One-Act Playwrights, Directors Selected
The student playwrights and directors have been selected for the Fine Arts Division’s annual spring production of one-act plays. Eight student-written plays were chosen, including two by senior Andrew Projansky. Group Therapy will be directed by junior Hayley Brenner and Midnight will be directed by junior Hannah Lichtenstein. Projansky also will direct One Call Away, written by junior Sam Litwin. Brenner and Lichtenstein also contributed one play apiece. Brenner wrote The Late Great, which will be directed by junior Jaclyn Rosenberg, while Lichtenstein produced Safe Travels, with junior A.J. DePew directing. DePew also penned This Isn’t a Musical, directed by senior Sammie Landau. Senior Andrew Hirsh wrote Registered, which will be directed by junior Pia Russo, and he will direct Four Strangers Walk Into An Elevator by junior Brigitte Lefebvre. The one-act plays will be performed Friday and Saturday, April 28-29.
Two Students Co-Authors of Scientific Journal Article
Two students who participated in the school’s Science Professionals As Resource Knowledge (SPARK) program are listed as co-authors in a new scientific journal article. Senior Revanth Bellam and junior Elmira Hezarkhani were two of the four authors of “The mechanism of tissue welding using a green laser: revisited,” published in Proceedings of the Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers. The pair worked with Dr. Claus-Peter Richter at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine.
Alum Helps Bring “Hour of Code” to Skokie School
Stevenson alumnus Louis Kotvis (Class of 2007), one of two science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) instructional coaches for Skokie School District 69, is featured in this article about Lincoln Junior High School’s recent Hour of Code project with Niles West High School. Kotvis taught at the district’s Edison School before taking on the STEM instructional coach role. His mother Anna is the assistant to SHS Director of Mathematics Darshan Jain.
Indian-American Novelist to Speak at SHS Saturday
Best-selling Indian-American novelist and journalist Thrity Umrigar will discuss her novel The Story Hour at 1 p.m. Saturday in the West Auditorium. The novel, featuring an Indian woman who emigrates to the United States but is trapped in a loveless marriage, highlights the challenges of adapting to a foreign land. The Story Hour is the grand finale of a three-month, three-library initiative, “One Book, One Community,” sponsored by the Cook Memorial, Indian Trails and Vernon Area public libraries. The event is free to attend and open to all. Register at www.1book.org.
Click here for today’s athletic schedule
Wednesday’s Varsity Results
Girls Basketball
Stevenson 46, Grant 29: The third-seeded Patriots had little trouble in dispatching the 14th-seeded Bulldogs in the IHSA Class 4A Stevenson Regional semifinal. SHS (23-5) will face No. 6 Libertyville (17-11) for the regional championship at 7 p.m. Friday in the Sports Center. The Wildcats reached the regional final with a 47-30 win over No. 11 Grayslake North. This will be the third meeting between the two schools. The Pats have won the first two contests, both by two points. Against Grant (12-19), junior Klaire Steffens scored half of her game-high 14 points in the first quarter as Stevenson built a 16-7 lead. She also snared a game-high 10 rebounds. The Patriots extended the lead to 27-15 at halftime and held a 15-point advantage heading into the fourth quarter. Senior Ashley Richardson scored 11 points and also had five assists and three steals. Senior Madison Wicklund had six points and seven rebounds, and junior Kiana Cencula scored seven points. Stevenson improved to 9-1 at home. – Daily Herald
Three Patriot Wrestlers Earn Top-Four Seeds at State Meet
Three of Stevenson’s four entries in the IHSA Class 3A individual state wrestling tournament have earned top-four seeds in their weight class. Seniors Dylan Geick (39-1) and Nikita Nepomnyashchiy (18-1) are the No. 3 seeds at 160 and 170 pounds, respectively, while sophomore Tommy Frezza (36-3) is the No. 4 seed at 113. The fourth Patriot qualifier is senior Eric Carter (38-9), who is seeded No. 14 at 145. The state tournament begins today at the University of Illinois. The Class 3A preliminary round action starts at 5 o’clock. Geick, Carter and Nepomnyashchiy will be making their second state appearance. Geick was fourth at 152 pounds in 2016. Click here for a state preview by Rob Sherrill of Illinois Matmen. Every match this weekend in Champaign will be streamed live on the NFHS Network via www.IHSA.tv with a subscription, while every state championship match will also be rebroadcast on Comcast SportsNet Chicago beginning February 28 (click for times/channel info).
“Nepo” Had No Doubts About Return to Mat
The Illinois Matmen website recently posted this touching article about senior wrestler Nikita Nepomnyashchiy and the obstacles he has overcome to make a return trip to the state tournament. Nepomnyashchiy’s mother died of cancer shortly after the end of the 2016 season, and then he hurt his shoulder during a preseason tournament, jeopardizing his senior season. Doctors initially told the 170-pounder that he would probably miss the entire year. Not only did he come back, but Nepomnyashchiy also signed a letter of intent to continue wrestling at the University of Michigan.
Herenton Earns Daily Herald Player of the Week Nod
Senior Willie Herenton has been named the Daily Herald Lake County Boys Basketball Player of the Week. He received the honor after scoring a career-high 34 points in Stevenson’s win over Zion-Benton, and recorded 23 points in a victory at Libertyville.
Boys Basketball Game on WRLR Friday Night
WRLR 98.3 FM is scheduled to broadcast the varsity boys basketball game at Waukegan Friday night. The pregame show will start at 6:30 p.m., with tipoff set for 7 o’clock. The game also can be heard at www.WRLR.fm and through the WRLR Radio app.
ESPPA Award Nomination Deadline Coming Up
Each season, the Athletics Division honors Patriot athletes in a number of ways, including the ESPPA (Exceptional Stevenson Patriot Pride Award). ESPPA Awards honor athletes and teams in all sports and all levels, plus trainers, team managers and fans. Players, coaches, students and parents can submit nominations for Fall ESPPA Awards by clicking here. Nominations will be taken through Monday.
STUDENT ANNOUNCEMENTS
Project Dance Information Meetings Friday
Information meetings for the 10th annual Project Dance will be held during every half-lunch period Friday in Room 2104. Bring your own lunch and learn about becoming a Project Dance fundraiser. Project Dance supports the Riverside Foundation and the Stevenson Foundation.
College Essay Writing Workshop This Summer
Juniors can get a head start on their college essays (also called personal statements) by taking part in the College Essay Workshop this summer. The workshop will be offered three times, and will focus on the Common Application essay and various supplemental essays. Last year about 200 students enrolled. Sign up for the workshop at www.d125.org/summer.
March 8 Submission Deadline for The Wit
Have you written some a short story, fiction, essay, poetry or a play and would like others to read it? Submit your work to The Wit, Stevenson’s literary magazine. The deadline is March 8. Submit your work to Mr. Barnabee at jbarnabee@d125.org.
Lake County State’s Attorney Mike Nerheim will be the featured guest at the Law Club meeting after school today in Room 7066. He’ll talk about running the criminal justice system in Lake County, as well as his successful re-election campaign last year.
Senior Class Board will meet today after school in Room 2004 to make snowflakes for Winterfest. New members are welcome.
The Political Action Club will welcome U.S. Rep. Brad Schneider to its meeting from 4-5:30 p.m. Tuesday in Room 7096. The event is open to any Stevenson student. Rep. Schneider will answer questions pertaining to the relationship between the legislative and executive branches.
If you’re going to the boys basketball games at Waukegan High School on Friday, make sure you bring your Stevenson ID. Waukegan requires all students to display their school ID when attending events at its school. If you have brothers or sisters in middle school who want to attend, they’ll have to be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
You can buy spirit wear to celebrate the Patriettes’ first state dance championship. Apparel orders will be taken until Friday. Click here for ordering information.
ILLINOIS EDUCATION HEADLINES
Rauner opposes some tax increases in “grand bargain”
State could face another school funding lawsuit from Peoria-area districts
UI-opposed admissions bill advances in Illinois House
Federal judges tosses Quinn’s lawsuit over elected Chicago school board
Family takes U46 to court over assault of South Elgin seventh-grader
IHSA All-State Academic Team announced
University of Chicago project aims to dispel myths surrounding college readiness
Lake Bluff district responds to accusations of abuse by former teacher
CPS paying for re-enrolled dropouts, even if they cut class
Metra working with schools to reverse track fatalities
O’Fallon superintendent resigning to lead Crystal Lake-based district
Jenner, Ogden parents talk it out at CPS merger forum
Round Lake teacher’s DIY tennis ball chairs for special needs kids go viral
NATIONAL EDUCATION HEADLINES
DeVos fires back at protesters in speech to magnet school advocates
New York poised to make it easier to become a teacher
Colleges shifting focus to second-year student retention
Gender pay gap persists for higher education administrators
Iowa schools brace for collective bargaining changes
LA Unified urges students, teachers not to join “Day Without Immigrants”
Canadian school district cancels trips to U.S., citing border policies, safety
Michigan governor proposes $20M to help equip K-12 vocational schools
Can virtual reality “teach” empathy?
The glue helping at-risk students stick with school in D.C.
In admissions hunt, some colleges consult the king of clicks: BuzzFeed
Student spends months making 1,300 Valentines for high school classmates
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The Daily Digest is compiled and edited by Jim Conrey. To subscribe or unsubscribe, contact him at jconrey@d125.org.
