Catalyst Club’s “Tobacco 21” Dream Almost Realized
The Catalyst club’s efforts to raise the state’s legal age for buying and using tobacco and vaping products to 21 are on the verge of success. The Illinois Senate on Thursday passed legislation raising the current age from 18 to 21, two days after the House gave its assent. The “Tobacco 21” bill now goes to Gov. J.B. Pritzker, and leaders in the Democrat-controlled General Assembly believe he will sign it into law. If signed by the governor, Illinois would become the eighth state in the nation and first in the Midwest with an age minimum of 21.
The original Tobacco 21 legislation was filed in early 2018 by state Sen. Julie Morrison of Deerfield, after working with students from Catalyst and club sponsors Dr. Cristina Cortesi and Jamie Epstein. The list of students past and present who have played a significant role in Tobacco 21 efforts includes, but is not limited to, 2018 graduates Borler Wu, Katherine Yao, Ananya Pati, Devin Smith, Melissa Hauptman and Ashleigh Machado; juniors Victor Shi, Vrushali Thakkar, Namie Franco, Audrey Liu and Alyssa Shack; sophomores Alexander Zhou, Stella Mechkova, Yachi Patel, Carson Ezell and Erica Zhang; and freshmen Lexi Gitler and Eden Mondschain, who have been involved since their days at Twin Groves Middle School.
Major Facelift Looms Just West of Campus
The Village of Buffalo Grove is proposing a major facelift for the Prairie View Metra station and surrounding area just west of Stevenson. The proposal calls for the creation of numerous single-family homes and townhouses within the 128-acre area, along with shops and restaurants, plus a central plaza that could host farmers markets and concerts. Click here to see a video describing the proposal, or to review the 96-page plan. The village is seeking feedback on the proposal through April 4. See the plan at www.prairieviewbg.com. The Buffalo Grove Planning and Zoning Commission will hold a public hearing at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Village Hall to discuss the proposal.
Showcase 2019 Takes the Stage This Weekend
Online ticket sales for tonight’s Showcase performance end at noon, but in-person purchases for tonight and Saturday can be done at the Patriot Superstore until 1:30. Online sales for Saturday night end at noon Saturday. Tickets are $10 in advance and $12 (cash only) at the door. Use this link to order tickets online. Showcase 2019 “Dream Big” will be presented at 7 p.m. tonight and Saturday in the Performing Arts Center. Each night features a different talent lineup. For those unable to attend, SHS-TV will carry Showcase live through Stevenson’s NFHS Network page.
Alumnae Nominated for Prestigious British Theater Award
Stevenson alumnus Rebekah Stevens (Class of 2002) has been nominated for an Olivier Award honoring the best performances in British theater. Stevens, whose professional name is Athena Stevens, is one of five nominees in the Outstanding Achievement in Affiliate Theatre category, nominated for her script and co-starring performance in “Schism.” The play follows the relationship that develops between a failed architect who plans to end his life and a young woman with cerebral palsy who breaks into his house seeking help. Stevens, who was born with the disorder, and the other nominees will be honored during the Olivier Awards ceremony Sunday, April 7 in London.
Since graduating from Stevenson, Stevens has become an acclaimed playwright, as well as an author, director, stand-up comedienne and human rights activist. She made her West End acting debut in 2011, and a year came her first book, Beauty Unsuspected, a series of essays about life in London. Stevens gave a Tedx Talk in Las Vegas in 2014. She serves as the national spokesperson for equality in the media for Britain’s Women’s Equality Party.
Taking a Pie in the Face to Help SHS Alumni
Momentum is building behind a fundraising effort led by two Stevenson alumni whose son is afflicted with a rare disease that affects infants. Nash Stineman, whose parents are Bobby Stineman (Class of 2001) and Brittany Sulentic Stineman (Class of 2003), suffers from Spinal Muscular Atrophy with Respiratory Distress (SMARD).
There is currently no cure for SMARD, but the Stinemans have been working with researchers in Columbus, Ohio to develop a clinical trial using gene therapy. The couple has created a campaign modeled after the Ice Bucket Challenge in order to attract attention and donations. The #SmashSMARDChallenge involves taking a pie to the face and encouraging others to do the same. Several Chicago media personalities have taken up the challenge, and SHS alumnus Jalen Brunson (Class of 2015) has even met the whipped cream face to face. Brittany and Bobby talked about SMARD and their campaign on “Windy City Live” earlier this week.
A “Smash SMARD bootcamp” fundraiser will take place at 10 a.m. Saturday at the SPEAR Training Center, 100 Corporate Woods Pkwy., in Vernon Hills. A minimum $25 donation is required to participate. Email info@spear.training to reserve a spot. The doors open at 9:30. For those unable to attend, donations can be made at www.smashsmard.org/donate.
Click here for today’s athletic schedule
Thursday’s Varsity Results
Girls Water Polo
Stevenson 14, Conant 7: Seniors Kalista Tapas and Lauren Maloney each scored six goals for the visiting Patriots (5-0), who extended their winning streak to 37 games dating back to the start of the 2018 season. Senior Eleanor Michaud and junior Shreya Sreedhar scored the other goals for No. 1 SHS, which led the eighth-ranked Cougars 6-3 at halftime and broke open the contest with six goals in the third quarter. – Daily Herald
Boys Water Polo
Stevenson at Fenwick Invitational: The Patriots fell to Niles North, 12-11, in the opening day of the three-day tournament. Sophomore Dima Kobets led SHS (2-2) with five goals. – Illpolo.com
Girls Lacrosse
St. Charles East 15, Stevenson 8: The Patriots dropped their season opener to the fourth-ranked Saints in St. Charles. – NFHS Network Replay
Boys Gymnastics
Barrington 121.3, Stevenson 105.7: In the Sports Center, freshman Jack White paced the Patriots (1-2) with a second-place showing in the all-around competition (38.9 points). He won the horizontal bar (7.6), finished second on vault (8.3) and parallel bars (7.1), placed third in still rings (7.0), and was fourth in floor exercise (7.9). Senior Ben Rudloff took second on pommel horse (3.6) while junior Anthony Lang finished third in floor exercise (8.0). – Daily Herald
Chieng, Ambrose Named to All-Area, All-NSC Teams
Senior Luke Chieng and junior Matthew Ambrose have been selected to the Daily Herald Lake County All-Area and All-North Suburban Conference boys basketball teams. Matthew was the Patriots’ leading scorer this season, averaging 14.3 points and nearly four rebounds per game. He scored 20 or more points in five games, and probably would have had more if not for missing 11 games with a broken finger. Matthew shot 45.2 percent from 3-point range and 93.6 percent from the free throw line. Luke, the only senior starter for Stevenson, averaged 9.7 points and 3.2 assists per game heading into Tuesday’s supersectional, and carried a heavier offensive load during Matthew’s absence. He had a career-high 24 points in one contest, and scored 22 in two others during the 11-game stretch. Junior John Ittounas was an honorable mention choice on both teams, while classmate RJ Holmes was honorable mention on the Daily Herald team.
Patriot Trio to Play in Girls Hockey Championship Game
Three Stevenson students are significant contributors to the Lake Forest co-op girls ice hockey team that will play for the Metro Girls League Founders Cup championship against Glenbrook South at 6 p.m. Monday at Lake Forest Academy. Maggie Kirby, Abby Benjamin and Alicia Sharun have helped the team post a 18-7-3 record, including a 10-0-2 mark in their Metro League division. Abby, a sophomore, has six goals and six assists in 19 games. Maggie, a junior, has played in 25 games, with three goals and three assists, and also was the winning goaltender in her one game between the pipes. Alicia, a freshman, has three goals and an assist in 24 games.
Today on NFHS Network
Today’s varsity girls soccer games against Vernon Hills will be streamed live by the NFHS Network. The game starts at 5:30 in the Stadium. The Green-Gold boys volleyball varsity and junior varsity matches can be seen as well. The JV starts at 5 o’clock, followed by the varsity at 6. Both matches are in the Sports Center. On Saturday, all three boys lacrosse games against Deerfield will be streamed live from the Stadium. The sophomore game starts at 8:30 a.m., followed by the JV at 10 and the varsity at 11:30. Catch all the events on Stevenson’s NFHS Network page.
STUDENT ANNOUNCEMENTS
Click This Link to See More Announcements
Spring Fling Information Meetings Wednesday
Student Council is holding informational meetings for Spring Fling during all half-lunch periods Wednesday in the West Auditorium. The meetings are open to anyone interested.
ILLINOIS EDUCATION HEADLINES
Warren teachers, district reach contract deal, avoid strike
UI to hire 168 faculty to handle enrollment growth
Records show Waukegan district lied about employee
Fremont District 79, Lake County police launch partnership
Chicago seventh-grader reaches National Spelling Bee
Orland Park superintendent takes “unexpected” leave
UIS students to see 63 percent health insurance increase
Report: St. Charles board president violation unintentional
NATIONAL EDUCATION HEADLINES
Admissions scandal harsh reminder in racial disparities
Parents, students sue universities in wake of scandal
Why the admissions scandal hurts those with disabilities
Students in U.S. skipping class in global climate protest
Dismissed president sues Indiana college
From high school dropout to Harvard professor
Louisville teacher selected for “The Bachelorette”
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The Daily Digest is compiled and edited by Jim Conrey. To subscribe or unsubscribe, contact him at jconrey@d125.org.
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