Alumni of Note
Giving Tree Band News
The Giving Tree Band will be taping for Woodsongs Radio Hour tomorrow (monday) to be aired a few months later on 500 radio stations worldwide and also on XM Satellite and PBS television.
On Monday, November 3, 2008 at 6:00PM (Central Standard Time), a live webcast of the band's performance and interview will be broadcast from the historic Kentucky Theater in Lexington, KY. Go to www.woodsongs.com and click the "live webcast" icon to watch the live production.
See you in cyberspace!
Todd Fink, class of 1997 and Eric FInk, class of 1998
www.thegivingtreeband.com
50 and over Combined Class Reunion .
September 27, 2008
Aquin Grads on Chicago . NBC News 5
The following link is of a newscast that was shown on NBC news 5 on Friday, September 26 throughout Chicago. It was produced by Aquin graduate, class of 1980, Suzanne Richter (reporter for NBC5), during the Lincoln Douglas Sesquicentennial celebrated over Labor Day Weekend. In addition to featuring Freeport, it includes interviews with Aquin graduates; Tim Connors, Aquin Class of 1985, (playing the role of Stephen A. Douglas) and George Gaulrapp, Aquin Class of 1977, (Mayor of Freeport).
The Great Debate . Lincoln v. Douglas
Class of 1988 Reunion click here
Rian Sanders, class of 1988, completed the Ironman Wisconsin on Sunday, September 7, 2008. WOW! In case you don’t know what that means:
He jumped in the lake at 7:00 a.m.
He swam 2.4 miles (1 hour 20 minutes)
He biked 120 miles (another 8 hours)
Then for fun he ran a marathon – 26.2 miles
He finished at 9:34 p.m.
(Rian is pictured above at the Aquin 1986 State Champion Game.)
Joel Moyer, class of 1988, was tired just watching him all day, driving around, cheering, walking about 2.5 miles. But, whew, Joel had a good workout.
Class of 1968 . 40th Reunion
The 40th class reunion of the class of 1968 was held Saturday, August 16th, 2008. It was hosted by classmate Dave Feagan and his wife Vicki, at their beautiful Freeport home. The class had a catered buffet dinner and also enjoyed hors d'eouvres and desserts provided by the alumni. Karaoke and dancing followed and a good time was had by all!
Steve Luecke donated two tickets to a Notre Dame football game and they were raffled off, raising over $300, which will be donated to Aquin. Steve is serving his third term as mayor of South Bend, Indiana.
The classmates in attendance were:
Standing: Terry Smith, Steve Luecke, Charlene Morey, Mary Osterberger Howard,
Rita Sweet Secker, Don Schauer, Donna McIntyre, Dave School, Jim Slattery,
Emily Sieffert McCarthy, Norma Roberts Thruman, Mike Curry, Pat Mullen, Tim Mellentine
Kneeling: Mike Kohlbauer, Sue Enzler Yeoman, Mary Ann Schmelzle Best, Patty Myers Blackbourn, Marg Dower Christensen, Lynn Karis Davis, Dave Feagan, Joe Secker, Bob Langlois, Jim Hamer (The toy poodle is Pebbles Feagan).
(Thanks to Norma Thruman for submitting this information and picture!)
Eco-friendly band shoots ’em up with Johnny Depp
FROM SUN-TIMES WIRES
Chicago’s the Giving Tree Band, a group of “eco-conscious songwriters and multi-instrumentalists,” just got an interesting gig: They’re filming a part in the new Johnny Depp movie currently shooting around town.
The band landed an interview with the production company behind “Public Enemy,”
a John Dillinger biopic starring Depp. The band’s old-timey look, plus a song that mentions Dillinger, secured them a chance to film part of a scene involving a theater performance for possible inclusion in the film.
The band . . . before the haircuts.
The Giving Tree Band pushes an environmental consciousness in their songwriting as well as their activity. The band’s mission states: “The environmentally ‘sound’ decisions of the band include performing with instruments that were built from naturally fallen trees and reclaimed woods, producing music with renewable energy, packaging CD's with 100-percent recycled materials, and supporting numerous charities and eco-friendly organizations with their concerts and recordings.”
The group’s latest album is a double-CD, “Unified Folk Theory.”
See them live on May 2 at the Around The Coyote Festival at Looptopia (Fine Arts Building 410 S. Michigan, click here) and May 18 at the Chicago Green Festival at Navy Pier.
Dear friends,
I just wanted to share some news about The Giving Tree Band. The beards are gone and so is the long hair. We all look fairly ridiculous actually, but for a good reason. We were recently cast as extras for the in-production film, "Public Enemies" starring Johnny Depp. The movie is about the famous gangster, John Dillinger, and set in the 1930's. We were additional movie-goers in a theater scene shot in Aurora, IL on Monday April 7. There was an article in the Chicago Sun Times also:
We played a tune for the casting agency and they loved it and put us in the film. I even got to meet Johnny Depp and I gave him a CD. Anyway, please keep your fingers crossed and maybe our music will end up in the soundtrack. The positive thoughts and wishes from so many people are what brings good things to our little band.
Peace and love,
Todd Fink, class of 1997 and Eric FInk, class of 1998
www.thegivingtreeband.com
Mable E. (Zeien) O’Farrell is the oldest living Aquin Alumni. She is the mother of five children, two of whom are Doctors of Medicine and three are LPNs. She writes, “I lived at the ‘White House’ next door to Aquin but was a member of St. Vincent’s. Bishop Muldoon visited Aquin whenever he could and called each student by name and commented on their parents’ sacrifice sending them there. Then he referred to us at St. Vincent’s as being HIS children and we felt 10 feet tall.” You can contact Mable at 1805 Kensington Drive Apt. 261, Waukesha, Wisconsin 53188.
Chris Jones, class of 1991, entered the Air Force in 2001 after graduation from Southern Illinois University. He is currently stationed at Kunsan AFB is South Korea. Christopher flies the F-16 fighter aircraft. He was stationed in Italy for three years where he overflew Bosnia in support of troops there and spent the summer of 2005 in Iraq flying in support of our troops on the ground.
Read about his latest training mission.
Bryson Whalen, class of 2005, and Drew Harweger, class of 2006, in 2008 Rose Bowl with Fighting Illini Football.
Patrick Flynn, class of 2005, has been named Daktronics NAIA All-America Scholar-Athlete.
Read release from University of St. Francis.
Lauren Sopcic, class of 2005, makes EIU headlines with volleyball performance in Texas at SMU Invitational.
See entire article.
Bryson Whalen, class of 2005, and Drew Harweger, class of 2006, make 2008 Fighting Illini Football Roster
See the entire roster.
Aquin Grad and Coach Mike Curry Inducted into IHFSCA Hall of Fame
Read the Journal Standard article on his Induction.
Read Jane Curry Amodeo's Editorial on her brother.
Classes of 1979-80 and 1981 see a personal thank you from Coach Curry on your Class Page.
coming soon . under construction
. online alumni registry .
. reunion news .
. mentoring opportunities .
. photos from the past .
. links from class websites .