Mater Christi Parish’s former pastor, the Rev. Louis Tylka, was named Coadjutor Bishop of Peoria by Pope Francis on May 11.
Tylka, a native of Harvey, graduated from St. Joseph School in Homewood in 1984 and from Marian Catholic High School in Chicago Heights in 1988.
After a year of study at Purdue University, he transferred to Niles College Seminary of Loyola University, graduating in 1992. Tylka was ordained to the priesthood by Joseph Cardinal Bernardin at Holy Name Cathedral in Chicago on May 18, 1996.
“He has proved himself to be a compassionate and inspiring pastor and a strong advocate for priests and the priesthood,” said Cardinal Blase Cupich, archbishop of Chicago, in a press release. “We look forward to the contributions he will make to the Church in the coming years.”
Tylka has served as associate pastor at St. Michael Parish in Orland Park and at Ss. Faith, Hope and Charity Parish in Winnetka.
He was pastor of Mater Christi Parish in North Riverside from 2004-14 and currently serves as pastor of St. Julie Billiart Parish in Tinley Park and as the chair of the Presbyteral Council of the Archdiocese of Chicago.
Tylka is expected to begin his ministry as Coadjutor Bishop and relocate to the Diocese of Peoria later in 2020.
LTHS teacher earns national award
Lyons Township High School science teacher Jason Crean received a 2020 Distinguished Teacher Award from National Science Teachers Association (NSTA). The award honors NSTA members who are classroom teachers who have made extraordinary contributions to the field of science teaching.
Crean has been teaching biology at LTHS for more than two decades. As an awardee, Crean will receive a formal citation, three nights’ hotel accommodation and $500 toward expenses to attend the NSTA National Conference.
On campus
Abigail Zabrodsky, of Brookfield, was awarded a Bachelor of Science degree, summa cum laude, in forestry during a virtual commencement this spring at Iowa State University.
Among those graduating with bachelor’s degrees from Ohio University in Athens this spring were North Riverside resident Daniel DeLeonardis (communication) and Brookfield resident Alicia Heninger (education). DeLeonardis also was named to the 2020 spring semester dean’s list for earning a semester grade-point average of at least 3.5 on a 4-point scale.
Brookfield resident Brittney Paeth was among the more than 6,300 students awarded degrees from the University of Alabama this spring. Paeth earned a Bachelor of Arts degree.
Collin Taylor, of Brookfield, graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree and a Bachelor of Philosophy degree from Dominican University in River Forest in May. He was also presented with the Distinguished Senior in Philosophy Award.
Riverside native Kelly Ely received a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree in May from Regis University in Denver.
Gregory Bernasek, of Riverside, will receive a Bachelor of Arts degree, cum laude, from St. Norbert College in De Pere, Wisconsin when that school holds its commencement ceremony, postponed from May, in October. Bernasek was also named to the 2020 spring semester dean’s list for attaining a semester GPA of at least 3.5.
North Riverside resident Andrew LeMesurier and Riverside resident Emily Pitts are part of the Cedarville (Ohio) University 2020 graduating class, which will celebrate commencement in October. LeMesurier will be awarded a bachelor’s degree in finance. Pitts will receive a bachelor’s degree in professional writing and information design.
Brookfield resident Matthew Nicolai, a May graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, will receive his diploma for earning a Bachelor of Science degree during the school’s rescheduled commencement ceremony in October.
More than 2,500 students received their degrees from Northern Illinois University in May, including Brookfield residents Madeleine Barrett (B.A., communication, journalism); Kaylee Jasinski (B.S., management, marketing); Fabian Pacheco (B.S., accountancy); and Donell Valdez (B.S., rehabilitation and disability services) and North Riverside residents Kiera Donnamario (B.A., history) and Andres Garcia (B.S., nursing).
David Suriano, of Riverside, was awarded the Olive B. White Award for fiction, one of 61 students honored by the Bradley University College of Liberal Arts and Sciences in the 2020 spring semester.
Julia Keller, of Riverside, became one of DePauw University’s record 76 student-athletes earning induction into the Chi Alpha Sigma National College Athlete Honor Society in May. The organization recognizes student-athletes who earn a varsity letter in at least one sport while maintaining a 3.4 or higher GPA throughout their junior and senior years.
Brookfield resident Autumn Rajcevich-Schwer and Riverside resident Alyssa Schwarz have been inducted into the Carthage College (Kenosha, Wisconsin) Chapter of the National Society of Leadership and Success.
Brookfield residents Samantha Hauser (medical laboratory sciences) and Kaylee Jasinski (leadership and management) along with North Riverside residents Andres Garcia (nursing) and Mary Kober (health sciences) were named to the 2020 spring semester dean’s list at Northern Illinois University in DeKalb.
Several local students were named to the 2020 spring semester dean’s list at Marquette University in Milwaukee, including Brookfield residents Jordan Gatsos (environmental engineering) and Calista Lopez (anthropology) and Riverside residents Guillermo Arroyo (mechanical engineering), Maya Diaz (sociology), Andy Jiang (mechanical engineering), Haley Legan (biomedical sciences), Jonathan Ricchio (civil engineering) and Kate Suess (nursing).
The University of Wisconsin-Madison named Riverside residents Nick Pavlakovic (College of Engineering), Natalie Skiest (Collage of Engineering) and Cathy Yuen (College of Letters and Sciences) to the 2020 spring semester dean’s list.
Brookfield resident Abigail Hosack and Riverside resident Louie Marcou were named to the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater dean’s list for the 2020 spring semester after earning GPAs of at least 3.4 for the semester.
Fifteen local students were among the more than 8,500 undergraduates named to the 2020 spring semester dean’s list at the University of Iowa in Iowa City. They included Brookfield residents Alex Contreras, Marissa Cruz, Alyse Malikowski, Katelyn Malikowski, Julia Melone and Lauren Paisker and Riverside residents Lizbeth Casillas, Sarah Dorenbos, Robert Holubek, Sara LaMantia, Gabrielle Nolan, Averie Robertson, Jake Vaia, Zachary Vaia and Caroline Willinger.
Michael Gruber, a design engineering technology major, was named to the president’s list for the 2020 spring semester at Trine University in Angola, Indiana, for attaining a semester GPA of at least 3.75.
More than 2,600 students were named to the 2020 spring semester dean’s list at Bradley University in Peoria, including Riverside residents Jocelyn Navarro (communication advertising), Killian Klotz (construction) and David Suriano (interactive media game design); North Riverside resident Isabelle Echevarria (creative writing); and Brookfield resident Anthony Landahl (communication television arts).
Brookfield resident Michele George-Griffin and Riverside resident Abigail Freel were named to the 2020 spring semester dean’s list at Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee, for earning a semester GOA of at least 3.5.
Ryan Jones, of Riverside, and Emma Pizana, of Brookfield, were named to the 2020 spring semester dean’s list at DePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana, for achieving a GPA of at least 3.5 for the semester.
Riverside residents Madelyn Hopek, Lauren Lambros and Margaret Shereck have been named to the 2020 spring semester dean’s list at St. Mary’s College in Notre Dame, Indiana, for earning a semester GPA of at least 3.6.
Jeremy Kolasa, of Brookfield, and Kailyn Ngo, of Riverside, were named to the 2020 spring semester dean’s list at Olivet Nazarene University in Bourbonnais for attaining a semester GPA of at least 3.5.
Owen McManus, of Riverside, was named to the College of Charleston (South Carolina) 2020 spring semester 2020 president’s list for earning a GPA of at least 3.8 for the semester.
Augustana University in Rock Island has announced that Ryan Encher, of Brookfield, has been awarded a scholarship for the 2020-21 academic year in recognition of his achievements both inside and outside of the classroom.
A number of local students were named to the second semester honor roll for the 2019-20 school year at Nazareth Academy in LaGrange Park. Those making the A Honor Roll (3.8-4.0 GPA) were Brookfield residents Michal Feng, Greta Nelson, Sarah Newmann and Jannelle Steger and Riverside residents Michael Almeida and Elizabeth Selover.
Named to the B Honor Roll (3.33-3.79 GPA) were Brookfield residents Gianni Moran, Trea Notz and Elijah Pesek and Riverside resident Michael Gentile.
