Speaker series highlights bringing out the best in students
As part of its 50th anniversary celebration, St. Viator High School will offer a speaker series, “Shaping the Future.”
The series highlights a core philosophy that has been held by the Viatorians since the religious order founded the high school — that teachers, parents and the entire community need to awaken in students their interests and passions that may otherwise have gone under- or undeveloped, and in doing so, unlock the potential that lies within.
To showcase this philosophy, “Shaping the Future “ will feature accomplished speakers and panelists from around the Midwest in an open forum sharing how they started their careers and how they were awakened to their particular areas of expertise.
The three events in the series will highlight arts, innovation and service.
“The world that students will enter into continues to rapidly evolve,” said the Rev. Robert Egan, C.S.V., president of St. Viator High School. “As committed educators, parents, and friends we are all called to help enable students to identify, explore and develop parts of them that will shape our collective future.”
Ÿ The first event, “Awakening the Artist in Our Young Men and Women,” will be held at 7 p.m. Tuesday, March 1, at St. Viator High School. It will focus on how to foster an environment where young people can discover and develop their artistic abilities, so they can positively impact future generations with their creative talents.
Kelly Leonard, executive vice president of The Second City will keynote, and panelists are: Jim Jarvis, executive director of Metropolis Performing Arts Centre; Anne Libera, director of comedy training at The Second City; portrait artist William T. Chambers; Scott Arkenberg, music director and composer; and Matt Gruenfeld, art instructor at St. Viator. The moderator is longtime St. Viator theater instructor Kate Costello. Admission is free, but advance registration is encouraged, at 50years.saintviator.com, to guarantee seating
Ÿ The second event, “Awakening the Innovator in Our Young Men and Women,” will be Tuesday, May 3, and focus on how we can awaken the entrepreneurial talents of young men and women. Kevin Willer, head of Google's Chicago office, will keynote. Panelists are: Genevieve Thiers, founder of Sittercity.com; John Robertson, vice president for the Chicago Entrepreneurial Center; and Jim Fruchterman, founder and CEO of Benetech. John Aiello, founder and chairman of The SAVO Group and a St. Viator alumnus, will be moderator.
Ÿ After a summer hiatus, the series will resume Sept. 20 with the final installment, “Awakening the Servant in Our Young Men and Women,” for which participants have not yet been finalized.
“We believe that awakening students to the Artist, the Innovator, and the Servant within themselves will contribute to making their futures brighter and more fulfilling,” Egan said.
St. Viator is encouraging current and former students and their families to attend the series, along with alumni, teachers, donors and members of the general public.
For details about the Shaping the Future speaker series, and other events in the 50th anniversary celebration — including St. Viator's Night of the Lion Gala on Saturday, April 9, at Navy Pier — visit 50years.saintviator.com.