Former North Riverside Mayor Richard Scheck and his wife, Judith, participated in UCP Seguin’s “100 Stories of Philanthropy” event at the North Riverside Village Commons in August.
The event, held in partnership with the Chicago Community Trust and MB Financial Bank, was meant to shine a light on individuals and organizations from Riverside Township and surrounding communities who have given of their time, talent and treasure at various levels, large to small.
Scheck has long had a close relationship with UCP Seguin. The Betty Scheck Senior Center operated by Seguin in LaGrange Park, named after Scheck’s late first wife, was a gift from the Scheck family to Seguin in 2009.
Others from Riverside Township in attendance were Joe Mengoni, a North Riverside village trustee and vice president of residential and clinical services for UCP Seguin; Judy Novak, who has served on the Riverside Township Mental Health Board for more than 30 years; Ann Dynako Kubiczky, a Riverside Township trustee and township mental health board member; Steven Kubiczky, former township trustee; Steve and Ellen Egan; and Stan Patek.
Other Riverside Township residents who were unable to participate but whose contributions were honored included Anthony and Holly Miezio, Amy Jacksic and the Riverside Exchange, Maureen and Paul Rurka, the Riverside Township Lions Club and the Riverside Junior Woman’s Charity.
Girl Scout awarded scholarship
Shannon Layng, of Riverside, was among 12 students awarded scholarships to study a foreign language from the Corrine Jeannine Schillings Foundation, which presents the scholarship each year to Girl Scouts who have achieved a Silver or Gold Award, the highest honors a Girl Scout can earn.
Layng, who is attending the University of Chicago, is majoring in biological sciences and minoring in Latin/classics. She was among 105 applicants from 24 states and was selected based on her academic transcript, a recommendation from a Girl Scout volunteer or staff member and a personal essay.
The foundation was established to honor the memory of Schillings, a former Girl Scout who was an avid traveler and believed strongly in higher education for all women. She lost her life in a Baltimore water taxi accident in 2004.
Hocus pocus
Award-winning magician Trent James is bringing his show “Like a Wizard … but Without the Beard” to the Community House—Kettering Hall, 415 W. 8th St. in Hinsdale on Saturday, Oct. 10 at 7:30 p.m.
James, a graduate of Riverside-Brookfield High School and a resident of Brookfield, won two prestigious awards earlier this year. At the national Society of American Magicians annual convention in Philadelphia in July, he was awarded the Milbourne Christopher Award for Most Promising Young Magician. Past winners of the award include David Copperfield and Doug Henning.
He was also chosen as one of six magicians to represent North America at Magic FISM, the “Olympics of magic.”
For ticket information visit online at www.TrentJamesMagic.com.
Police recognized
Riverside Police Chief Thomas Weitzel has been named as the first-ever chairman of the newly created Illinois State Advisory Committee for Mothers Against Drunk Drivers (MADD).
The advisory committee was created to eliminate drunk and drugged driving, provide services to DUI victims and prevent underage drinking.
“Chief Weitzel is extremely knowledgeable in the legislative process in Springfield, and his understanding of that process will help MADD Illinois fight for new legislation, increase victim services and highlight MADD Illinois’ role in reducing drunk and drugged driving,” said Sam Canzoneri, executive director of MADD Illinois.
Weitzel has served as a police officer in Riverside since 1984 and has been chief since 2008.
In addition, MADD announced earlier this month that Riverside Police Officer Brian Greenenwald has received a special award for drunk driving enforcement from the organization’s Northeast Illinois Law Enforcement Nomination Committee.
The award presentation was made in Springfield on Sept. 11.
On campus
Riverside-Brookfield High School student Tristan Kotlicky has been named a Commended Student in the 2016 National Merit Scholarship program. Kotlicky was one of about 34,000 students — out of more than 1.5 million students who entered the competition — recognized for exceptional academic promise.
Commended students placed among the top 5 percent of those who took the Preliminary PSAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test. Kotlicky is a senior at RBHS.
Benedictine University in Lisle has announced that the following local residents have been awarded bachelor’s degrees in May. Among those receiving degrees were Brookfield resident Jennifer A. Herrington (B.S. nursing, with honors); North Riverside residents Dana A, Magyarics (B.S. health science) and Tyler S. Polanski (B.S. environmental science); and Riverside resident Geanabelle H. Chapp (B.S., nursing, with honors).
Jacob Palka, of Riverside, was named to the dean’s list for the 20104-15 academic year at Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana. He will be formally recognized for the achievement during a dean’s list ceremony on Oct. 24, held in conjunction with the university’s family weekend.
