On Jan. 9, Brookfield crossing guard Marija Mudger raised her right hand and officially became a United States citizen. A resident of the U.S. since 1968, Mudger and her family moved to Brookfield in 1994, and she has been a crossing guard for the village’s police department for the past eight years.
Her post is located at the very busy intersection of Prairie and Ogden avenues. where she assists children going to and from Lincoln School and St. Barbara School.
Mudger’s husband, Rudy; her son, Nicholas; and Brookfield Police Chief Thomas Schoenfeld were on hand at the Dirksen Federal Building in Chicago at 1 p.m. on Jan. 9, when she issued her oath and was sworn in as a U.S. citizen during the naturalization ceremony.
To qualify for citizenship, Mudger needed to demonstrate good moral character, show proficiency in her ability to read, write and speak English and pass a lengthy U.S. citizenship test.
According to Lt. Edward Petrak, who supervises crossing guards for the Brookfield Police Department, Mudger is “very devoted to her job as a crossing guard.”
“She walks almost a mile to her corner every day, and I can only think of one time in eight years that she needed to call in sick!”
Honored
Invited by the American Legion, Robert E. Coulter Jr. Post #1941, Todd N. Hitzeman, owner of Hitzeman Funeral Home in Brookfield, was presented with a plaque noting his contribution to the American Legion programs and activities by LaGrange Police Chief Michael Holub, on behalf of Holub’s former Army Unit.
The “Old Guard” is a special Army unit headquartered in Washington, D.C. that guards the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier around the clock and is involved in military and state funerals at Arlington National Cemetery.
Upon conclusion of the presentation, Hitzeman was extremely surprised to be awarded a plaque by Commander Barry Cicero on behalf of the legion. he plaque was a Certificate of Appreciation, stating: “This certificate of appreciation is gratefully presented to Hitzeman Funeral Home, Ltd. in recognition and sincere appreciation of outstanding service and assistance which contributed to the advancement of The American Legion programs and activities dedicated to God and country.”
Window dressing
The Brookfield Recreation Department last month announced that the winners of its 2006 Holiday Window Decorating Contest were: First Place-Christopher Mark Fine Flowers & Gifts, 3731 Grand Blvd.; Second Place-Jacob’s Ladder, 9222 Ogden Ave.; and Third Place-Le Grand Decor, 3748 Grand Blvd.
On campus
Northern Illinois University announced Feb. 1 that the following local residents received degrees at the school’s December 17 commencement ceremonies:Brookfield resident Jakub A. Brewer (B.S. Ed. in physical education) and North Riverside residents Hannah Markko (B.A. in sociology/criminology) and Luis G. Terronez (B.S. in industrial technology).
Meanwhile, Northern Illinois University also announced that the following residents were named to the Fall 2006 Dean’s List: Riverside resident Mackenzie E. Felix; North Riverside residents Katie L. DeMauro and Kevin J. Deichl; and Brookfield residents Michelle A. Balogh, Mike P. Ferraro, Shannon E. Michaud and Amanda H. Wanderer.
Riverside resident Lauren I. Hunt received Master of Science degree from Illinois State University during that school’s fall 2006 commencement ceremonies. Meanwhile, several local students received bachelor’s degrees at the end of the fall semester, including Brookfield residents Dana M. Derrico (cum laude), Kristen J. Kluge (cum laude), Jeffrey R. Bandur, Kristin D. Pilson and April L. Tidwell; Riverside resident Katie L. Kempe; and North Riverside resident Traci M. Hartigan.
North Riverside resident Eugene J. DeRango has been named to the Dean’s List for the fall semester at Knox College in Galesburg. Requirement for selection to the Dean’s List is a grade-point average of at least 3.45 on a 4.0 scale. A 2004 graduate of Riverside-Brookfield High School, DeRango is a junior majoring in biology and environmental studies. He is the son of Eugene and Rosa DeRango.
Brookfield residents Sean M. Cawley and Michael L. Meyer were named to the fall semester Dean’s List at Southern University Illinois in Carbondale. The minimum standards vary by college and range from 3.25 to 3.75 GPA on a scale of 4.0. Cawley, a sophomore, was recognized for achieving straight “A” grades last semester.
Trinity High School in River Forest has announced that North Riverside resident Emily Sitton (2008) and Riverside residents Gabrielle O’Connor (2009) and Andreja Siliunas (2010) have achieved First Honors during the second block of the 2006-07 school year. First Honors is awarded to students with a 3.75 GPA or above on a 4.0 scale.