ATOs inducted into Illinois HS Basketball Hall of Fame

10345770_300230330182839_8141251094353453214_nSaturday, October 18, 2014 two Gamma Zetas, Bill Erickson ’50 and Bob “Chick” Doster ’48 were inducted into the Illinois High School Basketball Hall of Fame. They join Walt Jr. Kirk ’46, Bill Small ’63 and Bruce Brothers ’56 who were previously inducted into the Hall giving Gamma Zeta a full starting five in the Hall of Fame… Incredible!! Unfortunately only Bill Small is still around to enjoy it. Thanks to Bill Erickson’s family for sharing the pictures!

Bob “Chick” Doster ‘48 and William “Bill” Erickson ‘50 to be inducted into the Illinois High School Hall of Fame.

Chick Doster '48

Chick Doster ’48

Twenty-five basketball stars will be inducted into the Illinois High School Hall of Fame and Museum October 18 at the Hilton Garden Inn at Champaign including two Gamma Zeta basketball stars, Bob “Chick” Doster ‘48 and William “Bill” Erickson ‘50.

Chick Doster led Decatur to the 1945 Illinois State Basketball Championship. He was the tournament’s leading scorer with 96 points in four games, including 18 in a 62-54 victory over Champaign for the title. He went on to star for the Illini where he finished third in the Big 10 in scoring his freshman season blocked George Mikan during a 56-37 upset of top-ranked DePaul.Continue reading

Congrats to Art Hasse ’61- awarded 2014 Goodwill Legacy Award

2014.0929.Nwy.KentwoodOfficeFurniture.GoodwillAward2.full (1)Congrats to Art Hasse ’61 for receiving the 2014 Goodwill Legacy Award

Art Hasse ’61, on behalf of his company, Kentwood Office Furniture was honored as the 2014 Goodwill Industries Legacy Partner Award Recipient. Kentwood Office Furniture has helped cultivate change for individuals and our communities through the power of work. For decades, Art Hasse, President and CEO of Kentwood Office Furniture, and his entire team have invested in Goodwill through employee volunteering, financial contributions, donation initiatives and the hiring of Goodwill program participants. “What I like about Goodwill is that Goodwill helps people. They take people who are really struggling in the economy, struggling to find a job or may have some barriers to employment, and they work with them, develop them, and train them to get a job,” says Hasse. “These workers become productive members of society and save the community, state and federal government money. They put people to work rather than placing them on welfare.”

Art has also been very generous with ATO Gamma Zeta as he donated furniture for our renovated study room. Congrats and THANKS Art!!

Chris Kenessey ‘97 climbs for Dwankhozi-Hope

chris kenesseyThis past August Chris Kenessey ’97 set out to climb to the summit of the tallest mountain in Europe, Mt. Elbrus. Not impressed yet? Mt. Elbrus towers 18,510 feet above the earth, which is over 4,000 feet higher than our own Mt. Rainier.

Still need some convincing? How about this: Chris is climbing to raise money for Dwankhozi Hope. This is the THIRD mountain he has climbed to support DH. His first two expeditions raised $11,000 to help construct school buildings, and this latest fundraiser raised another $11,000 for Dwankhozi Hope! With this being his third mountain climb fundraising expedition, he’s raised over $20,000 total for Dwankhozi! Great work Chris!!!

Coach Mike Small ’88 named Illini Coach of the Year

Mike SmallCoach Mike Small and the University of Illinois men’s golf team each earned an end-of-the-year honor from the UI Division of Intercollegiate Athletics on Wednesday.

The squad is the 2013-14 Team of the Year, while Small is the 2013-14 Coach of the Year after a vote by UI head coaches and athletic administrators. It is the first year for both awards.

The Illini earned their seventh consecutive berth in the NCAA tournament last month, the longest streak for a Northern school. The team finished fifth overall. Small has been with the program for 14 seasons and has led the squad to the national tournament nine times in 13 years.

 

Jeff Solaro ’04.5 wins award for Excellence in Pro-Bono work

Jeff ScolaroJeff Scolaro ’04.5 of Daley Mohan Groble received an award at the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois’ Fifteenth Annual Award Ceremony for Excellence in Pro Bono and Public Interest Service. He represented, through the Federal Settlement Assistance Program, a client who initially sued her union for failing to represent her after she was terminated by her employer.Continue reading

Bill “BB” Barry ’77 Inducted into the Taylorville High School Sports Hall of Fame

Dane Luhrsen '77, Bill "Buckets" Ganey, BB, Bruce "Carp" Barry '79

Dane Luhrsen ’77, Bill “Buckets” Ganey, BB, Bruce “Carp” Barry ’79

BB graduated from Taylorville High School in 1973. He was a three sport star who was an All Mid-State Conference quarterback in 1972, team MVP on the Tornadoes ‘ basketball team and shortstop for the baseball team in 1973. However, he was inducted into the Hall of Fame as a “Friend of Sports” for his generous support of Taylorville athletics for many years as a contributor to the Tornado Open Golf Outing and many Continue reading

Dr. Steve “Jiggs” Lamb ‘75 Named Physician of the Year by the Fairview Hospital

Jiggs and Luigi '75s

Jiggs and Luigi ’75s

Jiggs was presented the 2014 Physician of the Year Award by the Fairview Hospital, a Cleveland Clinic Hospital. What made this special was that he was the first urologist and only 5th surgeon to receive the award. In addition, he was selected by his peers from a staff of 940 physicians.

The certificate he was presented stated the following:

“Physician of the Year Award is hereby presented to Steven A. Lamb M.D. with the sincere appreciation of his colleagues and associates and in grateful recognition of his loyal and dedicated service to the practice of medicine, Fairview Hospital, and the employees and patients we serve.”

Dave “Luigi” Pesevento ’75 and his wife Nancy were pleased to share this evening this Steve and his family as it was a well-deserved award for 30 years of service.