SXU wraps up successful 2012 Homecoming

Alumni, students, faculty, staff, and friends celebrated Saint Xavier University's 2012 Homecoming with a fun-filled week of events from Sept. 25 to Sept. 30 at SXU's Chicago campus.

New to this year's celebration was the "Cougars on Parade" contest. Mirroring Chicago’s famous “Cows on Parade,” SXU departments and organizations “adopted” and decorated cougar statues, which were then escorted across campus with the marching band, cheerleaders, and Paw Prints dance team. More than 72,500 votes were cast, with the Office of Records and Advising's horror movie-themed "Scaredy Cat" taking first place. View photos of the winning statues at www.sxu.edu, keyword: cougars on parade.

Nearly 1,000 people participated in the 12^th Annual Cougar 5K Run/Walk on Sat., Sept. 29. A man known only as "Pizza" from Chicago finished with the best men's time, 17:16. Mike Yuhasz, of Palos Park, finished second for the men with a time of 17:47, and Joe Higgins, of Evergreen Park, placed third at 18:42. Sarah Gregory, of Palos Park, claimed the top women's time, 20:03. Nadine Antonini, of Palos Heights, finished second at 20:12, and Barbara Roman, of Chicago, took third with a time of 20:41. Official race times are available at www.sxu.edu, keyword: cougar 5k, and photos of the race will be available at the SXU Shannon Athletic Center Facebook page. About 150 people from Saint Xavier University, Mother McAuley High School, Brother Rice High School, Marist Girls Golf Team, Queen of Peace High School, Saint Gerald’s Grammar School, the Queen of Martyrs football team, and Saint Bernadette Grammar School Girl Scouts volunteered at the race.

After the race, alumni, parents, and friends joined President Christine Wiseman in the All-Alumni Reunion tent prior to the Homecoming football game, with a portion of the proceeds going toward the Student Scholarship Fund and the Cougar Club. But unfortunately, the No. 1 Cougar football team suffered its first loss of the season, falling to University of Saint Francis (Ind.) 25-13.

SXU’s Service Through Action Team (S.T.A.T.) – a team of SXU alumni and students who work together on community focused service projects – gathered nearly 70 students and alumni on Sept. 26 to make more than 500 lunches for neighbors in need, such as Port Ministries, Southwest Suburban PADS and P.R.I.D.E. alternative schools. During this project, when volunteers heard that the goal of 500 lunches may not have been possible as there were only enough juice boxes to make 300 lunches, they immediately took action by purchasing more than 200 additional juice bottles with their meal cards. S.T.A.T. has made over 5,000 lunches for shelters during the past three years.

SXU honored its best and brightest on Sept. 27 at the 2012 Academic Distinguished Alumni Award Ceremony. The recipients were:

·         Jennifer Drake ’02, ’08, of Chicago, George K. McGuire Award, School of Education.

·         Betty Kosky ’86, ’92, of Worth, Distinguished Alumni Award, Graham School of Management.

·         Charlene Bermele ’05, of Evergreen Park, Distinguished Alumni Award, School of Nursing.

·         Daniel Brown ’78, of Palos Park, Distinguished Alumni Award, College of Arts and Sciences.

·         Brian Radakovitz ’08, ’11, of Orland Park, Distinguished Alumni Award, School for Continuing and Professional Studies.

The week culminated on Sept. 30 with an outdoor liturgy and the National Alumni Association Award Ceremony. The recipients were:

·         Kevin Clark ’78, of Oak Forest, Sister Dorothy Marie Peschon ’19 Award.

·         Bernada Baker ’04, of Chicago, Rita A. Ford ’98 Faith in the Future Award.

·         Patrick “Andy” Devine ’75, of Oak Forest, Spirit of Saint Xavier Award.