlete^[17]
• Conor Dwyer is a swimmer who was a gold medalist in the 4*200 freestyle relay at the 2012 Summer Olympics as well as the gold medalist in the 4*200m freestyle and bronze medalist in the 200m freestyle in the 2016 Summer Olympics.^[18]
• Colin Falls is a former Notre Dame basketball player who played professionally for Italy's Orlandina Basket.^[19]
• Rob Feaster is a former professional basketball player.^[20]
• Dave Finzer was an NFL punter (1984–85).^[21][22]
• John Fitzgerald was an Olympic pentathlete, competing in the 1972 and 1976 Olympics.^[23]
• Paul Florence was a Major League Baseball catcher (1926), playing for the New York Giants.^[24]
• Tim Foley was an All-Pro NFL defensive back (1970–80), playing his career with the Miami Dolphins. He was a member of the Super Bowl VII and Super Bowl VIII champions.^[25]
• Christian Friedrich is a professional baseball player.^[26]
• Charlie Leibrandt was a Major League Baseball pitcher (1979–93). Pitching most of his career for the Kansas City Royals, he was a member of the 1985 World Series Champions.^[25][27]
• Freddie Lindstrom was a Major League Baseball third baseman and outfielder (1924–36), playing most of his career with the New York Giants. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1976.^{[28] 2}
• Tom Machowski (born 1953), retired professional ice hockey defenceman^[29]
• Lucas McGee is a rowing coach for the United States National Team.^[30]
• Bert Metzger was an offensive guard, starring on the Notre Dame National Championship teams of 1929 and 1930. He was elected a member of the College Football Hall of Fame in 1982.^[31]
• Al Montoya is an NHL goaltender (2008–present).^{[32] 3}
• Jim Mooney was an NFL player (1930–35).^[33]
• Steve Quinn was a center (1968) who played for the Houston Oilers.^[34]
• Nick Rassas was an NFL safety (1966–68), playing for the Atlanta Falcons.^[35]
• Todd Rassas was a professional lacrosse player.
• Bob Skoglund was an NFL end (1947), who played for the Green Bay Packers.^[36][37]

Politics and public service

• Mark Curran is the Lake County Sheriff (2006–present).
• Richard A. Devine was the Cook County State's Attorney (1996–2008).^[38][39][40]
• Neil Hartigan was an Illinois politician, serving as Lt. Governor of Illinois (1973–77) and Attorney General of Illinois (1982–90).^[25][41]
• Neal Katyal was the lead counsel in the Supreme Court case Hamdan v. Rumsfeld. He is currently Principal Deputy Solicitor General of the United States.^[42]
• James C. Kenny was the United States Ambassador to Ireland.^[43]
• Dan Kotowski is an Illinois State Senator, representing the 33rd Senatorial District (2007–present).^[44]
• George M. O'Brien was a United States Representative for the Illinois' 17th congressional district (1973–86).^[45]

Arts and letters

• Aylin Bayramoglu was a contender on Oxygen's reality TV show The Glee Project.
• Pat Foley is a sportscaster, best known for his work in ice hockey with the Chicago Blackhawks.^[46]
• Eckhard Gerdes is a novelist (Cistern Tawdry, The Million-Year Centipede, or, Liquid Structures and My Landlady the Lobotomist) and editor (The Journal of Experimental Fiction).^[47]
• Gilbert V. Hartke is a social activist and founded the drama department at the Catholic University of America.^[48]
• Brendan Leonard is a television producer.^{[49] 1}
• Mike Leonard is an author and correspondent for The Today Show^[49]
• David Marconi is a screenwriter (Enemy of the State, Live Free or Die Hard).^[50]
• Bill Murray is an actor and comedian (Lost in Translation, Caddyshack, Ghostbusters).^[25]
• Joel Murray is an actor and the brother of Bill Murray and Brian Doyle-Murray.
• John Musker is an animated film director (The Little Mermaid, Aladdin)^[51]
• Richard L. Newhafer, novelist and teleplay writer
• Jonathan Nolan is a writer^[38]
• Timothy L. O'Brien is a journalist and author.^[52]
• Chris O'Donnell is an actor (Scent of a Woman, Batman Forever, NCIS: Los Angeles).^[53]
• Westbrook Pegler was a newspaper columnist and critic of the Democratic Party.^[54]4
• Bill Plante is a journalist with CBS News.^[25]
• Gregory Qaiyum (GQ) is an actor and writer (The Bomb-itty of Errors).^[55]
• Jeffery Ameen Qaiyum (JAQ) is a beatboxer and contributor to The Bomb-itty of Errors.^[55]
• Robert Ryan was an actor.
• Eddie Shin is an actor.
• Peter Steinfels is an author (A People Adrift: The Crisis of the Roman Catholic Church in America)^[38]

Business and technology

• Ed Boon is the co-creator of the video game Mortal Kombat.^[56]
• Christopher Helt, immigration lawyer and founder of The Helt Law Group.
• Jim Irsay is the owner of the NFL Indianapolis Colts.^[57]
• Michael R. Fine is an author and expert on computer beta testing.
• Brian McIntyre is an NBA executive and former media relations director for the Chicago Bulls.^[58]

Television

• Eric Bolling, conservative political commentator on Fox News and Fox Business.^[59]
• Mike Lowe, WGN promotes reporter Mike Lowe – Robert Feder, Chicago Tribune – June 10, 2016 ^[60]
• Alex Maragos, NBC 5 promotes Alex Maragos to morning co-anchor – Robert Feder, Chicago Tribune – June 30, 2016 ^[61]

Notable staff

• John Holecek is a former NFL linebacker (1995–2002), playing most of his career with the Buffalo Bills. He is currently the school's head football coach.^[62]

Notes

• ¹ Did not graduate from Loyola; transferred to North Shore Country Day School after sophomore year.
• ² Did not graduate from Loyola; left after sophomore year to play in the minor leagues.
• ³ Did not graduate from Loyola; transferred to Fossil Ridge High School in Texas after sophomore year.
• ⁴ Did not graduate from Loyola; dropped out after a few semesters to take a job as a reporter.

References

1. "High School Code Search". College Board. Retrieved 22 November 2009.
2. "President's Office". Loyola Academy. Retrieved 21 November 2009.
3. "Wilmette (Loyola Academy)". Illinois High School Association (IHSA). 20 November 2009. Retrieved 21 November 2009.
4. NCA-CASI. "AdvanceEd-NCA Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement". Retrieved 23 May 2009.
5. "Menagerie Arts". Loyola Academy. Retrieved 21 November 2009.
6. "Prep". Loyola Academy. Retrieved 21 November 2009.
7. Leavitt, Irv (25 October 2007). "Alumni reflect on their days at Loyola Academy". Wilmette Life. Wilmette, Illinois, USA: Pioneer Press. Retrieved 22 November 2009. 40 in 1961 to 11 now
8. Brachear, Manya (May 22, 2013). "Chicago Jesuits hid sex crimes". The Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 27 July 2016.
9. Closed school.
10. "2013 High School National Championship Tournament". National Academic Quiz Tournaments. Retrieved 14 December 2015.
11. "2013 NSC Stats and Final Standings". Partnership for Academic Competition Excellence. Retrieved 14 December 2015.
12. "IHSLA Awards Archive". Illinois High School LaCrosse Association. Retrieved 24 March 2011.
13. http://www.fanbase.com/Jamie-Baisley
14. http://www.footballdb.com/players/jamie-baisley-baislja01
15. George Bon Salle at Loyola Academy Athletic Hall of Fame. Retrieved 24 August 2007.
16. John Dee, Jr. at Loyola Academy Athletic Hall of Fame. Retrieved 24 August 2007.
17. R. Jerome Dunne at Loyola Academy Athletic Hall of Fame. Retrieved 24 August 2007.
18. Philip Hersh. "Loyola grad Dwyer 3rd in 400 free qualifying". Chicago Tribune. 28 July 2012. Retrieved on 28 July 2012.
19. Bill Skowronski. "Irish ride Falls' marskmanship to Spokane." Evanston Review. 15 March 2007.
20. Vega, Michael (17 March 1993). "He's Big Man on Campus: The Centerpiece of the Holy Cross Attack, Feaster Stands Above Crowd". The Boston Globe. highbeam.com. Retrieved 5 September 2011.
21. David Finzer at Loyola Academy Athletic Hall of Fame. Retrieved 24 August 2007.
22. Dave Finzer bio & stats; databasefootball.com; accessed 19 June 2009
23. John Fitzgerald at Loyola Academy Athletic Hall of Fame. Retrieved 24 August 2007.
24. Paul Florence at Loyola Academy Athletic Hall of Fame. Retrieved 24 August 2007.
25. "Loyola Academy facts." Chicago Sun-Times. 1 April 1992.
26. Phil Rogers. "Loyola product to make 1st major league start". Chicago Tribune. 8 May 2012.
27. Charlie Leibrandt stats & bio; baseballcube.com; accessed 19 June 2009
28. Frederick Lindstrom at Loyola Academy Athletic Hall of Fame. Retrieved 24 August 2007.
29. Machowski
30. Rachel Quarrell. "Oxford's muscle to challenge Cambridge Olympians." The Independent (London). 5 March 2002.
31. Bert Metzger at Loyola Academy Athletic Hall of Fame. Retrieved 24 August 2007.
32. Jim Coffman. "Montoya delays jump to professional career." Evanston Review. 29 July 2004.
33. James Mooney at Loyola Academy Athletic Hall of Fame. Retrieved 24 August 2007.
34. Steve Quinn at Loyola Academy Athletic Hall of Fame. Retrieved 24 August 2007.
35. Nicholas Rassas at Loyola Academy Athletic Hall of Fame. Retrieved 24 August 2007.
36. Robert Skoglund at Loyola Academy Athletic Hall of Fame. Retrieved 24 August 2007.
37. Bob Skoglund stats & bio; database-football.com; accessed 19 June 2009
38. Loyola Academy Viewbook. 2005.
39. Richard A. Devine profile; National District Attorney's Association; accessed 19 June 2009
40. Leavitt, Ira; Alumni reflect on their days at Loyola Academy; 25 October 2007; Wilmette Life; accessed 19 June 2009
41. RECOGNIZING LOYOLA ACADEMY OF WILMETTE; The Congressional Record; U.S. Senate; 8 April 1992; p. S5106; accessed 19 June 2009
42. "Alumni Making a Difference: Neal Katyal." Loyola Focus. Fall 2006.
43. Loyola Academy players travel to play in land of their forefathers. Sports Illustrated. 31 August 2012. Retrieved on 31 August 2012.
44. Sheila Ahern. Daily Herald. 9 November 2006.
45. George M. O'Brien biography; Biographical Directory of the United States Congress; accessed 19 June 2009
46. Ken Keenan. "Foley brings pipes to Wolves." Des Plaines Times. 28 September 2006.
47. Lain, Gary. "Long Live Rock." American Book Review November/December 2007:27-28.
48. "Father Gilbert Hartke; leading drama figure." The New York Times 22 February 1986.
49. Mike Thomas. "For this North Shore teen, it pays to goof off." Chicago Sun-Times. 25 May 2003.
50. Bill Zwecker. "Writer probes national security." Chicago Sun-Times. 22 November 1998.
51. "Musker looks for gold on 'Treasure Planet.'" Antioch Review. 12 December 2002.
52. "Documenting Some of the Defining Moments of Our Time." Loyola Focus. Summer 2005.
53. Bob Goldsborough. "Actor Chris O'Donnell sells seldom-used townhouse here." Chicago Tribune. 10 February 2002.
54. Edd Applegate. Literary Journalism. Greenwood, 1996. 202.
55. Mary Houlihan. "Hip-hop Shakespeare." Chicago Sun-Times. 15 June 2001.
56. Katherine Roche. "To the best, they beat the best". Chicago Sun-Times. 23 October 2007.
57. Will Higgins. "Jim Irsay: Upbeat and offbeat." The Indianapolis Star. 18 January 2004.
58. Sam Smith. "McIntyre and Durham honored by the Hall of Fame". nba.com. Retrieved on 14 August 2011.
62. Helfgot, Mike (22 October 2009). "Prep football: No. 5 St. Rita at No. 10 Loyola". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 21 November 2009. The coach is John Holecek, a former Marian Catholic and University of Illinois star who played Kelly's middle linebacker position in the NFL from 1995 through 2002.

External links

• Loyola Academy
• Society of Jesus
• Chicago Province of the Society of Jesus
• Jesuit Secondary Education Association