EPCHS Alum In The Spotlight: Erin (Clarke) Doherty, Class Of 1991

EVERGREEN PARK, IL — STamPede booster club President Erin (Clarke) Doherty has been connected to Evergreen Park Community High School for decades. She’s one of five siblings who attended the school, and the mother of one current student and two recent alums.

“My mom still says the best thing she ever did was send us all to EP,” Doherty said. “Once a Mustang, Always a Mustang.”

Doherty is one to have taken the school motto to a new level. She was among the most involved students here in the late 1980s and early 1990s, and continues to be one among the most devoted parents.

At EPCHS, Doherty played volleyball all four years, and was a member of the Student Government, Future Business Leaders of America and American Field Service clubs. Her high school experience stretched all the way to Stykkisholmur, Iceland, where she was an exchange student in the summer of 1990.

But her fondest memories, Doherty said, were the Homecoming Week festivities.

“Powder Puff football games, Homecoming Pep Assembly, hallway and float decorating, Friday Night Talent Show, and the parade, football games (because we didn’t have lights) and dance all on Saturday,” she remembers. “It made for a crazy day but always fun!”

After her 1991 EPCHS graduation, Doherty earned an Associate’s degree and travel/tourism certification from Moraine Valley Community College. From there, she was hired by United Airlines to work in their Reservations and Customer Relations department for several years.

On September 11, 2001, Doherty was appointed to United’s Emergency Team during the September 11 attacks. That day she assisted families who had loved ones on the United Flight 93 that went down in Shanksville, Pennsylvania.

"Listening to parents, loved ones, family members, friends was heartbreaking," Doherty remembers. "I was one of many responsible for helping families get to the site of Flight 93... Many people didn't want to travel by air, so I was responsible for getting them to Shanksville however they wanted to go."

"Our call center, which was a 24 hours, was lifeless. There were no calls, there were no planes flying since everything was grounded."

Later in her career at United, Doherty worked in corporate security, and, eventually, to the Federal Air Marshal desk. She’s currently employed by the Cook County Board of Review as a property tax appeals analyst and helps run her local, family-owned business, Doherty Tuckpointing here in Evergreen Park.

Amid a busy schedule, EPCHS is grateful that Doherty still finds time to volunteer as a leader with the STamPede booster club, which includes students, teachers and parents who help fund and organize events and activities outside of athletics and music.

Doherty first joined STamPede in 2014 when her oldest child was a freshman at EP. Because of her bookkeeping experience, she took over as treasurer soon after. Since then, she has stayed on as a board member as she watched her first two children graduate, and will continue on as president until her youngest graduates in 2026.

“I believe joining any booster club is a great way to stay informed about the school,” she said. “It is a great way to build social connections, and it is a great way to help support your school, students and teachers.”

Advice To Current EPCHS Students

“Enjoy high school while it lasts, because it goes by way too quick. Get involved with a club, sport or activity. Work hard and stay on track, and, most importantly, be yourself.”