Driscoll says it's final goodbye

Four decades and three years was enough time for Driscoll Catholic High School to graduate more than 5,000 students and become the backdrop for countless fond memories.

As the Addison school graduates its final class today before closing its doors forever, many students, staff and alumni agree 43 years was not enough.

Despite a monthlong fundraising effort to save the school from falling enrollment and financial woes, the Christian Brothers order that runs Driscoll decided the school could not survive.

Alumnus Chris Abbinante of Naperville, who helped lead the Save Driscoll campaign, said the rush to support the school proved the fierce sense of loyalty it instilled.

"It was a place that was an integral part in a lot of kids' lives and had a sense of community that was pretty hard to replicate," said Abbinante. "I took my high school education and what it was for granted until I found out about this. This is an issue that future Catholic schools are going to face with increasing concern. I would encourage other schools to not take their education for granted for the future of their children."

Driscoll Athletic Director Bob Carlson, who's been at the helm during several of the school's state wins in football, a girls state title in basketball and a golf state title, said the community also will miss Driscoll's rich athletic tradition. After watching his own high school close many years ago, he laments the loss of connections to the past.

"I feel now that I'm missing part of my life because I can't get up in the morning, look in the paper and see how the school teams did," he said. "Driscoll people don't realize yet they will really miss these things down the road because it takes a while to sink in."

Still, the Driscoll community has accomplished much since the school opened in 1966. It's shown excellence in academics and athletics, produced prominent alumni and students have volunteered thousands of hours to service projects. To understand how Driscoll has affected the world around it, we look back at some of the school's history and accomplishments.

How it all began

Starting with 134 students, the school was named for Elizabeth F. Driscoll, whose $200,000 bequest helped build it. Construction costs were about $2 million.

That first year, Driscoll adopted the Highlander as its mascot and created its coat of arms. The the next year, the school chose its colors and song.

The initial faculty consisted of three Christian Brothers, five School Sisters of St. Francis and three lay teachers. As a LaSallian school, its mission was to provide an education in the tradition of St. John Baptist de La Salle.

At the start of the 1969-70 school year, Driscoll became a full, four-year, coed institution. That year marked several other milestones, including graduation of the first class, Driscoll's first prom and drama productions, first varsity football season and first foreign exchange student, from Brazil.

The Sisters of St. Francis eventually withdrew from the faculty in 1986.

Academic successes

Driscoll students pursued these paths of study: College Prep I or College Prep II, which helped prepare for university study, while honors and college-level advanced-placement courses were offered to students ready to tackle additional rigors.

Students' average composite ACT score was 23.1 out of 36, while students in the honors program averaged 27.

Recent graduating classes often earned college scholarships and grants totalling in excess of $2.5 million.

By the numbers

• 311 students enrolled for the 2008-09 school year.

• 40 elementary and middle schools from 25 municipalities throughout DuPage and Cook counties graduated students who enrolled at Driscoll.

• 26 extracurricular clubs and activities were offered.

• 18 interscholastic sports programs were also an option.

• 12 hours of community service were required of each student per academic year. But many often volunteered well beyond this.

Athletic legacy

Since 1990, Driscoll has won nearly two dozen conference championships, about 40 regional or sectional championships and 13 state titles.

Here are the highlights:

• Football: Driscoll has won eight state championships, including seven in a row from 2001-07. Six titles were in 4A; two were in 3A including the first win in 1991. Driscoll's eight state titles is the fourth most in Illinois history. The string of seven consecutive state titles is the state record, with no other team winning more than four in a row.

• Basketball: The girls team took home the Class 2A 2008-09 IHSA state title.

• Golf: Senior Gigi DiGrazia was named the girls Class A 2008-09 state champion.

• Hockey: The junior varsity hockey team won a state championship title in 2004.

• Baseball: The team won three Class A state championships in the 1991-92, 93-94 and 96-97 school years.

Other wins

•Driscoll's DC Dance Force won a state championship in 2003 for its lyrical routine.

Notable alumni

• Thomas Bookler, class of 1971, assistant regional superintendent at the DuPage Regional Office of Education in Wheaton.

• Judith Brawka, class of 1972, Kane County circuit judge.

• Stanley Razny, Class of 1977; owner of Razny Jewelers in Addison and Highland Park

• David Scacco, Class of 1982; director of vertical markets group for Google Inc.

• Tom Hundley, Class of 1983; Addison village trustee, elected in 1999 and 2003.