Spring 2025 Honor Roll Announced

Freshmen -  Hope Antkowiak, Landon Balestri, Alicia Barreras, Jackson Bogatitus, Gabriel Bunch, Isabella  Camacho, Tongtong  Cao, Ty Carls, Tzu Chang, Kylie Coons, Ayla Coventry, Jameson Daley, David De La Torre, Meilin  Duan, Sadie Dugosh, Quinn Entrican, Luke Fess, Bear Fitzpatrick, Haozhe Guo, Jiahe Guo, Yitong  Han, Nicolette Hanck, Mason Haskell, Connor Holly, Jieming Huang, Olivia Hunter, Jacob Inman, Payden Kelly, Jinseong  Kim, Sadie Leffelman, Kijah Lucas, Jyzel Martin, Gaby Martinez, Parker McClain, Valeria Mendez, Morgan Mercer, Johnathan Michael, Lizet Morales Sanchez, Max Moreno, Teagan Mullane, Maksymilian Niedzwiedz, Theadora Pappas-Anniballi, Lien Phan, Allyn Phillips, Nelle Potthoff, Olivia Raef, Addison Raffety, Graham Ross, Finley Rue, Mary Simonetta, Elsie Soliman, Josephine Trujillo, Preston Vasquez, Hanna Waszkowiak, Yitong  Xue, Ryan Zusefin.

Sophomores -  Faith Ankiewicz, Yesenia Avila, Demian Baker, Caleb Barto, Evan Bernabei, Chloe Brandt, Sean Brayton, Brody Burris, Calen Cass, Geno Dinges, Kate Duncan, Kyra Finley, Daniel Garcia, Cecilia Giacalone, Raudel Hermosillo Jr., Brennen Hirst, Emma Huffaker, Yejun  Jang, Lila Koehler, Ella Lamboley, Chenxuan  Lin, Landon Marquez, Lucy Maus, Emma Mavity, Stuart McGunnigal, Stephanie Ni, Niko Pappas-Anniballi, Chase Riva, Olivia Ross, Ranbir Saini, Alaina Schulz, Ishvir Singh, Macy Strauch, Bryce Stuepfert, Alexandrew Tillman, Alec Tomsha, Judith Torres, Cris Tran, Kerstin Williams.

Juniors -  Margaret Arkins, Alp Arslan, Ava Balestri, Genavyve Barnes, Landon Boggio, Lily Bosnich, Savannah Bray, Noah Buck, August Burr, Drew Carboni, Chuanyang Chen, Jose De La Torre, Simona  Desai, Haoxuan  Du, Madeline Fabish, Harrison Fess, Ashton Gonzales, Mae Hagenbuch, Brody Hahn, Weston Heersink, Aiden Hermes, Zachary Husser, Shuyu  Jiang, Isaac Kang, Bokyung  Kim, Wanyu  Liu, Breanna Martinez, Lili McClain, Ruby Michels, Ella Mudge, Loc Ngo, Sophia Ni, Jillian Pinter, Trajan Raffety, Xiangyi  Ren, Carson Riva, Chipper Rossi, Alyssa Savitch, Emma Slingsby, Lillian Soliman, Ryan Soliman, Shujie  Song, Devin Steil, Khoa Tran, Battista Verucchi, Julian Villava, Peiwen Wu, Xindi  Wu, Hongsheng  Yang, Ayla Yeske, Yannis Yong, Kian Zeller, Ruihan  Zhang, Yijing Zhang.

Seniors -  Teer Ao, Haiden Ator, Andrea Brandner, Adriana Buchanan, Qiyu Chen, Ziheng Chen, Garrett Connelly, Jordan Coventry, Trayger Davis-Rynkewicz, Alondra Delao, Lorelei Denny, Madalyn Dittmar, Bailey Engels, Yibo Fan, Grady Gillan, Phillip Gray, Lacey Griggs, Mirella Haskell, Halden Hueneburg, Elizabeth  Huffaker, Kathleen Hunter, Tyler Jordan, Yuno Kawai, Maci Kelly, Sadie Koehler, Jaxon Kozak, Lin Le, Violet Lopez, Haiqing  Mao, Greyson Marincic, Gavin Marquez, Jack Maschmann, Quinn McClain, Victoria Mendez, Jake Migliorini, Grace Millington, Adeline Mitchell, Mason Moreno, Kaden Nauman, Ryan Nawa, Kaden Newman, Logan Pineda, Mason Ross, Emma Smudzinski, Zixuan Song, Alan Spencer, Nhi Ton, Mina Trandinh, Arthur van den Berg, Samantha Wagner, Tyler Walsh, Abraham Wiesbrock, Kefei Wu, Solomon Zhang.

Refectory Revival Fund-A-Need Project Unveiled

Peru – St. Bede Academy is proud to announce the launch of its 2025 Fund-A-Need Project: Refectory Revival - One Table, Many Stories, which is aimed at restoring and modernizing one of the most cherished and historic spaces on campus - the refectory.

For generations, St. Bede’s refectory has been more than a dining hall. It has served as a central gathering place where students come together to share meals, form friendships and build lasting memories.

St. Bede aims to raise $230,000 for this project, which includes installation of two safety exit doors, tin ceiling refurbishment, 17 new windows, electrical and lighting upgrades, wall patching and painting, floor polishing and modern graphic details and window shades.

“This isn’t just a renovation project,” said Michel Massamba, Director of Mission Advancement & Major Gifts. “It’s an investment in the community and culture of St. Bede. The refectory is the heart of our campus, and we’re inviting our alumni, families and friends to help keep that heart beating strong.”

The Fund-A-Need Project is being launched ahead of St. Bede’s 42nd Annual Auction, taking place on June 14. While a featured paddle raise initiative during the event, donors don’t need to wait until auction night to contribute. Gifts are being accepted now through the evening of the auction. Early contributions are encouraged and will help build momentum toward reaching the fundraising goal.

Gifts of all sizes are welcome to help fund this project. Donors who contribute $500 or more will receive an invitation to the Refectory Appreciation Party on Thursday, Dec. 11.

To learn more about the campaign or to make a gift, please visit www.st-bede.com/fundaneed-2025.

St. Bede hosts 51st Annual Honors Banquet

PERU - St. Bede Academy hosted its 51st annual Honors Banquet on Tuesday, April 24. Students from all classes were presented athletic and academic excellence awards. The following were the recipients for the 2024-25 awards presented:

Senior of the Year

Phillip Gray

Distinguished Awards

Fr. Arthur Schmitt, OSB Service Award: Adeline Mitchell

Scholar Athlete Award: Madalyn Dittmar and Abraham Wiesbrock

IHSA All-State Academic Team Nominee: Madalyn Dittman and Greyson Marincic

Athlete of the Year Award: Bailey Engels, Greyson Marincic and Kaden Nauman

Fr. Gorman Award: Haiden Ator, Bailey Engels, Lacey Griggs, Greyson Marincic, Jack Maschmann, Mary Quinn McClain, Aidan Mullane and Kaden Nauman.

Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership Award (HOBY): Eden Galvan, Lucy Maus, Stuart McGunnigal and Ariana Villava.

Illinois Principal’s Association John Ourth Student Recognition Award: Bailey Engels and Arthur van den Berg

Daughters of the American Revolution Award (DAR): Phillip Gray

Sons of the American Revolution Award (SAR): Jake Migliorini

President’s Excellence in Education: Ziheng Gordon Chen, Yibo Frank Fan, Haiqing Helen Mao, Greyson Marincic, Mason Ross, Arthur van den Berg, Abraham Wiesbrock and Solomon Zhang.  

National Merit Commended Students: Greyson Marincic and Abraham Wiesbrock

Illinois State Scholars: Haiden Ator, Andrea Brandner, Madalyn Dittmar, Grady Gillan, Phillip Gray, Tyler Jordan, Greyson Marincic, Arthur van den Berg and Abraham Wiesbrock.

St. Bede Academy International Scholar: Ziheng Gordon Chen

Scholastic Top 10 (In alphabetical order): Haiden Ator, Andrea Brandner, Ziheng Gordon Chen, Madalyn Dittmar (Salutatorian), Yibo Frank Fan, Phillip Gray, Tyler Jordan, Greyson Marincic, Victoria Mendez and Abraham Wiesbrock (Valedictorian)

Academic Awards

Freshmen: Hope Antkowiak, Jacob Inman, Parker McClain, Lizet Yoltzin Morales Sanchez, Mary Simonetta and Hanna Waszkowiak

Sophomores: Ranbir Saini

Junior: Noah Buck, Lillian Soliman, Ryan Soliman and Yannis Yong

Senior: Abraham Wiesbrock

Citizenship Awards

Freshman: Johnathan Michael

Sophomore: Ariana Villava

Junior: Emma Slingsby

Senior: Bailey Engels

Department Awards

Mathematics: Freshman Jieming Lisa Huang, Sophomore Ranbir Saini, Junior Alp Arslan and Senior Greyson Marincic

English: Freshmen Landon Balestri and Lizet Yoltzin Morales Sanchez, Sophomore Kyra Finley, Juniors Ruby Michels and Yannis Yong and Senior Jake Migliorini

Spanish: Johnathan Michael (Spanish I), Grace Gahan (Spanish II), Yannis Yong (Spanish III) and Bailey Engels (Spanish IV)

Science: Johnathan Michael (Honors Biology I), Ryan Soliman (AP Chemistry), Andrea Brandner and Ziheng Gordon Chen (Anatomy & Physiology), Arthur van den Berg (AP Computer Science Principles), Noah Buck, Aiden James Hermes, Ryan Soliman and Yannis Yong (AP Computer Science) and Greyson Marincic and Abraham Wiesbrock (AP Physics)

History: Yannis Yong (AP U.S. History), Weston Heersink (U.S. History), Kyra Finley (Honors World History) and Calen Cass (World History)

Fine Arts: Mirella Haskell (Fr. Joseph Heyd, OSB Award)

St. Bede raises $264,000 on St. Benedict’s Day of Giving

St. Bede Freshman Connor Holly adds his name to the Bruin Impact Wall after donating to the St. Benedict’s Day campaign on March 21. Holly was one of hundreds of students who took part in giving back during the campaign.

St. Bede Abbey and Academy announced the success of its annual St. Benedict’s Day of Giving, held on March 21. The campaign raised an impressive $264,000 from 494 donors, including alumni, parents, friends, school staff, teachers and students. 

“It was deeply moving to see our beloved St. Bede community come together, in unity, to make St. Benedict's Day a resounding success. What this reaffirms is that the future of both our Abbey and Academy is in excellent hands, with the support of our alumni and friends whose generosity continues to strengthen our community," said Michel Massamba, Director of Mission Advancement and Major Gifts.

The funds directly support the Saint Bede Annual Fund, which plays a crucial role in bridging the gap in tuition by covering costs associated with professional development for teachers, STEM and teaching resources, athletic, fine arts and student programs, Christian and faith formation and maintaining campus facilities.

As an independent institution, St. Bede does not receive state or diocesan funding and relies entirely on the generosity of its donors.

To encourage participation on St. Benedict’s Day, donors who contributed $50 or more received a St. Bede tote bag. Students were also actively engaged in the campaign - those who donated $2 or more enjoyed a jean day on the day of the campaign, and had the opportunity to sign the Bruin Impact Wall, symbolizing unity and school spirit.

A key factor in the campaign’s success was the $98,000 in matching gift challenges, which were unlocked throughout the day. Additionally, a generous donor contributed a $50,000 donor rally challenge, which spurred an increase in participation in the campaign.

For more information about St. Bede’s St. Benedict’s Day of Giving, visit www.st-bede.com/stbenedict-2025.  

St. Bede welcomes new football and volleyball coaches

Saint Bede would like to welcome two new coaches to its family. Jack Brady is Head Varsity Football Coach and Nicole Trenka is Head Varsity Volleyball Coach.

Brady has spent the past nine years serving in various capacities with the Bruin Football program and has been very involved with offensive design and coordination the past five seasons.  Brady’s plans to immediately begin establishing and meeting with members of his coaching staff, as he is excited to engage in critical summer opportunities, such as annual 7-on-7 events and strength and conditioning sessions. His plans include taking what he has learned these past years and working to create robust engagement opportunities for all constituents of SBA for our weekend football events.

Trenka currently serves as the 16u coach with the Morris Volleyball Club and was on coaching staff at La Salle Peru High School in the fall of 2024, where she assisted at the sophomore level. Her previous stops include Head Club Volleyball Coach for Saint Mary's College of California as well as assistant coach for the 17u team at the Bay Area Volleyball Club. Trenka is a Saint Mary's College of California graduate (B.S. in Health and Human Performance) and her playing career includes both Beach and Club Volleyball while at Saint Mary's. She will meet with returning SBA players soon and will finalize her coaching staff.