Past Highlights

Explore some of the Morris Community High School Education Foundation's highlights from the past few years! From impactful programs and student support initiatives to community partnerships and fundraising successes, see how we’re making a difference.

Group of smiling people holding books outside store.

2024-2025 Past Highlights

Students in Mrs. Benson's Biology classes piloted the MiniOne Electrophoresis kits donated by The MCHS Educational Foundation. This type of innovative biotechnology allows MCHS students to experience the science and techniques that are used in various STEM careers.
In this lab, students were loading samples of simulated DNA that would fluoresce to show the inheritance of normal or "diseased" individuals. This allowed them to use the same technology and procedures used in newborn screenings for certain heritable diseases.
Many students reported this being their favorite lab this school year!

Mrs. Flanagan (left, in black) presents a grant award from the Education Foundation to the MCHS Spanish teachers for a field trip for their classes (Feb. 2025)

Group of students and teachers with Puerto Rican flag.

Group of students posing inside a theater lobby.

Donation of a mini-grant check (Ms. Flanagan handing off the check to Mr. Johnson) and the students participating in the Student-Athlete Leadership Conference funded, in part, with the mini-grant.

Four people holding a check in an office.

People gathered in a classroom with tables and chairs.

Morris Community High School Education Foundation Annual Casino Night was held Saturday, January 25th 2025

Morris High Annual Casino Night, January 25, 2025

Foundation gives $1,000 check to MCHS Principal.

MCHS Science Department receives grant for equipment.

2019-2024 Past Highlights

The Education Foundation’s anticipated April 2020 Casino Night, the first large fundraising event the group plans to host, is abruptly canceled due to the Covid Pandemic and the need for social distancing. The Education Foundation volunteers limit their meetings and activities during these years.

2018-2019 Past Highlights

Hall of Distinction – our next induction event for the following individuals will be on Saturday, February 2nd, 2019.

Graduates:
Sue Morse (1955), Richard (Dick) G. Steele (1953), Tara Stiles (1996)

Honorary:
Dr. Hugo Avalos, Joe Schmitz

Group visits National Museum of Mexican Art, 2019.

The board continues to award grants for worthwhile projects such as for school-wide vision-screening equipment, a Reader’s Theatre Program, the Math Department’s data collection and modeling for a hands-on approach to graph analysis, and Library / Media Center updates.

Morris High School nurse conducts vision screening.

Mini Grants:
– Band practice mats and stands
– Reader’s Theater Program
– Math Department’s data collection & modeling for a hands on approach to graph analysis
– Library / Media Center updates

– Received donations “In Memory of…” to help fund future grants, scholarships and other learning opportunities for students
– Partnered with Mayor Kopczick for a fundraiser at Hook’s Hideaway raising over $550.00 for the foundation

In August of 2019, a donation of $25,000 toward the renovation of the Morris Community High School auditorium was gifted to MCHS by Carol and Dick Walker in memory of Carol’s late uncle, Robert A. Johnson. The gift was specifically earmarked for auditorium renovations to honor Johnson’s love of theater and art.

Three people standing outside Morris Community High School

2017-2018 Past Highlights

The second Hall of Distinction Induction Ceremony occurs at MCHS on Saturday, January 27, 2018. Graduates who are inducted are the Honorable James F. Holderman (1964), Arthur Hornsby (1956), Colonel James E. Hougas, Jr. (1975), Dr. James Leonard (1973), and Kenneth Sereno (1944).

Kenneth’s wife, Joan Sereno, is awarded honorary induction status in the Hall of Distinction, and Principal Hussey also awards her an honorary high school diploma. Joan (as happened to many young people at the time) had been forced to leave school early to help out with the war effort during WWII.

Elderly woman and man hugging in a gymnasium.

Later in January 2018, Mayor Dick Kopczick partners with the board in a small fundraising event at Hook’s Hideaway

Fundraiser for MCHS, January 27 at Hook's Hideaway.

The board awards mini-grants for worthwhile learning opportunities as requested by teachers. Specifically, the board pays for special culinary classes for the GAVC Culinary Arts program, purchases a Spectrophotometer for the Science Department, and pays for a field trip for freshman students to Anderson’s Bookshop in Naperville in order to promote literacy. Practice pads were purchased for the band, as well.

Dr. John Roth, Jr. and Mrs. Judie Roth generously fund a greenhouse via a donation to the Education Foundation. This gift allows students to enhance their learning in several STEM classes.

2016-2017 Past Highlights

January 14, 2017, the inaugural Hall of Distinction Induction Ceremony takes place at the high school. Inducted are MCHS graduates Ed Brady (1980), Dr. Mark Ciota (1982), Dan Darlington (1968), Dr. John Roth, Jr. (1958), Jimmy Stafford (1982), and Major Elizabeth Talarico (1994). Honorary inductees are Jim & Carol Baum, Joseph Corsello, Shirley Kiss, and Charles “Pete” Muffler.

2015-2016 Past Highlights

The Board solicits nominations for the Hall of Distinction. Various community leaders are consulted, and the Grundy County Historical Society is one resource for researching prominent community members. Planning is under way for the first Induction Ceremony.

The MCHS Education Foundation accepts a generous donation of $2,000 from the 2016 Senior Class. This donation helps to create the Hall of Distinction in early 2017.

Pictured (L to R): Board Secretary, J.C. Lawson; Board President, Scott Shannon; Student Council President, Megan Carey; Student Council Secretary, Autumn See; Student Council VP, Nick Bonomo

2014-2015 Past Highlights

At the suggestion of Superintendent Patrick Halloran and with the support of Principal Kelly Hussey, the MCHS D101 Board of Education approves the creation of the MCHS Education Foundation. Planning meetings, primarily attended by D101 Board of Education members and administrators, are held throughout the summer of 2014. By the spring of 2015, interested community members joined the efforts. A volunteer Education Foundation Executive Board was convened, and the first order of business was to determine a mission statement, set by-laws, and clarify goals. The D101 Board agrees that two members would serve as liaisons to the Education Foundation, and teachers Samantha Shannon and Diane Lincoln volunteer to be liaisons between the teachers and the foundation.

The MCHS Education Foundation seeks to support all the students and staff of the high school and grants funds for educational opportunities that will benefit the most students at the high school. Recognizing the importance of alumni outreach, members of the MCHS Education Foundation draft plans for the Hall of Distinction, and Principal Hussey establishes a location in the high school building to display the names of future inductees.