St. Bede students recognized during 49th annual Honors Banquet

PERU - St. Bede Academy hosted its 49th annual Honors Banquet on Wednesday, April 26. Students from all classes were presented a wide range of academic and athletic excellence awards. The following were the recipients for the 2022-23 awards presented that evening:

In the English department: Freshmen Ava Balestri and Noah Buck; sophomore Solomon Zhang; juniors Ali Bosnich and Ryan Slingsby and seniors Kristal De La Torre and Ryan Migliorini.

In the Mathematics department: Freshmen Noah Buck and Yannis Yong; sophomores Greyson Marincic and Abraham Wiesbrock; junior Ella Englehaupt and senior Gianna Grivetti.

In the Science department: Logan Potthoff ‘24 (AP Chemistry), Gianna Grivetti ‘23 (AP Physics), Ava Stone ‘23 and Kylie Cofoid ‘23 (Anatomy & Physiology), Gavin Sandoval ‘23 (AP Computer Science) and Zach Popurella ‘24 (AP Computer Science Principles).

In the History department: Johnna Bogatitus ‘24 (AP U.S. History), Aubree Acuncius ‘24 (U.S. History), Greyson Marincic ‘25 (Honors World History) and Jake Migliorini ‘25 (World History).

In the Foreign Language department: Noah Buck ‘26 (Spanish I), Quinn McClain ‘25 (Spanish II), Ella Englehaupt ‘24 (Spanish III) and Landon Jackson ‘23 (Spanish IV).

In the Drama department: Michael Shaw ’23 was selected for the Otto Harth Award.

In the Art department: Catherine Lukancic ’23 was selected for the Fr. Joseph Heyd Art Award.

For athletics: Gianna Grivetti ’23 is Female Scholar Athlete of the Year, Ryan Migliorini ’23 is Male Scholar Athlete of the Year, Anna Lopez ’23 is Female Ahtlete of the Year, John Brady ‘23 is Male Athlete of the Year and Morgan Nawa ’23 and Ryan Migilorini ’23 are High School Heisman Award winners.

Illinois State Scholars: Kylie Cofoid, Kristal De La Torre, Gianna Grivetto, Madelyn Torrance and Isabella Villalobos.   

President’s Excellence in Education: Lea Asani, Kylie Cofoid, Gianna Grivetti and Madelyn Torrance.

Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership Award (HOBY): Sadie Koehler ‘25, Jake Migliorini ‘25, Bailey Engels ‘25 and Greyson Marincic ‘25.

College Board National Recognition Program: Daliayah Farris ‘24, Gavin Sandoval ‘23, Gianna Grivetti ‘23, Isabella Villalobos ‘23, Johnathon Hackney ‘23, Kristal De La Torre ‘23, Kylie Cofoid ‘23, Landon Jackson ‘23, Lea Asani ‘23, LilyLu Rauh Fernandez ‘23 and Madelyn Torrance ‘23.

Christian Service: Petranella Mitchell ’23 was selected for the Fr. Arthur Schmitt Service Award.

Daughters of the American Revolution Award (DAR): Ryan Brady ‘23

Sons of the American Revolution Award (SAR): Morgan Nawa ‘23

Freshman Academic: Noah Buck, Harrison Fess, Mae Hapenbuch, Lillian Soliman, Ryan Soliman, Trajan Rafferty and Yannis Yong.

Sophomore Academic: Madalyn Dittmar and Abraham Wiesbrock.

Junior Academic: Isabella Hapgenbuch.

Senior Academic: Gianna Grivetti.

Top 10: Macy Zeglis, LilyLu Rauh Fernandez, Isabella Villalobos, Zoe Roebuck, Ava Stone, Anna Lopez, Kristal De La Torre, Kylie Cofoid, Madelyn Torrance and Gianna Grivetti.

Freshman Citizenship: Noah Buck.

Sophomore Citizenship: Jake Migliorini.

Junior Citizenship: Johnna Bogatitus.

Senior Citizenship: Ryan Brady.

Senior of the Year: Alyssa Engels.

St. Bede Academy announces honor roll for 2022-23 third quarter

St. Bede Academy in Peru announced its honor roll for the third quarter of the 2022-23 school year. Nick McLaughlin, principal of St. Bede, recognizes those students who attained the academy’s honor roll and is proud of their accomplishments.

Seniors: Hayden Arkins, Ali Arslan, Lea Asani, Addison Bontz, John Brady, Ryan Brady, Kylie Cofoid, Kristal De La Torre, Jake Delaney, Alyssa Engels, Gianna Grivetti, Lexi Heemstra, Arianna Heersink, Callan Hueneburg, Mason Hurst, Anh Huynh, Landon Jackson, Shuxuan Li, Anna Lopez, Nathan Lough, Abigail Michels, Ryan Migliorini, Kailey Moore, Mia Morrow, Morgan Nawa, Brendan Pillion, LilyLu RauhFernandez, Emily Robbins, Zoe Roebuck, Gavin Sandoval, Alyssa Schirz, Michael Shaw, Ava Stone, Anthony Taylor, Celeste Thompson, Madelyn Torrance, Alyssa Torri, Isabella Villalobos, Macy Zeglis, Xinyi Zhai

Juniors: Aubree Acuncius, Alex Ankiewicz, Yigit Arslan, Johnna Bogatitus, Bella Boggio, Ali Bosnich, Macklin Brady, Maximus Bray, Ella Burris, Madelyne Dalton, Rubi De La Torre, Erin Dove, Tessa Dugosh, Ella Englehaupt, Evan Englehaupt, Evan Entrican, Aleah Espel, Daliayah Farris, Milana Gayan, Molly Gonzales, Georgina Guo, Isabella Hagenbuch, Gavin Hahn, Makenzie Hanson, Isaiah Hart, Katelyn Harth, Macy Hartt, Mariella Hermes, Teagan Hewitt, Kylie Hill, Nathan Husser,  Jeanna Ladzinski, Henry Mertel, Ariella Mudge, Ava Mueller, Kyra Newman, Olivia Orteza, Kristina Penaverde, Isabella Pinter, Zachary Popurella, Logan Potthoff, Anna Rudenko, Kaelyn Schwemlein, Aubrey Siebert, Ryan Slingsby, Benedek Sotonyi, Reagan Stoudt, Amie Tomaszewski, Vy Tran,  Amanda Wojcik, Katherine Zeller

Sophomores: Haiden Ator, Andrea Brandner, Adriana Buchanan, Qiyu Chen, Ziheng Chen,  Garrett Connelly, Jordan Coventry, Trayger Davis, Lorelei Denny, Madalyn Dittmar, Ashlyn Ehm, Bailey Engels, Yibo Fan, Dominic Fonderoli, Grady Gillan, Phillip Gray, Lacey Griggs, Mirella Haskell, Halden Hueneburg, Elizabeth Huffaker, Tyler Jordan, Macy Kelly, Sadie Koehler, Jaxon Kozak, Ziqi Lin, Haiqing Mao, Greyson Marincic, Gavin Marquez, Quinn McClain, Victoria Mendez, Jake Migliorini, Grace Millington, Adeline Mitchell, Aidan Mullane, Kaden Nauman, Ryan Nawa, Kaden Newman, Thu Phan,  Logan Pineda, Mason Ross, Emma Smudzinski, Zixuan Song, Alan Spencer, Mina Trandinh, Elizabeth Vanko, Beatriz Vasquez, Isabel Verucchi, Samantha Wagner, Tyler Walsh, Abraham Wiesbrock, Kefei Wu, Ruyue Zhang, Jinhao Zhao

Freshmen: Margaret Arkins, Beckham Baker, Ava Balestri, Genavyve Barnes, Ruyi Bian,  Landon Boggio, Lily Bosnich, Noah Buck, August Burr, Drew Carboni, Chuanyang Chen, Anna Cyrocki, Emerald De La Torre, Jose De La Torre, Madeline Fabish, Gino Ferrari, Harrison Fess, Ashton Gonzales, Mae Hagenbuch, Brody Hahn, Weston Heersink, Aiden Hermes, Micah Huetteman, Shuyu Jiang, Jiarui Li, Fatima Mandujano, Breanna Martinez, Griffin May, Lili McClain, Ruby Michels, Sophia Ni, Jillian Pinter, Trajan Raffety, Xiangyi Ren, Carson Riva, Chipper Rossi, Sara Ruiz, Alyssa Savitch, Laney Senica, Emma Slingsby, Lillian Soliman, Ryan Soliman, Shujie Song, Devin Steil, Baopu Tai, Miranda Torres, Julian Villava, Xindi Wu, Hongsheng Yang, Yannis Yong, Kian Zeller, Sora Zepeda, Ruihan Zhang, Yijing Zhang, Quanbin Zhao

St. Bede Academy announces top 10 academic students

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

Pictured are the class of 2023’s top 10 students: Zoe Roebuck (front row, from left), Gianna Grivetti, Isabella Villalobos, Kristal De La Torre, Macy Zeglis, Lilylu RauhFernandez (back row, from left), Anna Lopez, Madelyn Torrance, Kylie Cofoid and Ava Stone.

Peru, IL – St. Bede Academy Principal Nick McLaughlin is pleased to announce the class of 2023’s top 10. These students have honorably represented St. Bede Academy in scholastic and non-scholastic events, in service to St. Bede and the surrounding community and in character with the Benedictine tradition.

Students are listed in alphabetical order:

Kylie Cofoid is the daughter of Scott Rynke of LaSalle and Mandi Cofoid of Peru and a member of St. Patrick’s Catholic Church. She graduated from Parkside Middle School. Cofoid intends to obtain a degree in actuarial science from either the University of Wisconsin-Madison or Ohio State University. She was awarded the AP Computer Science Principles award her sophomore year, named an Illinois State Scholar and received recognition as an AP Computer Science female student from the College Board National Recognition Program. Cofoid was active in softball her freshman and sophomore years, and was a member of the Yearbook, Interact, Lectio Divina and Heritage clubs. She is a St. Bede Ambassador, member of the WYSE team, an eucharistic minister and a peer tutor. Cofoid volunteered her time peer tutoring, being an altar server at her parish and working Knights of Columbus and St. Bede events. In addition, she worked concessions for local youth activities. 

Kristal De La Torre is the daughter of Jose De La Torre of Spring Valley and Esmeralda Avila of Oglesby and a member of St. Columba Catholic Church. She graduated from Trinity Catholic Academy in LaSalle. De La Torre will be attending the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and plans to pursue a career in speech pathology and communication disorders. She has been voted Most Improved by her tennis team, she is a captain of the basketball team and she received the National Rural and Small Town Program Scholar and National Hispanic Recognition Program Scholar. De La Torre  has participated in volleyball, tennis and basketball while at St. Bede, and was a member of the Heritage, Interact, Pep and Tea clubs. She is a Eucharistic Minister, St. Bede Ambassador and Student Government secretary. She has volunteered working at St. Bede youth camps, as well as events and admissions at Trinity Catholic. De La Torre strives to earn her Masters in speech pathology and work in a school or hospital helping children with their communication disorders.

Gianna Grivetti is the daughter of Jim and Stephanie Grivetti of Ladd and  a member of  St. Joseph’s in Peru. She graduated from Peru Catholic Grade School. She plans to attend a four-year university and major in civil engineering. Grivetti has been the recipient of three math awards, three English awards, a chemistry award, a Spanish award and a U.S. history award. Her sophomore year, she was voted the HOBY representative. She was a key member of the girls’ golf team and was named First Team All Conference three years in a row and Golfer of the Year for the News Tribune and Bureau County Republican. In addition to golf, Grivetti is a St. Bede Ambassador and Eucharistic Minister. Her free time is spent volunteering at the St. Bede youth camps, Ladd Grade School, Ladd library and tutoring. 

Anna Lopez is the daughter of Chris and Carrie Lopez of Spring Valley and a member of LaSalle Catholic Parishes. She is a graduate of Trinity Catholic Academy. Lopez plans to attend a four-year university where she will take the pre-med track and major in Biomedical Laboratory Science. She has been an honor roll student and received National Hispanic Recognition. She placed seventh in the IHSA state triple jump, was named Bureau County Republican Track Athlete of the Year and Illinois Top Times Triple Jump Champion. Lopez has participated in track and volleyball, and was a member of the Tea Club. Volunteer activities for her include helping DePue Mens Club and youth volleyball camps. Lopez plans to attend med school and pursue a career in reconstructive procedures.

LilyLu RauhFernandez is the daughter of Elizabeth Rauh and a graduate of Trinity Catholic Academy. RauhFernandez plans to attend Illinois Valley Community College before transferring to a four-year university to major in psychology. She is an honor roll student and received the College Board Rural and Small Town Recognition Award. RauhFernandez participated in cheer and tennis all four years. She is a member of the Heritage and Rotary clubs and a St. Bede Ambassador. She has volunteered her time working cheer camps and at St. Margaret's Health in Peru.

Zoe Roebuck is the daughter of Michael and Carrie Roebuck and a graduate of Waltham Grade School. Roebuck plans to attend a four-year university where she will major in accounting with hopes of becoming a CPA and starting her own accounting firm. She has been on the honor roll every semester. Roebuck participated in track and was a member of the Heritage Club. She volunteered her time helping with the Special Olympics and the Utica Knights of Columbus.

Ava Stone is the daughter of Bob and Amy Stone of Oglesby and a graduate of Holy Family. Stone plans to attend University of Wisconsin Platteville and study psychology, forensic science and criminal justice. She has been an honor roll student every semester and was a recipient of the Christian Service Award.  In addition to her studies, Stone has been a four-year member of the cheerleading squad. She has been an active member of the Yearbook Club, Pep Club, Fall Theatre, Spring Musicals, Lectio Divina, Rotary, and One Bread One Cup. She enjoys volunteering her time at Illinois Valley Animal Rescue, Bedan Club events, participating in the Polar Plunge and singing in the Holy Family Church choir. Stone’s long-term goal is to earn a master’s degree in forensics and pursue a career in law or forensic investigations with a state law enforcement agency.

Madelyn Torrance is the daughter of Dean and Theresa Torrance and a graduate from Putnam County Junior High in McNabb. Torrance has applied to Rose-Hulman, Louisiana State University and University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. She plans to major in chemical engineering. Torrance was the recipient of the Honors Chemistry Award, Honors English Award and Spanish award her sophomore year. Junior year she earned the AP Chemistry Award and the Christian Service Program Award. She is the salutatorian of her class, an Illinois State Scholar and the September Elks Teen of the Month. She has been given the Rural and Small Town National Recognition Award from College Board, as well as the AP Computer Science Female Diversity Award. Additionally, she was invited and has accepted membership of the National Society of High School Scholars. Torrance is an active member of Student Government, Ambassadors, Tea Club and was a Mad Hatter Ball Student Honoree. She was a participant in the ACES- Academic Challenge in Science and Engineering, Three Rivers Athletic Conference Art Festival and St. Bede Genesius Project. Torrance is also a varsity cross country participant, being named 2022 All-Bureau County Republican Girls Cross-Country Team and Best Teammate. She was named 2nd team all conference and Utility Player of the Year for the 2022 Softball season. She is also a member of a very successful girls bowling team. Torrance has put in a great deal of time volunteering at places such as: Echo Bluff, LaSalle County Historical Society, Illinois Valley Center for Independent Living, youth camps, and 4-H. Torrance strives to earn a doctorate in chemical engineering. 

Isabella Villalobos is the daughter of Dr. Ernesto and Linda Villalobos of Princeton and a member of St. Louis Church. She is a graduate of Holy Cross. Villalobos plans to attend University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and receive a degree in human development. She was named an Illinois State Scholar and College Board Rural and Small Town Recognition Program, College Board National Hispanic Recognition Program Award and John Ourth Student Recognition Award. In addition to being on the honor roll all four years at St. Bede, Villalobos was involved in Rotary and Student Government and was a St. Bede Ambassador. She volunteered at her local church, Echo Bluff, Peru Fire Station and Knights of Columbus. Villalobos’s goal is to become either a pediatrician or veterinarian and run her own practice.

Macy Zeglis is the daughter of Edward and Lisa Zeglis of Spring Valley and a member of Nativity of Our Lord Parish. She is a graduate of Holy Family. Zeglis plans to attend college to major in Aviation Flight Technology and minor in air traffic control. She is the recipient of an academic world history award and named Academic All-Conference Recognition for the Three Rivers Conference.  She was named Most Improved for track and MVP for cross-country, as well as being named All BCR Girls Cross Country Team. Zeglis has participated in volleyball, track, bowling and cross country during her time at St. Bede. She is a student ambassador, Eucharistic Minister and a member of Prom Committee, Bruinomics and Rotary. Zeglis has been a consistent volunteer for Echo Bluff and school events along with participating in the Knights of Columbus Hunger Blitz. Her long-term goals are to graduate with a degree in aviation, earn a commercial pilot’s license and become a flight instructor. Eventually, she hopes to work for a major airline and become an airline transport pilot.

St. Bede Academy earns College Board AP Computer Science Female Diversity Award

For Immediate Release: January 25, 2023

Pictured are female students who took AP Computer Science Principles or AP Computer Science A last year and students who are currently taking it this year. The students are (back row, from left) Madelyn Torrance ‘23, Kylie Cofoid ‘23, Kylie Hill ‘23, Isabella Hagenbuch ‘24, Ella Englehaupt ‘24; (front row, from left) Mina Trandinh ‘25, Guinevere Wiesbrock ‘23 and Lea Asani ‘23.

PERU – St. Bede Academy has earned the College Board AP Computer Science Female Diversity Award for achieving high female representation in AP Computer Science Principles. Schools honored with recognition have expanded girls’ access in AP computer science courses.

More than 1,100 institutions achieved either 50% or higher female representation in one of the two AP computer science courses or a percentage of the female computer science exam takers meeting or exceeding that of the school’s female population during the 2021-22 school year.

In 2022, St. Bede Academy was one of 832 schools recognized in the category of AP Computer Science Principles (CSP).

“We’re thrilled to congratulate our female AP computer science students and their teachers on this step toward gender parity in computer science education,” said St. Bede Academy Principal Nick McLaughlin. “We’re honored that our school earned this distinction and look forward to seeing these young women and others pursue and achieve success in computer science education and careers.”

“Computer science is the source code of our economy and so much of our daily lives,” said Trevor Packer, College Board Head of the AP program. “In the five years since we began the AP Computer Science Female Diversity Award, it’s been heartening to see schools like St. Bede Academy welcome so many more young women into this vital field.”

The first year of AP Computer Science Principles in 2016-17 attracted more students than any other AP course debut, and participation is on the rise. In 2022, 134,651 students took the AP CSP exam - more than triple the number of exam takers in the course’s first year.

In 2022, 44,811 women took the AP CSP exam - more than three times the number who tested in 2017.

Providing female students with access to computer science courses is critical to ensuring gender parity in the industry’s high-paying jobs and to driving innovation, creativity and representation. The median annual wage for computer and information technology occupations was $97,430 in May 2021. However, women represent just 24% of the five million people in computing occupations.

That’s why College Board research about AP CSP is so encouraging. According to the data, female students who take AP CSP in high school are more than five times as likely to major in computer science in college, compared to female students of similar background and academic preparation who did not take CSP. The study also finds AP CSP students are nearly twice as likely to enroll in AP CSA, and that for most students, AP CSP serves as a stepping stone to other advanced AP STEM coursework.

These findings highlight the importance of schools nationwide achieving gender parity in AP computer science classrooms. Overall, female students remain underrepresented in our high school computer science classes, accounting for just 33% of AP Computer Science Principles participants and 25% of AP Computer Science A participants. Currently, 51% of the nation’s high schools teach foundational computer science. The 1,105 schools that receive this year’s AP Computer Science Female Diversity Award serve as inspirations and models for all U.S. high schools.

Tax Information Available Now on FACTS!

January 2023

Dear Parents/Guardians,

 The 2022 Summary of Tuition and Fees paid to St. Bede Academy is now available from FACTS Management Co. The report is only available on-line.  Families must log in to their FACTS account on-line to print a Payment Summary for tax purposes which serves as your Receipt for Qualified K-12 Education Expense.   

To retrieve and print your Payment Summary visit, www.factsmgt.com and sign-in to your account.  Select View Details to the right of Payment Plan & Billing, and then click on the blue box, View Payment Summary. Once on the Payment Summary page verify the year is tax year 2022.  A printer-friendly report is available by clicking the Print button in the upper right hand corner.

The report that is generated will provide fees, both extra-curricular and registration, and tuition paid both on-line to FACTS and to St. Bede Academy in the calendar year 2022.  A sample of the FACTS Payment Summary has been included on the back of this page for your reference.

If you have questions or difficulties logging in to your account please contact FACTS Management Customer Service at 866-412-4637. Other general questions can be directed to me at 815-250-0350 or epostula@st-bede.com.

 It is important to note that not all payments made to St. Bede for fees are eligible for the State of Illinois tax credit.  Only the Registration Fee which covers textbooks, lab fees and materials is deductible.

To claim the tax credit, you will need to complete the Education Expense Credit Worksheet in the Form IL-1040 Instructions.  Please refer to IL-Publication 132 if you need additional information or call the Illinois Department of Revenue at (800)732-8866. 

Sincerely,

Eve Postula

St. Bede Abbey and Academy