ROCKFORD—Boylan Central Catholic High School honored 10 individuals who embody the spirit and mission of the school at the Alumni Recognition Awards Sept. 15.

 

The Veritas, the school’s highest honor, recognizes alumni who exemplify Boylan’s mission of service in their community. This year’s award was given to Tom Graceffa ’67 who graduated with honors in 1972 from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign with a bachelor's degree in landscape architecture.

 He opened his own studio in 1974, which he and his associates operated for 42 years.

 

Honorary Alumnus status, given to a non-graduate who demonstrates the same qualities as the Veritas recipient, was conferred on Kathy Giovingo. A graduate of Loras College, she serves on the board of directors for many local non-for-profit organizations and served on the cabinet at Holy Family Church, which raised $8.2M for campus improvements and buildings.

 

The Outstanding Teacher Award is given each year to current or past faculty members: this year’s recipients were Jennifer Kazmerski. who has taught Spanish at Boylan for 23 years and is the World Language Department Chair, and to Michael Wedwick, Jr. ’01, who is in his 11th year teaching theology at Boylan, and also has coached boys basketball, cross country, and track and field.

 

The Alumni Excellence Award is given to alumni who make a difference in their community, church or business. Awarded this year were: Pat Derry ’65; Rosie Scalise Sheridan ’70; Elizabeth Hand ’90; Brent Moberg ’95; and Father Robert Blood ‘11.

 

The Young Alumnus Award, for alumni who have graduated within the last 15 years, was presented to Peter Schmeling ’12 who now works as the fifth generation within the 119-year-old Schmeling Construction Co. in Rockford.