ICGS Young Alumni Talk to Students During Catholic Schools Week

On the afternoon of Thursday, February 1st, older students at Immaculate Conception Grade School in Elmhurst attended an assembly to hear from three young ICGS alumni. Gathered in the parish’s Monsignor Plunkett Hall, fifth through eighth graders listened to presentations by classmates from the Class of 2007, Christie Hillsman and Gavin Wegner, and a member of the Class of 2001, Lisa Danno. Hillsman, who attended the University of Notre Dame, currently works in Communications at the National Futures Association in Chicago. Among other things, she spoke to students about practicing self-discipline and time management habits in preparation for the high school years, a time when young people should explore their varied interests via extracurricular activities. Next, Gavin Wegner, who attended the University of Southern California, talked about his work at Jel Sert, a food and beverage company in West Chicago. He emphasized to students how important it is in high school and college to make long term goals and make sure that short term decisions don’t prevent their attainment of those long term goals. He also shared his experience of how adversity, although difficult, can provide unexpected opportunity. Finally, Lisa Danno, a graduate of Michigan State University, talked about both her experience working in the hospitality industry and also at Workspring (a division of Steelecase), a company that specializes in innovative work spaces. She shared with students her experiences as a tutor for children on the west side of Chicago and stressed that, in every situation, it is people that matter most. When asked by a fifth grader about each of their “dream jobs,” the three alumni agreed that doing what you enjoy in an environment where you are surrounded by good people is their ideal.