10 Outstanding District 230 Alumni Honored

Ten outstanding alumni from Sandburg, Stagg and Andrew High Schools were honored at the District 230 Foundation’s 8th Annual Legacy Dinner on Friday night. These 10 alumni join the 77 Legacy Hall members who have previously been inducted.

Andrew High School alumna ​and WGN Radio News Anchor ​Andrea Darlas​ and Sandburg High School alumni and local attorney Dave O’Connor, both Legacy Hall Class of 2009 members, hosted the event ​for more than 190 attendees at Silver Lake Country Club.

The District 230 Foundation Legacy Hall was established to recognize the contributions alumni have made to their professions and communities. Nominations are accepted from the community and inductees are selected by the District 230 Foundation Board.​ A nomination form for the Class of 2016 can be found on the Legacy Hall tab at www.d230foundation.org​
The District 230 Foundation Legacy Hall Class of 2015 includes:

Lt. Col. Kristen Bakotic

Sandburg 1996

Government and Military

Lt. Col. Kristen Bakotic is currently assigned to the White House as the Executive Secretary and Special Advisor to the Vice President for Defense and Intelligence. On this team, she advises the Vice President on defense and intelligence matters including veterans and wounded warrior programs.

Dr. Sandra Biedron

Sandburg 1990

Science and Technology

Dr. Sandra Biedron is Associate Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Colorado State University where her specialty is beam physics and particle accelerators. She is a nationally and internationally highly-acclaimed physicist and technical consultant.

Jane Caliendo (posthumous)

Sandburg 1986

Education and Humanities

Jane Caliendo was a highly regarded physical education teacher and coach at Sandburg High School where she led by example and taught her students to be good people and good competitors. Her standard of high expectations is evidenced in the records of both the swim and water polo teams she coached over 20 years.

Christine Collins

Sandburg 1989

Community and Volunteerism

Christine Collins is the Youth Minister of Our Lady of the Woods Parish where she has created an inviting, inclusive, engaging, relevant and supportive environment.

Sara Howe

Stagg 1994

Philanthropy and Nonprofit

Sara Howe is Chief Executive Officer of the Illinois Alcoholism and Drug Dependence Association where she is responsible for state and federal policy and legislative analysis and advocacy efforts on behalf of the more than 50 community-based substance abuse prevention, treatment and recovery support service providers that comprise IADDA’s membership.

Jane Monzures

Andrew 1989

Arts and Entertainment

Jane Monzures is a major market television and radio personality who regularly contributes to Chicago stations. She also has her own clothing and jewelry line. In addition, she in the founder of a non-profit called Live. Love. Life. which generates awareness and support for a variety of issues that affect Chicago area families in need and brain disease research in memory of her mother.

Michael Perri

Sandburg 1991

Arts and Entertainment

Michael Perri is a dramatic writer who currently is writing for the NBC drama “State of Affairs” starring Katherine Heigl. He attributes his success to the same resolve and optimistic attitude he displayed as a child in foster care until he was adopted at the age of 10. His characters often reflect his own upbeat and positive attitude, persevering to overcome obstacles no matter the odds.

Ken Rutkowski

Andrew 1984

Business and Commerce

Ken Rutkowski is a radio host, co-founder, co-owner and president at Business Rockstars, a Los Angeles radio show that features discussions with CEOs and entrepreneurs about financing, marketing and networking. The show has 2 million daily listeners.

Parisa Tabriz

Sandburg 2001

Science and Technology

Parisa Tabriz is Chrome Security Engineering Manager for Google where she works with a team of 25 engineers to address hacker problems in a multitude of countries. At age 31, she has been deemed the “Security Princess” and has been featured in Elle and WIRED magazines and was named to Fortune’s “30 under 30” list of tech pioneers in 2012.

Michael VanZeyl

Andrew 1987

Arts and Entertainment

Michael VanZeyl is an accomplished professional artist as well as an instructor at the North Shore Art League and the Pallet & Chisel. He has received numerous accolades including institutional and government portrait commissions and the Oil Painters of America 2014 Dorothy Driehaus Mellin Fellowship for Midwestern Artists.

A complete listing of District 230 Foundation Legacy Hall members can be found on the Legacy Hall tab at www.d230foundation.org