Congratulations Graduates! - First Presbyterian Church, Joliet, Illinois

CONGRATULATIONS to members of our church family
who have reached a milestone in education. We are
proud of you, we rejoice with you, and we pray that God
will use you and your gifts in many special ways.
Below are the graduates who have
submitted information.
(Check out our Graduates Board in Hoffman Hall
for more information about our graduates’
honors and activities!)
GRADUATING FROM JUNIOR HIGH/MIDDLE SCHOOL...
Andrew Kenneth Battcher, son of Kimberly and Gregory Battcher, grandson
of Beverly and Kenneth Bol, is graduating from Aux Sable Middle School
where he was on the Honor Roll all 3
years. He will be starting at Plainfield
South High School in the fall.
Michael Kenneth Endres, son of
Dale and Kari Endres, grandson
of Ken and Karen Myers and
Barb Endres, is graduating from
Aux Sable Middle School where
he was on the Honor Roll and
High Honor Roll and received
the Most Outstanding Band
Member Award and the Louis
Armstrong Award for Jazz Band. Michael will
attend Plainfield South High School in the fall.
Jonathan Gabl, son of Jim and Jen
Gabl, is graduating from Dirksen
Junior High where he was on the
High Honor Roll all 3 years. Jonathan will be attending Joliet Central
High School this coming fall.
Camron Nelson
Hayden, son of Todd and Kris
Hayden, grandson of Ed and
Donna Nelson, is graduating from
Washington Academy Jr. High.
He will attend Joliet West High
School where he plans to participate in Soccer and
Baseball.
Band.
Dane Iwema, son of Ronald and
Mahryha Iwema, grandson of
Bernie and Maureen Iwema and
Sam and Mary Jo Marchio, is
graduating from Channahon Junior High. He will attend Minooka
High School in the fall and will
play in the Minooka High School
Nicholas Kasper, son of Jeff and Lisa
Kasper, grandson of Domonic
DiSalvo and the late Wanda DiSalvo
and the late Robert and Helen
Fashant, is graduating from Hufford
Jr. High where he was on the High
Honor Roll. Nick will be attending
Joliet Catholic Academy next fall.
Anna Rowzee, daughter of Mark
and Krista Rowzee, granddaughter
of Ken and Karen Myers and Edward Rowzee, is graduating from
Timber Ridge Middle School
where she was on the High Honor
Roll and received an IGSMA Solo
and Ensemble Competition Division 1 rating. She
will attend Plainfield Central High School in the fall.
GRADUATING FROM SENIOR HIGH...
Dru Berry, son of Lloyd Berry and
Debbie West-Berry, grandson of Gene
and Betty Rose and the late Jim and
Pat Daffara, is graduating from Joliet
West High School, where he was on
the Honor Roll, is an ACT Pacesetter,
and a member of National Honor
Society and Mu Alpha Theta. Drew
plans to pursue Journalism Studies at
the University of Missouri in the Walter Williams
Honor Program.
Hanna McGee, daughter of Will
and Lynn McGee, granddaughter of
Frank and June Siddon, is graduating from Joliet Catholic Academy.
Hannah is a member of National
Honor Society, National Art Honor
Society and National Math Honor
Society (Mu Alpha Theta). She will
be attending Joliet Junior College
this coming fall in the Honors Program where she will be majoring in Interior Design.
Madeline Gabl, daughter of Jim
and Jen Gabl, is graduating
from Joliet Central High
School, Summa Cum Laude.
Madeline is a member of
National Honor Society, a Top
25 Student, on the High Honor
Roll every semester, an Illinois
State Scholar, Student of the
Month, and ACT Pacesetter.
She has received the President’s Award for Educational Excellence, the Prairie State Achievement
Award and the Principal’s Leadership Award. Madeline also participated in the Southwest Suburban Conference High School Arts Festival. She is still deciding
which college she will attend to study Art Education
with the goal of teaching Art at the high school level.
Summer Elizabeth Red, daughter
of Clarence and Linzette Red,
granddaughter of Clarence and
Una Red, graduated from Discovery Academy. She has received
an Xavier University of Louisiana
Merit-Based Scholarship and will
be attending Xavier University in
New Orleans, LA, to major in
Mass Communications.
Jacob Kohl Maurer, son of Beth
Maurer and David Maurer, grandson
of Joyce and the late Will Miner and
Nancy and Art Maurer, is graduating
from Bloom Trail High School in
Chicago Heights. He plans to attend
Prairie State College and then either
enlist in the U.S. Army or enroll at
NIU to study Political Science.
Samantha Alyse Schwartz, daughter of
Robert and Cynthia Schwartz, granddaughter of Karen Balog and Dr. Donald and Julia Schwartz, is graduating
from Providence Catholic High School
as a member of the National Honor
Society with Magna Cum Laude Academic Honors. Her cumulative community and international mission service won her a scholarship at DePaul
University, Chicago, where she will major in Psychology and minor in Art. Sam desires to certify as an Art
Therapist.
Our Graduates Board in Hoffman Hall
has more information about our graduates’
activities, special honors and awards.
GRADUATING FROM COLLEGE/INSTITUTE OF HIGHER LEARNING…
Jennifer M. Cox, daughter of Steve and
Mary Gajcak, granddaughter of Walter
and Ellen Gajcak, graduated May 3rd
from Aurora University with a Master’s
in Social Work Degree (MSW). She is
working as a Substance Abuse Counselor at Stepping Stones Treatment and
Recovery Center and plans to continue
in addictions counseling after taking her
licensure exam.
Colin Robert Herr, son of Craig and
Leslie Herr, grandson of Mary and the
late Robert Johnson and Walter and
Elaine Herr, is graduating with High
Honors from Bradley University with
a Bachelor of Science Degree in
Mechanical Engineering. He plans to
find a position in Mechanical
Engineering.
Ciara H. Lafond, daughter of Karl and
Rebecca Darley and granddaughter of
Meg Wurzinger, is graduating from
Joliet Jr. College with an Associates
of Arts Degree. She is a full time
Manager at Savvi Formalwear in
Joliet and plans to attend Northern Illinois University, majoring in
Business Administration and minoring
in Economics and Communication.
Melissa Ann Lee, daughter of
Dr. Michael and Susan Lee, granddaughter of Mr. and Mrs. Byron
Lee, Jr. and Mrs. Marilyn Herny, is
graduating from Illinois State University—the College of Applied Science Technology and the School of
Kinesiology & Recreation with a
Physical Education Major (K-12);
and the College of Education with a
Minor in English with endorsements in Language Arts
(Middle School) and English Language Arts (High
School). She is a member of Sigma Alpha Lamboa National Leaders & Honors Organization. Melissa plans to
seek employment in the local area.
Emma McGee, daughter of Will
and Lynn McGee, granddaughter
of Frank and June Siddon, is
graduating from Lewis University
with a Bachelor of Fine Arts
Degree. She is a member of Phi
Theta Kappa and Delta Psi
Omega, and received the Christian Brothers Scholarship and
A.P. & Gladys Dailey Memorial
Scholarship, as well as an Honors Medal for GPA over
3.5. Emma was selected by the faculty for the 2015
Senior Award for Departmental Excellence in Theater
and was awarded for her Sound Design for the Philip
Lynch Theater production of “Rabbit Hole” at the
American College Theater Festival. She will be working
as a Stage Manager for a production at the Rogue Theater in Chicago this summer and in August will be heading to Disney World as part of Disney’s College Program.
Christopher Pelech, son of Jim
and Gwen Pelech, grandson of
Rose and Joseph Pelech and
Elaine and Glynn Harvey, is
graduating from Lewis University
with a Bachelor of Science Degree, Major in Computer Science
and Minor in Math. Chris was
awarded the Senior Department
Award in Computer Science, the
Fifty for the Future Illinois Technology Foundation
Award, and an Honors Medallion (4.0 GPA). He is a
member of Delta Epsilon Sigma National Scholastic
Honor Society and National Math Honor Society. Starting in June, Chris will be working at XR Trading in
Chicago as a Software Engineer.
Nicole Wheeler, daughter of Genny and
the late Jay Wheeler, granddaughter of
the late Don and Helen Wheeler, is
graduating with High Honors from St.
Xavier University with a Master of Science Degree in Speech Language Pathology. She plans to work in a nursing
home/hospital setting with attention to
speech, swallowing, and voice box.