Catching up on some community news
Consider this week’s column a community calendar ...
First, Thursday is the final day to nominate persons for St. Charles East’s Jodie Harrison Lifetime Achievement Award. So hop to it.
This award is presented annually to the four nominees receiving the highest vote totals from a selection committee comprised of high school, business and civic communities and the St. Charles East Booster Club.
Last year’s slate included former track coach Tom Roderick, an Illinois Track and Cross Country Coaches Association Hall of Famer now with North Central College; and football star Jamie Wu.
The award, named after the St. Charles High athletic director who died in an automobile accident in 1991, heavily weighs character, values and dedication to Saints athletics.
A mandatory nomination application is available at the school website, east.d303.org; or by email at stceast@mac.com. Inductees will be presented in a ceremony Jan. 14 at the school.
All-star volleyball
A couple local girls has been selected to play in the second annual High School Girls All-Star Volleyball Game, Dec. 3 at Moraine Valley Community College in Palos Hills.
Rosary’s Amelia Wegman and St. Charles East’s Meghan Niski are among the 36 players involved.
Last year 600 people attended the match. Proceeds to go A Silver Lining Foundation, a cancer support organization.
Remember the Spartans
More nominations are due ...
The Aurora University Spartan Club is seeking nominations for its sport Hall of Fame through Dec. 10. Student-athletes must be out of school for at least 10 years, though coaches can be nominated five years after retirement. The Hall of Fame banquet will be held March 30.
Submit nominations online at athletics.aurora.edu/hof_nominations.
Lions of the hard court
If so inclined to hear local boys basketball coaches assess their teams Thursday night, the Aurora Noon Lions Club is hosting its annual Aurora Basketball Coaches Night starting at 6:30 p.m. at Luigi’s Pizza in Aurora.
West Aurora’s Gordie Kerkman is on the bill, as is Aurora Central’s Nathan Drye, Aurora Christian’s Steve Hanson, Waubonsie Valley’s Steve Weemer and East Aurora’s Wendell Jeffries. So too are college coaches James Lancaster of Aurora and Dave Heiss of Waubonsee.
After a 7 p.m. pizza and pasta dinner the coaches will speak starting at 8. Cost is $10, which is certainly a cheap price to hear from a hall of famer like Kerkman and two reigning supersectional coaches in Drye and Hanson. Proceeds will benefit Lions’ vision- and hearing-impaired charities.
In the know
Awareness about concussions, and their symptoms and severity, has been rushed to the forefront of sports medicine and treatment over the past few years. On Dec. 7, there will be a great opportunity to learn about these brain injuries from a doctor on the front lines.
Dr. Hunt Batjer, a Northwestern Medical Faculty Foundation neurosurgeon and co-chair of the National Football League’s Head, Neck and Spine Medical Committee, will address concussions in a free program at Neuqua Valley High School from 6:30-8:15 p.m. next Wednesday.
The Centers for Disease Control estimates as many as 3.8 million sports and recreation-related concussions occur each year in the United States — and almost half of them go undiagnosed and untreated.
Dr. Batjer will discuss the signs and symptoms of concussions, explain laws protecting athletes, and the evaluation process used before the athlete can return to action.
Registration is required. Call (630) 527-6363 or visit edward.org/concussion.
doberhelman@dailyherald.com