Mundelein High variety show to honor recent graduate

Mundelein High School has hosted an annual variety show for decades where students showcase their talents and raise money for charity. While this year's show will be loaded with talent, the focus for students will be personal and emotional.

The money raised will be in memory of one of their own, 2013 graduate Ian Turkula.

Turkula died from brain cancer in January. He graduated summa cum laude last May and was studying architecture at the University of Minnesota.

While at Mundelein High, he was on the volleyball and soccer teams, and he was prom king. Outside of school, he worked with special-needs children.

All proceeds from the event will be donated to two charities in Ian's honor: Bear Necessities Pediatric Cancer Foundation of Chicago and the Brain Tumor Research Fund at Children's Hospital of Chicago.

The show, taking place at 6 p.m. March 20, will put a spotlight on the many talents of Mundelein High students. They audition for the event and only the best acts make it to the actual show.

The top three winners will receive cash prizes ranging from $25 to $100.

The senior class sponsors the show. According to its adviser, Javier Martinez, the show will provide a variety of entertainment.

"We've got a little bit of everything," Martinez said. "There's a great dance act, a blues/folk-type band, a drums and guitar duo, a piano/vocal performance, a stand-up comic and others. It should be an entertaining evening for the audience."

To warm up the audience, baristas will circulate throughout the crowd with hot chocolate donated by Mundelein Stand-Up, a community group that helps teens stand up to negative peer influences.

The public is invited to attend. A suggested donation of $5 will be collected at the door.