Football fans, learn the history of the Chicago Bears at SXU

Saint Xavier University will host "The History of the Chicago Bears," a multimedia presentation by author, website manager, and devoted Bears fan Roy Taylor on Wed., Sept. 12.

The event is scheduled from 6:30 to 8 p.m. in McGuire Hall, located in the Warde Academic Center at SXU's Chicago campus, 3700 W. 103^rd St. This event is free and open to the public.

Taylor attended his first Bears game with his father in 1979 and became a dedicated fan. He created the Chicago Bears History website, www.bearshistory.com, in 2000. He also published a book titled "Chicago Bears History" in 2004.

Taylor said he began surfing the Internet in 1997 and found little information about his favorite Bears players, such as Walter Payton, Mike Ditka, and Neal Anderson. His Chicago Bears History website was born as part of a class project when he was pursuing his master's degree in information technology and management from Illinois Institute of Technology.

"I knew nothing about HTML or web design or really how a PC worked at the time, but downloaded an AOL web page generator anyway," he said. "I dropped a photo of Neal Anderson onto a gray background, named the page "Roy's Bears Page" and dreamed of what might be."

For more information, contact Dave Kohut at (773) 298-3355 or kohut@sxu.edu.

SXU raises more than $112,000 for student scholarships at 16th Annual Golf Classic

Saint Xavier University recently hosted its most successful Annual Golf Classic in the event's 16-year history at Silver Lake Country Club in Orland Park. The event raised more than $112,000, with all proceeds supporting SXU student scholarships.

"We wish to extend our heartfelt thanks to all the donors and sponsors who helped provide scholarships for Saint Xavier University’s most deserving students through this wonderful event," said Vice President for University Advancement Steven Murphy, Ed.D.

The event featured several raffle prize packages, including The Chicago Downtown Package, Get Out of Town Package, Chicago Sports Tailgate Package, and Golfer's Package. Other raffle prizes included an Apple iPad 3, a flat screen TV, a Trek mountain bike, a Kindle Fire, a Weber portable gas grill, and various golf items.

Major sponsors included Henry Bros. Co., AT & T, Bear Cartage & Intermodal, Inc., Bank of America, Deltak, DLA Piper, Linear Electric Co. Inc., Mid American Group, Ozinga Brothers, Inc., and Print Post, Inc.

SXU NAIA Champion football players host youth football clinic

Saint Xavier University's 2011 NAIA Championship football team kicked off its new season by hosting a youth football training clinic on Aug. 21 at The Salvation Army Ray and Joan Kroc Corps Community Center, 1250 W. 119^th St., Chicago. Head Coach Mike Feminis and 10 of SXU's top players worked with boys ages nine to 18 to share what it takes to be a championship football team through agility drills, training routines, and exercises.

Feminis said the tenets of a successful football team include hard work, extensive training, and exceptional teamwork – all attributes that contributed to SXU’s phenomenal NAIA championship last season. Feminis added that it’s equally important “to maintain outstanding academic records and to constantly seek out opportunities to give back to the community.”

“We have been praying that this year would be the year we could bring football back to the South Side of Chicago,” said Senior Kroc Officer Major David Harvey. “For years football has been disappearing from Chicago and the south suburbs. We believe the Kroc Center can help to bring back this sport and others through this state of the art center and fields. The only thing we were missing to kick this off was someone to help start the initiative and excitement, train and motivate our coaches and young people interested in football. It was a Godsend to have Saint Xavier University staff call and share that their football team would help get us started. We thank the team and university for believing in the dreams and talents of our kids on the south side. This is truly the beginning of a great partnership and miracle for us all. Our kids and the sport of football will never be the same.”

Partnering with The Salvation Army Ray and Joan Kroc Corps Community Center to create this fun training clinic is in accord with SXU’s Sisters of Mercy heritage to serve wisely and compassionately in support of human dignity and the common good. Stay tuned for more charitable work from the SXU football team throughout the year as they defend their national championship title. Mark your calendar for the first game at 6 p.m. on Sat., Sept. 1 against Olivet Nazarene University in Bourbonnais, Ill.

For more information, please contact Executive Director of Media Relations Karla Thomas at (773) 298-3937 or kthomas@sxu.edu.

Saint Xavier University to Host Football Training Clinic led by Defending NAIA Football Champs

Saint Xavier University’s (SXU) 2011 NAIA Championship football team will kick off the 2012 season by hosting a football training clinic from 1 to 2:30 p.m. on Tues., Aug. 21. More than 50 boys ages nine to 18 are expected to participate in the clinic, which will be led by 10 of SXU’s top football players at The Salvation Army Ray and Joan Kroc Corps Community Center, 1250 W. 119th St., Chicago.

The Kroc Center children participating in the clinic will work closely with Head Coach Mike Feminis and some of SXU's best players as they share what it takes to become a championship football team amid agility drills, training routines, and exercises.

“We have exceptional athletes on and off the field," said SXU Football Head Coach Mike Feminis. "We’re excited to partner with the Ray and Joan Kroc Corps Community Center, and we hope to have a positive impact on the children by exposing them to the rigors of a football training clinic."

Feminis said the tenets of a successful football team include hard work, extensive training, and exceptional teamwork – all attributes that contributed to SXU's phenomenal 2011 NAIA championship. Feminis added that it's equally important "to maintain outstanding academic records and to constantly seek out opportunities to give back to the community."

Partnering with The Salvation Army Ray and Joan Kroc Corps Community Center to create this fun training clinic is in accord with SXU's Sisters of Mercy heritage to serve wisely and compassionately in support of human dignity and the common good. Stay tuned for more charitable work from the SXU football team throughout the year as they defend their national championship title. Mark your calendar for the first game on Saturday, Sept. 1 at 6 p.m. against Olivet Nazarene University in Bourbonnais, Illinois.

For more information, please contact Executive Director of Media Relations Karla Thomas at (773) 298-3937 or kthomas@sxu.edu.

SXU to host the work of artist Chris Motley

Saint Xavier University will host an art exhibit featuring the work of Chris Motley from Thurs., Aug. 23 to Tues., Sept. 18. The exhibit, titled “Human Dimensions in Fiber,” will be on display in the SXU Gallery, located in the Warde Academic Center at the Chicago campus, 3700 W. 103rd St. The exhibit also includes an artist’s lecture and reception at 3:30 p.m. on Wed., Sept. 5 in the Gallery.

After a 30-year career as a lawyer, Motley began her journey into the art world by knitting three-dimensional creations by hand. Many of her pieces portray human body parts, such as hands, arms, and faces.

"I learned knitting from my mother when I was a child of 10 or 11, and [it] was a natural medium for me since it's what I knew," she said. "My work seems to be derived in some respect from words, odd as that sounds. Words were a big part of my career, and thus I'm realizing that presenting words pictorially is part of what my work does."

Motley has participated in juried shows throughout the United States, including Metaphoric Fibers at the Textile Center in Minneapolis, Minn., Fantastic Fibers in 2010 and 2011 at the Yeiser Art Center in Paducah, Ky., National Fiber Directions 2011 in Wichita, Kan., the Handweaver’s Guild of America Small Expressions 2011 show and Form & Fiber; A Contemporary Twist on Fiber Art at the Mystic Art Center’s show in Mystic, Conn.

The SXU Gallery is open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Monday and Wednesday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Tuesday and Thursday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Friday, and 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday. For more information, please contact the Gallery at (773) 298-3081.

Network with elected officials at SXU's Seventh Annual "Breakfast With Your Legislators"

Local business professionals are invited to meet and mingle with Chicagoland elected officials at the Seventh Annual "Breakfast With Your Legislators" event on Thurs., Sept. 13 at Saint Xavier University's Chicago campus, 3700 W. 103rd St.

Elected officials scheduled to attend include State Sen. Edward Maloney (D-18th), State Rep. Kelly Burke (D-36th), State Rep. Bill Cunningham (D-35th), Cook County Commissioner John Daley (D-11th), Evergreen Park Mayor Jim Sexton, Oak Lawn Mayor Dave Heilmann, and Chicago Ald. Matt O'Shea (19th).

Registration and networking begins at 7:30 a.m. in the Butler Reception Room located in the Warde Academic Center, followed by breakfast and the program at 8 a.m.

General admission for the event, which includes breakfast, is $30 per person and $20 for members of the following organizations: Beverly Area Planning Association, Evergreen Park Chamber of Commerce and the Oak Law Chamber of Commerce.

This event is expected to sell out. Pre-registration and pre-payment are required by Mon., Sept. 10. Please register online at BAPA’s website or by phone at (773) 233-3100.

“Breakfast with your Legislators” is sponsored by AT&T.

SXU to host 12th Annual Cougar 5K Run/Walk during 2012 Homecoming celebration

Saint Xavier University will host the 12^th Annual Cougar 5K Run/Walk during its 2012 Homecoming Week at 9 a.m. on Sat., Sept. 29. The race begins and ends at SXU's Chicago campus, 3700 W. 103^rd St., and travels through Evergreen Park.

Pre-registration is $30 for runners/walkers and $25 for SXU students. Race day registration is $35 for runners/walkers and $30 for SXU students. This is the first year that a Family Rate is offered, which costs $75 for two adults and one child age 17 or under from the same immediate family. Each additional child is $20. Family Rate registration is not available on race day. Visit www.sxu.edu, keyword: Cougar 5K to register.

All participants will receive a white cotton long-sleeve Cougar 5K shirt. Participants that register before Mon., Sept. 10, have the option to purchase a red dry-tech long-sleeve Cougar 5K shirt instead of the white cotton shirt for an additional $5. Exclusive Cougar 5K black quarter-zip jackets also are on sale for $25 through the online registration form or in the Shannon Center at the Chicago campus.

Additionally, all participants will receive a ticket to the Homecoming Football game at 6 p.m., where they can watch the defending NAIA National Champion Cougars take on University of Saint Francis. Tickets can be picked up at the Gear Check area between 7 a.m. and 11 a.m. on race day. Participants also can enjoy refreshments, massages, stretching, blood pressure checks, children's activities, and pictures with SXU's cougar mascot.

Cougar 5K sponsors include Mid American Group, Gallagher Investments, Greenwood Chiropractic, Go Promotions, Core Fitness, Jimmy Johns, Pizza Man, Running for Kicks, Gilhooley’s Grande Saloon, Aquafina, McDonalds, Beverly Review, City Beverage, Accelerated Rehab, Sports and Ortho, CrossFit Beverly, WishFit, the Village of Evergreen Park, and the Saint Xavier University National Alumni Association.

For more information or to register, visit the Cougar 5K Run/Walk website at www.sxu.edu, keyword: Cougar 5K or call the race hotline at (773) 298-3592.

Network with elected officials at SXU's Seventh Annual "Breakfast With Your Legislators"

Chicago (Aug. 6, 2012) -- Local business professionals are invited to meet and mingle with Chicagoland elected officials at the Seventh Annual "Breakfast With Your Legislators" event on Thurs., Sept. 13 at Saint Xavier University's Chicago campus, 3700 W. 103rd St.

Elected officials scheduled to attend include State Sen. Edward Maloney (D-18th), State Rep. Kelly Burke (D-36th), State Rep. Bill Cunningham (D-35th), Cook County Commissioner John Daley (D-11th), Evergreen Park Mayor Jim Sexton, Oak Lawn Mayor Dave Heilmann, and Chicago Ald. Matt O'Shea (19th).

Registration and networking begins at 7:30 a.m. in the Butler Reception Room located in the Warde Academic Center, followed by breakfast and the program at 8 a.m.

General admission for the event, which includes breakfast, is $30 per person and $20 for members of the following organizations: Beverly Area Planning Association, Evergreen Park Chamber of Commerce and the Oak Law Chamber of Commerce.

This event is expected to sell out. Pre-registration and pre-payment are required by Monday, Sept. 10. Please register online at BAPA’s website or by phone at (773) 233-3100.

“Breakfast with your Legislators” is sponsored by AT&T.