The Illinois Professional Golf Association (IPGA) has selected Maryville Golf Academy Manager Juan Espejo as the 2020 Illinois PGA Distinguished Service Award winner, an award he also received in 2015. The IPGA made the announcement Tuesday,  February 16.

The award honors Espejo’s leadership and humanitarian qualities, including his integrity, sportsmanship and enthusiasm for the game of golf. He has worked at the Maryville Golf Academy for 26 years and shares his love for the game with youth, ages 12 to 18, and provides golf lessons and instructions in caddying, club repair, golf ball recycling, golf facility operations and tournament management.

“It humbles me to receive this award. I view it as simply a reflection of Maryville Academy where we are working together to care for children and strengthen families,” Espejo said. “While working to be present, I am very lucky to be in the position to help a person who might just need a little smile in their lives and witness it. It’s a great feeling.”

The Maryville Golf Academy (MVA) was established in 1994 to offer the Maryville children residing at the Des Plaines campus the opportunity to work, play and practice golf at neighboring PGA-led facilities. Its players are exposed to the values and lessons inherent in the game such as respect, etiquette, honesty, perseverance, responsibility, discipline and sportsmanship.

Espejo has been involved with PGA HOPE and executes the annual IPGA/Maryville Gleason Cup Invitational. He is involved with the Western Golf Association’s Evans Scholars program and raises funds for the Evanston Par Club initiative. He is also a mentor for the WGA Caddie Program.

The 2020 Distinguished Service Award is Espejo’s fourth Illinois PGA Special Award. He is a two-time Illinois PGA Youth Player Development Award winner (1998, 1999) and is now a two-time Illinois PGA Distinguished Service Award Winner (2015, 2020). Espejo was the inaugural recipient of this award in 2015.

Mark Labiak (Ruth Lake Country Club) has been selected as the 2020 Illinois PGA Professional of the Year and the following are the 2020 Special Award winners:

• Mark Labiak, PGA (Ruth Lake Country Club) – Professional of the Year
• Chris Green, PGA (Glen View Club) – Teacher of the Year
• Mark Hirn, PGA (Bloomington Country Club) – Assistant Professional of the Year
• Dan Shelden, PGA (Ruth Lake Country Club) – Youth Player Development Award
• Vince Juarez, PGA (KemperSports) – Bill Strausbaugh Award
• Nick Papadakes, PGA (Onwentsia Club) – PGA Professional Development Award
• Connie DeMattia, PGA (Cantigny Golf) – Player Development Award
• Don Habjan, PGA (Makray Memorial Golf Club) – Bill Heald Career Achievement Award
• Ian Brown, PGA (Butterfield Country Club) – Merchandiser of the Year – Private
• Juan Espejo, PGA (Maryville Golf Academy) – Distinguished Service Award
• Jamie Nieto, PGA (The Preserve at Oak Meadows) – Deacon Palmer Award
• Mike Hainline, PGA (Odyssey Golf Foundation Golf Course) – Patriot Award
• Mike Williams, PGA (Landscapes Unlimited) – PGA Executive of the Year

“We are fortunate to have such an outstanding group of PGA Professionals that make up the Illinois PGA Section. Selecting a handful of members for these prestigious awards is never easy, but these professionals have shown extraordinary dedication to growing and improving the game of golf for everyone within the boundaries of the Section,” said Carrie Williams, executive director of the Illinois Section, in a press release. “This year’s Special Award winners exemplify all that PGA Professionals have to offer as experts in the business and game of golf.”

“Every great dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world.” – Harriet Tubman

Maryville announces the promotion of two longtime members of its leadership council. Nina Aliprandi and Evelyn Smith are promoted to new associate executive directors who, in addition to running their respective programs, will now take up new leadership responsibilities with the Maryville Board of Directors, with government agencies, and with community partners.  They will also lead Maryville’s initiative to assess its current organizational culture and advance diversity, equity and inclusion.

Aliprandi began her ministry at Maryville in 1986, working with the children in the homes. From 1991 through 2005, she worked as a coordinator managing shelter, diagnostic and residential programs.  In 2005, Aliprandi became director of what is now called the Family Services Division and will continue this work in her new role.  She has received certifications for CPR, first aid, infection control, medication education and monitoring, and crisis prevention intervention.

She earned her Bachelor of Science in Law Enforcement Administration degree from Western Illinois University and her Master of Arts Community and Family Counseling degree from Northeastern Illinois University.

Evelyn Smith began her ministry at Maryville in 1991.  Smith started as a family educator, then took up the increasing responsibilities as assistant program manager, case manager, program manager and program consultant.  In 2005, Smith became director of what is now called the Residential Services Division.  She, too, will continue this work.

Smith earned her Bachelor of Science in Business Management degree from Southern University and her Master’s in Applied Professional Studies degree from DePaul University and her Master’s in Bible Studies degree from Moody Bible Institute.

“Evelyn and Nina are two leaders who have a dream to change the world for our children and their families.  Now they will continue to reach for the stars for our children in their new positions,” said Maryville Executive Director Sr. Catherine M. Ryan, O.S.F.

In addition to their new roles as associate executive directors, Aliprandi oversees the Children’s Healthcare Center, Casa Imani, St. Monica Home and the Catholic Youth Organization (CYO) programs while Smith supervises Casa Salama, St. Dominic Savio and St. Teresa of Calcutta programs.

DES PLAINES – Maryville Academy is pleased to learn that it has been awarded a Residential Capital Improvement Grant of $200,000 by the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (IDCFS).

Maryville will be using the money to expand its Casa Imani program in Bartlett to a new location in Berwyn at St. Mary of Celle where infrastructure work, specifically the installation of a fire alarm sprinkler system and other health and safety related items, will be supported.

“We are deeply grateful to the department for standing together with Maryville as we expand our Casa Imani program,” said Maryville Associate Executive Director Nina Aliprandi. “The result in benefits to young mothers in our care and their children will be great. The shared goals and vision between DCFS and Maryville will certainly create a brighter future for these young families.”

St. Mary of Celle is stage 2 of the Casa Imani program that addresses the special needs of pregnant and parenting young women who are at-risk, their children and families. It will prepare young women for transition to a temporary or independent living environment.

In addition to providing safe housing and vital assistance related to school, counseling, life skills training, health services and case management under the Casa Imani program, the expansion at St. Mary of Celle will provide additional resources around parenting and career development will be added with an emphasis on keeping these young families together in a comprehensive and holistic way.

Maryville, through its longstanding partnership with DCFS, continues to work with the department by enhancing existing program models and developing new programs that help the youth and their families. It has been Maryville and DCFS’s common goal to build a safe, nurturing and resilient families. Maryville provides facilities and residential programming that meet, if not exceed, the standards set by DCFS.

Maryville is one of six residential and group home service providers across the state that received the grant to increase bed capacity and improve physical facilities to support medically complex youth and youth with severe mental health issues.

The Residential Capital Improvement Grants were recently funded by Governor JB Pritzker and the General Assembly. Aside from increasing bed capacity in Illinois, the grants are designed to increase the capacity of youth with challenging health conditions to receive treatment and to help ensure programs continue to serve vulnerable youth. These grants do not cover the entire cost of the project but complement funds from the organizations and will allow projects to be started and completed quicker.

State Senator Julie A. Morrison issued a statement on Maryville receiving the said grant. Read more on her website –http://senatorjuliemorrison.com/state…/14-news/latest-news#

https://www.dailyherald.com/submitted/20201007/jen-school-gets-ready-for-reopening-with-blended-classes

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After doing remote learning for more than six months, Maryville Jen School, led by Principal Anne Craig, has made the decision to have all its students return to the Des Plaines campus Monday, Oct. 19. It will be a blended remote learning plan, with half of the students physically attending at a time.

The plan, according to Craig, is to rotate the students. There will be a gold and blue week with students attending four classrooms each week, splitting them in two groups; while half the students are in-person, half will be remote. To prepare for the Oct. 19 reopening, Jen School faculty will return Oct. 15 for training.

“The start of school year 2020-2021 has by far been the most unique start to any school year in memory,” said Craig. “None of us could have imagined kicking off the new school year from our homes, let alone being online six months ago when we first heard of COVID-19 and social distancing.”

Craig added that despite the many challenges, Jen School students, faculty and staff have made the school year already successful with their understanding, assistance, and flexibility.

“Our students have done a remarkable job adjusting to this new way of learning, engaging and taking ownership of their education,” said Craig. “They have shown true resiliency during these unpredictable times, and I am so impressed and proud of them.”

Craig thanks staff, students and their parents for their patience as reopening plans are continually developed and refined.

“Our priority continues to be, and will remain, the health and safety of everyone,” Craig said.

Moving forward, she said, she and her staff will continue to look to state and local agencies for guidance to finalize plans.

Since remote learning was implemented in mid-March, Craig said that faculty and staff remained connected with their students through weekly home visits. Check-ins were performed on porches or outdoors while practicing safety and social distancing.

“We made sure that our students have what they need in terms of Wi-Fi connection, school supplies, food and other necessities,” said Craig.

Aside from participating in academic classes, students had vocational classes where they designed 3D projects online.

The physical absence of students this summer did not deter longtime volunteer master gardeners to continue with the Jen Organic Garden Program. The garden yielded a successful harvest and Jen School was able to donate 1,000 pounds of produce to Des Plaines and other local food pantries, and put together food baskets for students that were delivered to their homes.

Jen School is recognized as a National Association of Special Education Teachers School of Excellence seven years in a row, from 2014 to 2020. It strives to provide learning experiences through an instructor-mediated, experiential learning process. It believes and promotes lifelong learning with a strong focus on social and emotional growth.

Jen School provides integrated educational services for students ages 10 to 21 with emotional, behavioral, and learning disabilities.

For more information, visit www.jenschool.org.