Montini Catholic senior awarded the Colleen Helen Considine Memorial Scholarship
On behalf of the Considine Family Memorial Fund, Montini Catholic proudly awarded the Colleen Helen Considine Memorial Scholarship to an exceptional Bronco senior - Nora Sypkens.
The award is presented each year to a senior student who has demonstrated impressive academic and leadership achievements along with creativity and writing talent.
Nora was most recently named the Valedictorian of Montini's Class of 2021 and was the recipient of the Weisenburger Family Scholarship at Montini earlier this year, as well as the Fermilab Science Award. She was recognized as an AP Scholar with Honor this fall. She currently serves as the vice president of Montini's Student Government, and is proud to represent Montini Catholic to prospective students as a Student Ambassador.
Academically, she is a member of the Math Team (taking eighth place at State this year) as well as the Spanish and Science Clubs. She is also a member of the Spanish Honor Society, Mu Alpha Theta (Math Honor Society). Spiritually, Nora spends her time as a member of the Peer Ministry Team (her second year) and is a member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) and the Wellness Club. She was also a student leader at this year's senior Kairos retreat.
Athletically, Nora lends her skills to the Bronco Varsity Volleyball Team and earned Girls Catholic Athletics Conference Academic All Conference honors while a member. She also finds time to manage the Boys Varsity Volleyball team. Finally, Nora shares her passion for music as a member of the Montini Symphonic Band (playing the trumpet) and President of the Tri-M (Music) Honor Society. (She was selected to represent Montini Catholic at the Illinois Music Education Association's District 9 Ensemble in October 2020.)
Nora is currently preparing for her freshman year at the University of Kentucky where she plans on majoring in chemistry.
At the age of 33, Colleen Helen Considine's life was tragically cut short. In an effort to honor her memory, the Considine family established an annual scholarship for Montini Catholic senior girls exhibiting many of the personality and leadership qualities that Colleen possessed. Since its inception, over twenty-six talented young women have received this special scholarship.
Colleen's mother, Joan Considine, was the English Department chair and faculty member for 28 years at Montini Catholic. In the years prior to her death in 2015, she chose the recipient of the scholarship each spring based on her experiences as a teacher with her students. Today, students hoping to receive the $2,000 scholarship are asked to submit a written essay describing an event that touched them and inspired them to pursue excellence. Of the applications received this year, Sypken's best captured the essence of the award.
"I can't think of a more deserving student for this year's award," said President Jim Segredo, during the school's Academic Awards event earlier this year (May 5). "We are quite proud of Nora and I have no doubt that she will find great success this fall as a Wildcat. We will certainly miss her leadership and initiative, but wish her the best as she pursues new academic adventures in college."