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MCHS Leadership Center Named in Honor of Sr. M. Paul McCaughey


Marian honors ‘Dominican Pillars’ at 50th anniversary gala

Chicago Heights , IL–(ENEWSPF)– Marian Catholic High School brought to a close the year-long celebration of 50 years of Teaching Scholars with a Soul on Saturday night with a gala at the School of the Art Institute Ballroom in Chicago. Along with recognizing five decades as one of Chicagoland’s finest private educational institutions, Marian established its Dominican Legacy Pillar Awards.

Six initial honorees included former President and Principal Sr. M. Paul McCaughey ’67, currently the Superintendent of Catholic Schools for the Archdiocese of Chicago. In tribute to one of Marian’s finest graduates and school leader from 1992 through 2008, Marian announced its recently opened Leadership Center will now bear Sr. M. Paul’s name.

The graduate of the University of Notre Dame returned to Marian as its fifth principal in 1992 and served as President from 1994 through 2008. A “pillar” of the south suburban community for many years, McCaughey was the catalyst in building the Leadership Center that opened in 2007. The primary component of the Courage to Lead Capital Campaign, the Center serves as a student union, cafeteria and home of Marian’s copyrighted Leadership Program for students.

All proceeds raised from Saturday’s 50th Gala celebration will be used to supplement the Sr. Simeon Emergency Tuition Fund.

The Dominican Legacy Pillar Awards recognize men and women who have truly served as pillars, supporting and sustaining the very structure of the Mission of Marian Catholic High School. Designed to transform society into the spirit of the Gospel, the Four Pillars of St. Dominic are Study, Prayer, Community and Preaching. Just as with a Marian education, the Dominican Pillar Awards recognize individuals who have impacted the school in the spirit of St. Dominic’s Pillars.

Other honorees included: Melissa Sage Fadim and the Sage Foundation; The Ferrari Family: John ’63, Barbara ’65, Arlene ’68 and Arthur ’75; Bill and Sharon Kiehl; Jim and JoAnne Morrison; and Ed and Betty Savant.

Melissa Sage Fadim has been a benefactor for the Fine and Performing Arts at Marian, while also serving as a Founding Council Leadership Training Program member and as leadership for the Courage to Lead Capital Campaign. A lover of arts and sciences, Fadim’s vision contributed to the Science Lab Initiative and Dominican Greenhouse, an audience and mentoring from the Chicago Symphony Orchestra for Marian students, and most recently, a goal of creating a Broadcasting Center at Marian.

The Ferrari Family, through the leadership of John ’63, who has served during virtually all of Marian’s major milestones, the Ferraris are Endowed Scholarship Benefactors, former Advisory Board members and have taken on leadership roles in multiple Capital Campaigns. The family of Art and Lucille Ferrari serves as principal owners of Abart Properties Corporation in Scottsdale, Ariz. and recently honored Lucille as sponsors of the new The Lucille Ferrari Spartan Shop and bookstore in the Leadership Center.

Bill and Sharon Kiehl, former and current Advisory Board members, have provided leadership during multiple Capital Campaigns. Through their businesses, Liberty Creative Solutions and Financial Data Solutions, both in Tinley Park, the Kiehl’s have been generous to Marian in a variety of capacities. Bill continues to mentor Marian students, especially the artists, giving them opportunities to experience the mechanics and creativity of printing design and his artistic eye helps guide budding artists.

Jim and JoAnne Morrison also have involvement with Marian’s Endowed Scholarship program as benefactors. The former Advisory Board member had ownership in the Founding Council Leadership Training Program as well. One of the pioneers of endowment, the Morrison Family Endowed Scholarship has provided the Marian Catholic experience for 21 scholars since its establishment in 1996.

Ed and Elizabeth Savant are also Endowed Scholarship benefactors and have served as former Advisory Board members. For the “influence and empowerment of Catholic high school education,” Ed actually displayed vision by establishing the first endowment to award Marian Catholic tuition scholarships (and thus the birth of the program) committed to keep Marian moving in a “fiscally sound direction.” Since 1995, a total of 13 Marian students have benefitted from fully endowed tuition assistance through The Erman C. Savant & Lawrence J. Cassidy Families Memorial Scholarships.

With the exception of Sr. Paul— who has had three siblings attend Marian— all of the Dominican Legacy Pillars are alumni parents of Marian graduates.

The gala evening began with Mass at the DePaul University Chapel, celebrated by the Rev. Bill Vollmer ’83. Entertainment for the evening was provided in part by Marian Catholic’s award-winning band, recent International Champion Color Guard and pianist Mario Carlasare ’00.


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