Tidal Wave 2022 Celebrates 80 Years of St. Edward CCHS
Patricia SzPekowski, Observer Correspondent
April 21, 2022
ELGIN—St. Edward Central Catholic High School in Elgin has been blessed with a school community that continually supports its mission to nurture the discipleship of Jesus Christ and to promote excellence in Catholic education.
Its signature fundraising event, Tidal Wave, was ramped up even further this year as the school celebrated its 80th birthday, albeit one year late due to the pandemic, at the Riverside Receptions in Geneva on April 9.
As over 175 alumni, sponsors, and friends entered the courtyard, they were greeted by the school’s talented Jazz Band. It was an evening of new and old friendships renewed as alumni arrived from every decade since 1950 to celebrate St. Ed’s.
Joe West served as master of ceremonies of the event and Brian Tekampe, superintendent/principal, St. Edward Central Catholic High School and
AnnMarie Dufelmeier, assistant principal of the school, recognized the 2022 Tidal Wave Honorees.
Recipients of this year’s four honors were: Co-Alumni of the Year, Msgr. Daniel Deutsch ‘90 and Christine (Hoffman) Rejmen ‘88; St. Gregory the Great, AnnMarie (Wojciechowski) Dufelmeier “98; Loyal Order of St. Edward, Mike Rolando; and Patron of the Year, Dan and Jennifer Davis with Davisware, LLC.
Another big part of the evening was the excitement of drawings and silent auction items to benefit the evening’s special fundraising causes for the Guardian Angel Fund and Athletic Improvement Fund.
Father Robert Blood, St. Edward’s full-time spiritual director, spoke of the need for the Guardian Angel scholarship fund. “I never met the donors; they were probably at an event like this, but those people changed my life forever allowing me to attend Catholic high school, which led me to the priesthood,” he said.
“You can make the same difference in the life of a young person today by donating to our Guardian Angel fund,” Father Blood said.
Hearts were touched and guests enthusiastically donated over $17,000 to support current and future students in need.
Athletic director PJ White spoke about the needs of the athletic department, where 80 percent of students at St. Ed’s participate in an athletic program.
“We are all in this room tonight because we have a passion for St. Edward’s, our students, and for high school athletics,” White proclaimed.
“Let’s turn that into something special right here. Tonight, you can contribute to important updates like new hoops and a gym floor by donating to the Athletic Improvement Fund.”
The evening’s guests responded as $46,000 was raised for these two efforts.
Sponsor response to the annual Tidal Wave event has gratefully been a success over the years. This year was no exception as $52,500 was raised prior to the event from friends of St. Edward.
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