Good News Sunday: Des Plaines actor’s ‘full circle moment’ comes with lead role in Porchlight’s ‘Anything Goes’

This is Good News Sunday, a compilation of some of the more upbeat and inspiring stories published recently by the Daily Herald:

“Anything Goes,” Cole Porter’s 1934 tuner about the romantic shenanigans unfolding on an ocean liner bound from New York to London, has a special place in Luke Nowakowski’s heart.

In 2014, when the Des Plaines actor was a high school senior contemplating a career in theater, “Anything Goes” was his school’s musical. He played a small role in that production. Nearly 10 years later, he’s playing one of the leads, lovesick stowaway Billy Crocker, in Porchlight Musical Theatre’s 90th anniversary revival, which runs in Chicago through Feb. 25.

“I find it a sweet, full circle moment for me,” said Nowakowski who, when he auditioned for Porchlight last year, thought “even if nothing comes from it, I can’t let it pass me by without at least trying.”

Playing Billy, who he describes as a young, scrappy guy, not unlike himself, allows Nowakowski to do a bit of everything: sing, dance, act and make people laugh.

“I always wanted to understand people,” said Nowakowski, who says he became more empathetic after his father’s death. “Theater gave me the opportunity to step into another person’s mindset, which I really liked.”

For the full story, click here.

Wheaton teacher inspires students to become educators

Among her colleagues at Wheaton Warrenville South High School, Tiffany Marconi is admired for her rapport with students. She’s a go-getter who believes “you get out what you put in.” So she was the obvious choice to teach a new course for juniors and seniors, school leaders say.

Marconi was instrumental in building a “Grow Your Own Teachers” program in Wheaton Warrenville Unit District 200. Through her “Intro to Teaching” classes, Marconi is drawing high school students to the profession at a time when a national teacher shortage makes headlines.

“She just puts herself out there and is not afraid to try new things, not afraid to take risks,” Principal Lorie Campos said.

This is the second year the district is offering the dual-credit course for students interested in becoming teachers. Students can earn both college credit and high school credit through a partnership with the College of DuPage.

To identify students for the program, Marconi sends a Google form to her co-workers and high school coaches, asking them who has the makings of a teacher.

“Hopefully, with some students who don’t know what they want to do in the future, I just want to open them up and explore the world of education,” she said, “just because I think it’s the most magical career that’s out there.”

For the full story, click here.

Glen Ellyn church helps asylum-seekers headed to Chicago

Situated less than two blocks from the Glen Ellyn train station, St. Mark’s Episcopal Church is doing what it can to welcome new arrivals as they make their way to Chicago’s landing zone.

The church recently launched a winter outerwear drive to help migrants. On Wednesday, church members delivered coats, hats, gloves and scarves to a busload of migrants that arrived at the Glen Ellyn train station shortly before 1 p.m.

“These are people who have been through a great deal, and we just want to say hello, welcome, we see you and we care,” the Rev. George Smith said, pointing out scriptures that talk about welcoming others.

“It’s such an essential message for generations of people of all faiths ... to welcome the stranger and to help,” he said. “It’s also the right thing to do.”

For the full story, click here.

• Good News Sunday will run each weekend. Visit dailyherald.com/newsletters to sign up for our Good News Sunday newsletter.