Mokena’s Knippel commissions as Navy ensign
Mokena native Abigail Knippel commissioned into the Navy as an ensign during a July 8 ceremony at Loyola University in Chicago, where she graduated in May with a degree in biology. She also participated the last four years in the Navy ROTC program at Northwestern University in Chicago, where she attended naval science classes.
Knippel, a 2020 graduate of Lincoln-Way Central High School in New Lenox, will relocate to Everett, Washington, and serve on the destroyer USS John Paul Jones.
Orland Hills’ Mansour: Learning to teach, teaching to learn
Orland Hills’ Mariam Mansour participated in the Carver College of Medicine’s Teaching Distinction Track as a student at the University of Iowa.
Those experiences shaped Mansour’s work as a resident physician today.
Mansour knew she was interested in the Carver College of Medicine Teaching Distinction Track before she was even admitted to the college. She inherited a passion for education from her mom, a former middle school science teacher, and loved being a Sunday school teacher at her church from a young age.
“I remember thinking on interview day, ‘This is what I would do if I came here,’” Mansour said. “Not every medical school had something like that.”
Now a resident physician in pediatrics at Advocate Children’s Hospital in Oak Lawn, Mansour often finds herself in the role of teacher for medical students on rotation.
“My experience teaching in med school and my experience with the Teaching Distinction Track set me up for success,” she said. “It’s always in the back of my head to be teaching the med students. I tell them to set goals, and I tell them my own goals. Then I follow up. I’m hoping that next year, I’ll have even more time to dedicate to honing my own clinical teaching style-which is something I’m only aware exists because of the Teaching Distinction Track.”
Father Perez KOC earns state awards
Father Perez Knights of Columbus Council 1444’s Grand Knight Ed Fineran recently accepted four awards on behalf of the Council at the Illinois State Knights of Columbus Council Convention in Schaumburg.
The Council was named first in its class for the Highest Collections per Capita for the Drive for Those with Intellectual Disabilities. Similarly, the Council ranked number one in the Highest Collections per Capita for the Religious Vocations Program. The Council added 37 net members to its roster during the fraternal year placing it first with the High Net Membership Gain and first in Highest Percentage Membership at 246.67%.
In addition, the Council’s field agent, Jack Springmire, was recognized as one of the top recruiters in the state.
University of Iowa spring dean’s list
Alsip: Joseph Feldner; Chicago: Thomas Hermanson, Alexis Marinopoulos, Neil Riggio; Evergreen Park: Kallista Elwood, Jeremy Moriarty, Aileen O’Rourke, Brooke Scanlon; Flossmoor: Jane Ermshler, Olivia Fortman; Frankfort: Lucas Garcia-Bandera, Jessica Hoey, Mikayla Howell, Matthew Lombardo, Ellie Pipikios, Lana Prainito, Charlie Scheerer, Sophia Sladek, Mitchell Steck, Emma Zednick; Hickory Hills: Oliver Papay, Michal Stanisz, Amelia Szczerba; Homer Glen: Gabriela Fiedor, Megan Flemming, Emma Harris; Homewood: Graham MacLeod, Charlotte McManus; David Markusic, William Orban, Katelyn Sojka; Hickory Hills: Robert Mullan; Justice: Jessica Miller; Lockport: Logan Kaminski, Brenna Labus, Gabriella Lewis, Colin Majewski, Jack Moran, Ryan O’Neil, Jayden Prince, Alexander Pribnow, Michael Strahanoski, Hailey Timosciek; Midlothian: Jakeline Murillo, Justin Skrzelowski; Mokena: Lucas Dunlap, Jordan Kane, Anthony Rocco Narcissi, Juliet O’Connor, Ryan Paris, Maximus Pignotti, Anthony Prucha, Benjamin Ruiz, Rachel Svancarek; Monee: Dominick Esquivel; New Lenox: Mia Fares, Meghan Harrington, Connor Hogan, Morgan Hujda, Madison Plesek, Angelina Rafalski, Emma Rimkunas, Isaac Simpkins, Emma Soof, Samantha Triner, Samantha Youngren; Oak Forest: Camryn Griffin, James Ostrowski; Oak Lawn: Emily Jordan, Elizabeth McGrath; Oak Lawn: Lauryn Moloney, Vanessa Vihnanek; Olympia Fields: Alexandria Edison; Orland Park: Jenna Filmanowicz, Rose Foley, James Gardner, Kathleen Harring, Amanda Lindgren, Luke Paciga, Haley Ryan, Kimberly Savage, Katherine Scuderi, Erica Winjum, Allen Wolf; Palos Heights: Allison Duffy, Courtney Hoefler, Sydney Hurley, John O’Leary, Shannon Stokes; Richton Park: Jaryn Houston; Tinley Park: Lauren Gallivan, Katherine Grogan, Connor Koehler, Hannah Lipski, Michael Mannion, Isabella Martino, Kayla Michau, Olivia Nilsson, Claire O’Connell, Joy Oludemi, Anthony Papadatos, Emma Siegel; Worth: Conor Clancy
University of Iowa spring president’s list
Chicago: Hailey Murray; Evergreen Park: Andrew Corona; Frankfort: Sydney Smithgall; Homer Glen: Liam Horan; Homewood: Asya Lengel; Lockport: Elisabeth Nacino, Sydney Stewart; Mokena: Elaina Brucato; New Lenox: Audrey Balester, Jaiden Lawless, Megan Mindy; Orland Park: Cariana Kut; Tinley Park: James Farrelly
Iowa State University spring dean’s list
Crete: Cayden James Spillers; Evergreen Park: Abigail Colleen Rech, Rachel Marie Witte; Homewood: Delaney Lyn Eaheart, Charles Henry Franc, Chloe Nadine Johnson; Lansing: Kailyn Christina Hayes, Khalil K. Jeter; Matteson: Hayley Corinne Doerr, Nadia Nicole Rapley; Monee: Nicholas Melbert, Rocco Raymond; Oak Lawn: Louis Michael Leahy, Klaudia Suwaj, Jack Weiland; Orland Park: Daniel Stanley Pytel, Katherine Pytel, Thomas Joseph Pytel, Abby Rose Witek; Park Forest: Laurna A. Evans Lindsay, Lauren Alexis McDonald; Tinley Park: Annie Maureen Egan, Benjamin Tobin, Jenna Catherine Wols, Emma Jiayun Zatkalik
University of Maryland Global Campus spring dean’s list
Crete: William Johnson, Jerome Rowley; New Lenox: Justin Brown; Oak Lawn: Qazeem Ajao; Sauk Village: Heidi Davila; Tinley Park: Janna Smithson; University Park: Ranika Richards
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