List of Benet Academy alumni
An alumni directory compiled in 1937 reveals that older alumni have included members of the clergy, businessmen, physicians, educators, attorneys, musicians, and journalists.[1] For the 2010–11 school year, 1,333 students were enrolled at Benet.[2]
Most students come from Lisle, Downers Grove, and Naperville,[3] but students expected to graduate in 2013 came from 65 different schools and 34 different municipalities in DuPage and surrounding counties.[4]
Admission is competitive and primarily based on the High School Placement Test, a standardized test by Scholastic Testing Service, taken in January of applicants' eighth grade year (around age 13).[5] The Chicago Sun-Times ranked Benet one of the top ten high schools in the Chicago area in 2003,[3] and in 1999 Benet was one of two high schools in DuPage County, and 100 high schools nationwide, featured as an "Outstanding American High School" by U.S. News & World Report.[6]
Formerly known as the all-boys St. Procopius College and Academy, the school began to offer a remedial course, or a course designed to bring underprepared students to competency, to only two students on March 2, 1887. Enrollment grew to 30 high school students by 1947.[7] The academy began to operate independently from the college in 1957.[8] The all-girls Sacred Heart Academy, founded in 1926, operated nearby.[9] Due to dwindling enrollment and funding, St. Procopius Academy and Sacred Heart Academy merged in 1967 to form Benet Academy.[10]
Alumni
Former students with a — in the "Graduated" column did not graduate from Benet Academy.
Name | Graduated | Known for | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|
Robert Barron | 1978 | Priest of the Roman Catholic Church, author, scholar, and professor of theology at the University of Saint Mary of the Lake, Auxiliary Bishop of Los Angeles |
[11] |
Steve Baumgartner | 1969 | Former professional American football player who played defensive end for the New Orleans Saints and the Houston Oilers | [12] |
Dave Bickler | 1971 | Bud Light's award-winning ad campaign Real Men of Genius |
[11][13] |
Joan Biskupic | 1974 | US Supreme Court and wrote biographies of Sandra Day O'Connor and Antonin Scalia |
[14] |
Steven M. Biskupic | 1979 | Former US Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin |
[15] |
Diablo Cody | 1996 | Author of Oscar-winning screenwriter of Juno |
[16] |
Robert J. Conrad | 1976 | Chief Judge of the US District Court for the Western District of North Carolina | [15] |
Mark DeCarlo | 1980 | Actor in The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius and Sex Sells: The Making of Touché also hosted the game show Studs |
[14][17][18] |
Kathleen Doyle | 2016 | Basketball player at the University of Iowa (2016–2020); Big Ten Player of the Year in 2020. Also a silver medalist with the US national team at the 2019 Pan American Games. WNBA draftee as 14th overall pick by Indiana Fever. | [19][20] |
Cameron Esposito | 2000 | Stand-up comic, and actor known for Take My Wife on Seeso | [21] |
Meagen Fay | 1975 | Actress and former Second City comedian who has appeared in various television programs, including The Drew Carey Show | [22] |
Marita Geraghty | 1980 | Television and film actress; appearances include Heidi Chronicles |
[23][24] |
Nancy Johnson | 1992 | Won the gold medal in the women's 10 metre air rifle at the 2000 Summer Olympics | [15][25] |
Frank Kaminsky | 2011 | Current center for KK Partizan and consensus national player of the year in NCAA Division I men's basketball in 2014–15 | [26][27] |
Mike Lee |
2005 | Professional boxer 2010–present; record 21–0 (2018) | [28][29] |
Dan LeFevour | 2005 | Quarterback for Central Michigan University; he later played for his hometown Chicago Bears and in the Canadian Football League | [30][31] |
John Lynch | 1960 | President and CEO of the Broadcast Company of the Americas and a former linebacker for the Pittsburgh Steelers | [15][32] |
Justin McCareins | — | Studied at Benet as a freshman only during the 1993–1994 school year and later played as a wide receiver for the Tennessee Titans and New York Jets; graduated from Naperville North High School | [12][33] |
James McManus | 1969 | Professional poker player and author of Positively Fifth Street | [14][34] |
Porter Moser | 1986 | Head coach of men's basketball at Loyola University Chicago; former head coach at Illinois State University and University of Arkansas at Little Rock | [35] |
Ben Murphy | 1960 | Actor best known for his work on the television series Alias Smith & Jones |
[11] |
Dan Proft | 1990 | Political commentator and candidate in the 2010 Illinois gubernatorial election |
[36] |
Jim Ryan | 1964 | Former 2010 Illinois gubernatorial election |
[11] |
Greta Salpeter |
2006 | Lead singer and pianist for the band The Hush Sound | [37] |
Kerry Abello | 2017 | Professional soccer player for Orlando Pride | [38] |
Molly Schaus | — | Studied at Benet as a freshman only during the 2002–2003 school year and later went on to compete in the US women's ice hockey team in the 2010 Winter Olympics; graduated from Deerfield Academy in Massachusetts | [39][40] |
References
- OCLC 3379383.
- ^ "School Information". Benet Academy. 2011. Retrieved April 1, 2011.
- ^ a b Grossman, Kate N.; Rossi, Rosalind (March 16, 2003). "At the head of the class: Top high schools' grads prepped for best colleges". Chicago Sun-Times. p. 16.
- ^ Peterson, Patricia (2009). "Benet Connections". Benet Connections (Fall 2009). Benet Academy.
- ^ Lenz, Linda (October 28, 1986). "Benet gets into the ACT, touts scores". Chicago Sun-Times. p. 40.
- Daily Herald. Arlington Heights, Illinois. p. 1.
- ISBN 1-60354-012-1.
- ^ Illinois Benedictine College Communication Office (June 1975). "Chronological Development of St. Procopius College/Illinois Benedictine College" (PDF). Illinois Benedictine College Development Office. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 29, 2010. Retrieved April 3, 2011.
- OCLC 1882096.
- Daily Herald. p. 1.
- ^ a b c d "More Notable Alumni...". The Alumni Herald (9). Benet Academy: 11–14. November 2007.
- ^ a b Engel, Brad (April 24, 2010). "Q&A with LeFevour's coach at Benet". The Heat Index. Sun-Times Media Group. Archived from the original on August 26, 2010. Retrieved December 13, 2016.
- ^ Howard, Theresa (January 11, 2004). "Anheuser-Busch's silly 'Mr.' ads hit a high note with viewers". USA Today. Retrieved December 13, 2016.
- ^ Daily Herald. September 22, 2008. p. 1.
- ^ a b c d "Benet (St. Procopius) Academy Notable Alumni". The Alumni Herald (8). Benet Academy: 7–21. November 2006.
- Daily Herald. p. 1.
- ^ Allis, Tim; Micheli, Robin (April 13, 1992). "TV's Sultan of Smirk". People. 37 (14). New York City. Retrieved December 13, 2016.
- ^ Liebert, Jonathan (2005-02-25), Sex Sells: The Making of 'Touché', Priscilla Barnes, Mark DeCarlo, Jay Michael Ferguson, retrieved 2017-10-30
- ^ "Kathleen Doyle". United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee. Archived from the original on March 3, 2020. Retrieved March 3, 2020.
- ^ "Kathleen Doyle". USA Basketball. Archived from the original on March 3, 2020. Retrieved March 3, 2020.
- ^ "Candidates for graduation from Benet Academy". Daily Herald (Arlington Heights, Illinois). May 26, 2000. p. 7.
- ^ "Meagen Fay's Face Familiar to TV Viewers". Herald-News. Joliet, Illinois. June 21, 1998.
- Daily Herald. p. 1.
- ^ "Marita Geraghty". Fandango.com. Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2016-12-14.
- OCLC 29189971. Retrieved April 3, 2011.
- ^ Clark, Mike. "Frank Kaminsky put Purdue on ice". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved March 17, 2015.
- ^ Jensen, Brett. "Rookie Frank Kaminsky fits Hornets' future plans". Fox Sports Carolinas. Retrieved June 29, 2015.
- Daily Herald. April 16, 2009. p. 6.
- ^ Sandrolini, Mike. "Wheaton's Mike Lee a Force to be Reckoned With in Light-heavyweight Ranks". Wheaton Patch. Archived from the original on September 2, 2011. Retrieved April 10, 2011.
- ^ "Dan LeFevour profile". July 11, 2006. Archived from the original on July 8, 2011. Retrieved April 3, 2011.
- Daily Herald. January 24, 2011. p. 3.
- San Diego Union-Tribune. redOrbit.com. Retrieved April 3, 2011.
- ^ "Justin McCareins". Illinois High School Football Weekly. February 9, 2005. Retrieved April 3, 2011.
- ISBN 978-0-374-23648-9.
The championship event started less than two hours ago, but we're already down to the last seven players: myself and the six football cheerleaders from Benet Academy, my alma mater in Lisle, Illinois.
- ^ Powers, Scott (April 3, 2011). "Sources: Porter Moser to Loyola". ESPN Chicago. Retrieved December 13, 2016.
- ^ Beckman, Hank (July 17, 2009). "Proft brings campaign to his hometown". Naperville Sun.
- ^ "The Short List – June 2006". Chicago Magazine. June 2006. Retrieved December 13, 2016.
- ^ "Kerry Abello". instagram.com. Meta. Retrieved 17 April 2022.
- Daily Herald. Retrieved April 3, 2011.
- ^ "Girls Showcase Team". Amateur Hockey Association Illinois. USA Hockey. 2010. Archived from the original on March 22, 2012. Retrieved April 3, 2011.