Final Four bet pays off for Harper

Harper College President Kenneth Ender's alma mater didn't win its game in Saturday's Final Four, but his school is still coming out a winner.

As part of a bet between Ender and Harper alumnus Andy-John Kalkounos, an owner of Chicago Prime Steakhouse, the college president will wait tables for a night at the Schaumburg restaurant and donate his tips to a new scholarship fund for the college's Culinary Arts Program.

The friendly wager came about when Ender, a graduate of Virginia Commonwealth University, and Kalkounos, who received his bachelor's degree from Butler University, realized their schools' basketball teams were facing off in Saturday night's first Final Four matchup.

Butler ultimately one the hard-fought contest 70-62, setting up Enders' night as a waiter. Had VCU won, Kalkounos would have provided the scholarship seed money on his own.

“My VCU Rams might have lost, but it's a victory for my Harper Hawks, and that's what's important,” said Ender, who watched the game with Kalkounos and a host of Harper administrators, staff and supporters at the restaurant. “The bet was a good one for me to make: Harper students were going to be winners either way.”

Ender said the fact that eighth-seeded Butler met 11th-seeded VCU in the semifinal round of the NCAA championship offers a universal lesson on the value of determination and persistence.

“Both of those teams worked hard to get where they were, and our students and faculty work hard every day at Harper College,” Ender said. “Now, I'm ready to work hard as a Chicago Prime waiter to fulfill my end of this deal, and I hope to earn a lot of money for our deserving culinary students.”

Ender is slated to wait tables – by request and reservation only – on a to-be-determined evening at Kalkounos' restaurant, 1444 E. Algonquin Road in Schaumburg.

“I'm sure he'll do a tremendous job, and I'm certain people will line up for a chance to see him do it and to contribute to a great scholarship,” Kalkounos said. “I've supported the college a long time, and I loved being part of something like this, which allowed us to put a fun twist on helping students succeed.”

Kalkounos earned his bachelor's at Butler before completing his Real Estate Broker's license at Harper. He serves on the college's Educational Foundation's Directors Circle Committee, raising money for scholarships and educational programs. He became Managing Partner at Chicago Prime in 2000, and said his role there made a Culinary Arts Program scholarship the perfect payoff for the wager.

“This bet was such a great opportunity to make a positive local impact through a national basketball event,” said Harper Chief Advancement Officer Catherine Brod, part of the Harper crowd gathered at Chicago Prime on Saturday. “We look for every chance to help our students succeed, and it's through the generous support of people like Andy-John that our students and college continue to thrive.”

For more information on donating toward a student scholarship, contact the Educational Foundation at www.harpercollege.edu/giving.