6410 South Dante Avenue, Chicago, IL 60637
Phone: 773-324-1020      Fax: 773-359-0506
 

Valentine, Vrechek recognized during National Volunteer Week

April 15-21 is National Volunteer Recognition Week, and an appropriate time to recognize the many volunteers who support Mount Carmel High School.

In particular, we wish to highlight two men who have contributed hundreds of hours of service to our students and school over the course of many years.


First, we recognize Mr. George Valentine, a member of the Ignatian Volunteer Corps (IVC) serving at Mount Carmel Mr. Valentine works primarily with English classes, providing one-on-one writing assistance. He also has assisted with the McDermott-Doyle Program and has been an enthusiastic supporter of our students’ participation the Metro Chicago History Fair.

IVC is a national program with regional groups around the country. It matches men and women, ages 50 and older, with a variety of schools and other non-profits, especially those that are committed to underserved populations. IVC volunteers serve two days per week from September to June and participate in monthly programs and reflections that are rooted in the Jesuit tradition of Ignatian spirituality.

To learn more about being a volunteer with IVC, please visit www.ivcusa.org/chicago.

Second, we express appreciation to Mr. George Vrechek, who recently “retired” from his many years of volunteer service as a “grammar and writing coach” for Mount Carmel’s journalism program. A stickler for getting both the facts and the punctuation correct. Mr. Vrechek helped launch MC’s on-line newspaper (www.mccaravan.org) and guided the efforts of multiple classes of student journalists.

He annually organized a variety of popular field trips, including visits to the Chicago Tribune and Sun-Times (followed by the obligatory lunch at the infamous Billy Goat Tavern), as well as Northwestern University and the University of Chicago.

Even during his annual winter hiatus to visit family in California, Vrechek regularly checked-in on the progress of the student journalists, offering valuable suggestions and necessary corrections.

Mount Carmel is blessed by the contributions of both of these wonderful gentlemen, and we celebrate their generosity as a model for our students.
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MOUNT CARMEL
HIGH SCHOOL

Living with Zeal for God, for Life, for Learning