2019 Breaking News History...
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January 9, 2019
LET'S TAKE SOME TIME TO REFLECT!
It's difficult to believe that it has been 7 years since our 50th Reunion! A lot has happened since then -- both good and bad.
Following is a recap of our class journey since 2012:
OUR CLASS STATUS:
We have 460 names on our Master List -- broken out as follows:
- Classmates with contact information: 306 (169 with email addresses)
- Classmates with no contact information: 55
- Known deceased: 90 (sadly, 25 since 2012)
- Teachers: 4
- Guest/Spouses: 5
- Our classmates live in 36 different States.
OUR CLASS ACCOMPLISHMENTS:
Since 2012, our class has:
- Celebrated our 50th and 55th reunions.
- Held informal get-togethers in intervening years.
- Awarded scholarships to 7 well-deserving students.
- Inducted 6 new members into the Hall of Fame (for a total of 10)
- Received the District 228 "Volunteer Excellence Award" for helping Bremen provide a positive learning experience for its students.
Not bad for a bunch of old-timers! :-)
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OK, WHAT NEXT?
Well, that's entirely up to you!
In discussing this with the active members of the Reunion Committee, we are more than willing to continue as long as you're interested!
How do we know if you’re still interested?
- We monitor website activity -- since 2012, there have been more than 16,570 visits to the website!
- We keep track of how many classmates attend our various events and activities.
- We keep track of how many classmates support the Class of '62 Scholarship and Hall of Fame programs.
- Finally, we listen to your suggestions and feedback -- keep them coming!
We realize that it is not possible or practical for everyone to participate in our various events, activities, or programs. That's perfectly fine! If you find the information we provide enjoyable, that's good enough for us!
Therefore, unless things change, we'll keep truckin'!
Best wishes for the new year!
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The 2019 Class '62 Scholarship Program...
Congratulations, we did it again!
A big "thank you" to those of you who contributed this year! We hit our target of $2,000 for 2019 and have some carryover for our 2020 awards.
This year we had 11 contributors who carried us across the finish line - well done! Next year, we hope that more of you can find it in your hearts and budgets to participate.
Regardless, of whether you contributed or not, all are invited to attend the awards ceremony on Senior Honor’s Night in the Main Gym @ 7:00 PM on May 8, 2019.
Words alone cannot describe the positive impact that our program is having on the students and their families, so if you are in the area, try to make it!
Hope to see you there!
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The Class of '62 Hall of Fame Program
Just a reminder, let us know ASAP if you have any candidate recommendations for 2019!
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April 11, 2019
Yes Spring is here, but we're not out the woods yet!
The North Central States were hit with a full-force winter blizzard -- yikes! Nevertheless, we are "in stretch" for some warmer weather.
It's been a while, so I want to bring you up to speed on what's been happening since the New Year, both the bad and the good.
Condolences to classmates and families of classmates who are no longer with us:
- In late January, we learned that Kurt Schwiedergoll's wife Nancypassed-away on her 67th birthday from cancer treatment complications. Kurt has been a loyal follower of the website. The Reunion Committee and his Bremen friends are deeply sadden by this news. Kurt and Nancy were living in Branson, MO. We wish Kurt and his family our continuing support and condolences.
- We recently learned that we lost Bobby Vodnik. Bobby had an interesting and impressive career. As a teenage phenomenon, he burst onto the drag racing scene in 1963 and beat the old drag racing master Don Garlits to win Top Eliminator at the 1963 Drag Racing Nationals in Indy.
We're not sure that Bobby actually graduated with our class, but he was surely part of it. After retiring from professional racing in 1967, Bobby worked at Panduit Corporation in Tinley Park as a tool & die maker for more than 39 years.
Bobby was married to his wife Sarah for more than 50 years. In 2013, he was inducted into the International Drag Racing Hall of Fame.
Unfortunately, Darrell Jordan reports that we don't have many details about his passing. Nevertheless, Bobby is another one of our classmates who made his mark in this world and joins our "Gone but Not Forgotten" celestial rolls.
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The 2019 Class '62 Scholarship Program...
Once again, we will be awarding a total of $2,000 in scholarships to three deserving students. Whether or not you contributed, all are invited to attend the awards ceremony on Senior Honors Night, May 8, 2019 @ 7:00 PM in the Main Gym.
Words alone cannot describe the positive impact that our scholarship program is having on the students and their families. Therefore, if you're in the area, please try to make it!
In past years, several of us have met for dinner prior to the ceremonies, so if you're interested in joining us this year, please let me know!
Hope to see you there!
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The Class of '62 Hall of Fame Program
We are pleased to report that we have submitted another Class of '62 nomination to the Bremen Hall of Fame. We won't know until August, but we feel we have another exceptional candidate to represent our class!
That said -- I would like to revisit our rationale for supporting this program...
The Bremen Hall of Fame is not just an honor for the inductee, which it certainly is, but, more importantly, it is a way for our Class to “pay forward” for the education we received at Bremen. By participating in this program, our goal is to set an example for all Bremen students by showing them what they can achieve with a Bremen education.
The Class of '62 Reunion and Hall of Fame Nominating Committee has come to realize what a truly exceptional group of classmates we have. In fact, we feel that we will "run out of breath" long before "we run out of candidates"!
It is also important to understand that we have no control over who is accepted. The decision is entirely up to Distinct 228 and Bremen. Our role is to work with our candidate sponsors and the candidates to prepare & submit the nomination forms, which takes a fair amount of time and effort.
Nevertheless, we are pleased to coordinate this program. However, we rely on all of you to make recommendations and, more important, to be sponsors. We can't do it alone.
Like the Scholarship Program, we continue to support these efforts because they not only help Bremen, but they also make a difference in lives & futures of the Bremen students and their families.
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May 12, 2019
The Class '62 Scholarship Program
For the fifth consecutive year, it was our honor and privilege on behalf of the Class of '62 to award three deserving students our scholarship awards. All three recipients have excelled in academics, extracurricular activities, and community service.
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James Costello received our $1,000 scholarship award. James also received National Honor Society recognition, and the Shawn White Scholarship Foundations award. James will be attending South Suburban College on a baseball scholarship.
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Amber Kreis received our $500 scholarship award. Amber also received National Honor Society recognition and the BHS Alumni Pride Scholarship. Amber will be attending Northern Illinois University majoring in nursing.
- Samuel Luna received our $500 scholarship award. Samuel also received National Honor Society recognition, the Bremen High School Business Scholarship award, and Bremen's Highest Scholarship Honors recognition. James will be attending South Suburban College majoring in marketing.
Our scholarship recipients were selected by Bremen and District 228 faculty and staff. However, we specify the selection criteria,which is:
- Students who have worked hard to meet or exceed their individual scholastic capabilities.
- Students who see the value of participating in extracurricular and community service activities.
- Students who want to further their education in any of three areas -- college, community college, or trade school.
- Students who need financial aid.
As you know, the cost of a continuing education has jumped dramatically since we attended Bremen. The Bremen administration, the recipients, and their families sincerely thank all of you who have found it in your hearts and budgets to help continue this program.
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_____________________________________ August 20, 2019
Hello -- it's that time again ...join us for 2019 Homecoming! As Fall approaches quickly, we hope that everyone is having a safe and enjoyable Summer. Once again, we will have our Annual Informal Homecoming Event on Friday September 20th.
We believe this year is special -- so read on!
As in the past, all are welcome, no registration is necessary, and it's "pay as you go". And, for the 5th consecutive year we are pleased to announce that our 2019 nomination to the Bremen Hall of Fame has been accepted! ____________________________________________________
However, before we begin, let's take a moment to reflect... As we begin to closeout and celebrate yet another year, let's take a moment to reflect on our known losses in 2019:
- In January, we reported that Kurt Schwiedergoll's wife Nancy passed-away on her 67th birthday.
- In April, we reported that we lost Bobby Vodnik, who in 1963 beat the drag racing master Don Garlits to win Top Eliminator at the 1963 Drag Racing Nationals in Indy.
- In April, we learned that Jacquelyn (Ericksen) Michaels' husband Edward passed-away after 56 years of marriage.
- In June, we reported the loss of Dennis Sweeney ("Duff") who was married to Carol Webster, Ken Webster’s sister. Sadly, we lost Ken in 2017.
May they and all those who we are not aware of rest in peace! ___________________________________________________ |
Meet our 2019 Hall of Fame Representative! Don Hayward For the seventh consecutive year, Bremen has approved our nomination. Don is a truly remarkable individual with an engineering background in the professional racing and automotive industries that will blow your socks off. His work and innovations have not only contributed to vehicle performance, but also to vehicle safety. For more details about Don, we encourage you read the nomination forms we submitted to Bremen that led to Don's well-deserved selection: hh hh About the Hall of Fame program... The Hall of Fame Program is one of several ways the Class of '62 can support Bremen. Its main focus is to show students how a Bremen education can lead to many successful careers, in many different ways. Hall of Fame representatives serve as role models to the students. As you will see in our 2019 Homecoming Event Agenda below, on Friday morning September 20th, Don will be interacting with several student groups telling his life story and answering their questions. About the Hall of Fame process... Each year we seek one or more nominees. Anyone can submit a recommendation. However, all recommendations must be accompanied by a Sponsor. A Sponsor is someone who is willing to put in the time & effort to gather the information required on the nomination forms. Our Hall of Fame Nominating Committee helps the Sponsor gather the necessary information, prepares the final documents, and then submits them to the Bremen Selection Committee.
Nominations are usually submitted by the end of May and we are advised of the Selection Committee's decision by mid-August. Since it takes a combined effort of about 35 to 40 hours to collect information and prepare the nomination forms, we ask that Sponsors submit all recommendations by no later than year-end.
Thanks for your continuing support!
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BREMEN HOMECOMING 2019 ...a milestone year so come and help celebrate! After 63 year of operations, what can possibly be new? Bremen opened its doors in 1953 and is now District 228's oldest and largest school. Tinley Park opened in 1961, Hillcrest opened in 1967, and Oak Forest opened in 1970. In spite of an ever-changing and challenging demographic and economic environment, the District has an 86% graduation rate. Furthermore, each of the four schools is designated "Commendable", the second-highest of four Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) categories. In 2016, District 228 was among 30 districts selected out of 193 that had applied for the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) bond-funding program. District 228 was one of only three districts that was awarded the maximum amount of their funding request. The improvements from the bond funding program have now been completed, so there's no better time to make visit. As Woody Allen purportedly said: "90% of life is just showing up"! Come and see the new and improved cafeteria, football field, and sports training facilities. In our book, Bremen is well-deserving of our continuing support! Therefore, we ask all of you to help us support Bremen through one or more of the following Class of '62 Bremen support initiatives: - Homecoming Informal Event
(just show up if you can!)
- Class of '62 Scholarship Program
(support Bremen's best)
- Hall of Fame Program
(show what one can do with a Bremen education)
We clearly recognize that it is neither practical nor possible for everyone to attend the Homecoming Informal Event. However, if you can find it in your heart to support one or both of our other programs, that would not only be great, but greatly appreciated by Bremen staff and students. |
________________________________________ Attend one or more events! With the exception of dinner, we require no advance notice. For dinner, we need to make reservations, so please let us know if you would like to join us!
Need a room? Mary Lou has reserved a block of 10 rooms at the Holiday Inn Express Crestwood for $109 per night.
Call to make a reservation and ask for the: Bremen High School Class Reunion Discount
(book ASAP: Limited # of rooms and discount expires on 9/6. - Welcome to the Hall of Fame @ ~10:30 AM:
Dr. Kibelkis meets and greets 2019 Hall of Fame Recipients (Main Lobby)
- Student Sessions @ ~11:00 AM:
Hall of Fame Recipients share life experiences with students (Meeting Room adjacent to Library)
- Lunch at Hog Wild BBQ @ ~12:30 AM:
A Class of ’62 Homecoming lunch tradition!
(Hog Wild just North of the school on Pulaski)
- Homecoming Pep Rally @ ~2:00 PM:
Formal Hall of Fame induction ceremony prior to the Pep Rally start (Main Gym)
- Homecoming Parade @ ~3:30 PM:
Hall of Fame Inductees ride in the Homecoming Parade (weather permitting).
- Post Parade Celebration:
Class of ’62 get together for celebratory refreshments (location TBD)
- Class of ’62 Pre-Game Dinner @ ~ 5:00 pm:
Class of ’62 get together for celebratory dinner (location TBD)
- Varsity Football Game @ 7:00 PM:
Dr. Kibelkis introduces Hall of Fame Inductees
(on the field – prior to game start)
- Walk the Hall of Bremen @ Anytime:
School doors will be open during the game!
- Post-Game Fun:
Wherever and whatever!
Hope to see you there! |
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