Rush rewards kids with trip to circus

Elementary school students numbering 12,000 attended an awards ceremony and private Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey circus performance at the United Center after earning tickets through a teaching program sponsored by Rush University Medical Center as part of its Circus in the Classroom educational effort in West Side schools.

            “Tickets are earned, not given,” explained Reginald “Hats” Adams, director of community affairs at Rush. Students who attend schools in the Science and Math Excellence (SAME) Network sponsored by Rush earned points toward attending the circus as they worked through Circus in the Classroom, a circus-based curriculum suited for use throughout the entire school year. 

            “The SAME Network provides the same educational experience quality routinely available in wealthier and suburban schools,” Adams said. “We worked with the Chicago Public Schools and Ringling Bros. to develop Circus in the Classroom as a creative approach to generate interest in math and science and ultimately in medical and health-oriented careers.”

            Participating teachers used the circus to explore science and math principles behind performers’ feats. The program provided circus themed materials with a variety of lessons in language arts, mathematics, physical development, health, science, and social studies.

Approximately 30 elementary schools, both public and private, take part in the circus program.

Formed in 1990, the SAME Network serves 65,000 students from preschool through high school.  Rush faculty and staff volunteers work with students and teachers at the 45 SAME Network schools on special programs, including internships, science fairs, and workshops.

 

Amcore Bank opens branch

Amcore Bank recently opened its newest branch at 1033 W. Van Buren St., Suite 1000.

Amcore, which is headquartered in Rockford, IL, launched a branch initiative in 2001 and now operates 27 locations in the Chicago area; this new branch is its first within the Chicago city limits. The 8,000 square foot, full-service facility offers retail, commercial, mortgage, and wealth management services.

"Amcore hires employees who know the local markets and are experts in their field," said Nicholas Begley, Amcore regional market president.

The Van Buren branch staff consists of Bilijana Kovacevic-Moore, branch manager; Erica Hugunin, Erica Knox, and Vistina Brown, bank service representatives; Teresa Faidley, commercial team leader; Kelli Steele, commercial relationship manager; Stacy Lewis, commercial sales assistant; Perry Lakhani, treasury management relationship manager; and Todd Younger, market president.

Lobby hours are 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday. For more information log on to www.AMCORE.com.

 

IIT offers free tuition to low-income students

The Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT) will offer Chicago Public School graduates who meet IIT's admissions requirements and whose parents or guardians have household family incomes of less than $40,000 the opportunity to attend the university with full financial support for all tuition, books, and fees, board of trustees Chair John W. Rowe and IIT President Lewis Collens announced.

"This initiative is designed to address the very real dilemmas experienced by families struggling to balance rising living expenses and the cost of higher education," Collens said. "This program can also make a lasting
impact on the growing national crisis in math and science education."

"This program is going to make a big difference in the lives of some of our best students," said Mayor Richard M. Daley. "The Chicago Public Schools have made tremendous progress in improving classroom learning and raising the aspirations of their students. This scholarship program is another big step in the right direction."

For information, log on to www.iit.edu or call (312) 567-3080.

 

Haymarket promotes Leo Miller  

Leo C. Miller, director of risk management and inpatient support services for Haymarket Center, has been named vice president for support services.

Miller has worked at Haymarket Center for three years. He came to the substance abuse recovery facility from United Airlines, where he was an employee assistance counselor. Prior to that, he served as director of employee assistance services for Catholic Health Partners in Chicago. He also is a visiting faculty member for the School for New Learning at DePaul University.

Miller is a board member and immediate past president of the Employee Assistance Professional Association, Northern Illinois Chapter. He also is the former chair of the National Catholic Council on Alcoholism and a licensed clinical professional counselor.

Haymarket Center is located at 932 W. Washington St.

 

Chinatown Parade set 

Join the lunar new year celebration for the Year of the Boar, 4705, in Chinatown on Sunday, Feb. 18. The day kicks off with a parade starting at 12:45 p.m. on Wentworth Avenue at Cermak Road that processes down to 24th Street. Parade watchers will enjoy music, floats, lion teams, a 100-foot dragon, and appearances by Miss Chinatown and Miss Friendship Ambassador.

The Chinese year is based on a lunar calendar. Celebrations for each year begin with a new moon and continue for 14 days until the Full Moon of Lantern Festival, which closes the festivities.

Just before the lunar new year’s eve, each household typically cleans its home thoroughly, sweeping out the dirt to remove any bad luck in preparation for the new year.

Overseas, many Chinese journey back to their family homes for a reunion dinner on lunar new year’s eve that typically takes place in the eldest family member’s home. During this dinner, not all the food is eaten; some is reserved to ensure prosperity for the new year.

Ancient Chinese believed that on the eve of the new year a beast or “nian” emerged to take the lives of people in their homes. As the beast feared loud noises, people set off firecrackers in front of doorways and windows to scare him before he could enter the house.

                --Susan Fong

 

South Central Bank opens Pilsen facility

South Central Bank has expanded to Pilsen, opening a new facility at 1400 W. 18th St. at the intersection of Loomis and 18th Streets and Blue Island Avenue. The facility features an ATM, Spanish-speaking tellers and personal bankers, and a mortgage representative for those with a Matricula (Republic of Mexico ID) card.

To celebrate the branch’s opening, South Central Bank is offering free money transfers to Mexico using the Directo a Mexico system; the bank also provides 50 pesos to open a checking account in Mexico. Other services are free checking accounts, certificates of deposit (CDs) that pay 6%, and passbook accounts.

The bank’s main location is at 525 W. Roosevelt Rd., and it operates branches in Bridgeport at 3032 S. Halsted St., Chinatown at 2335 S. Wentworth Ave., and the West Loop at 160 N. Morgan St. New branches are planned at the intersections of 35th and Halsted Streets and Grand and Damen Avenues.

 For more information, contact First Vice President Antonio Romero at (312) 491-7173 or log on to www.BankSouthCentral.com.



Renewal program for married couples on Feb. 17

Married couples are invited to a free marriage program and dinner at St. Mary of Perpetual Help entitled “Eat, Drink, and be Married.”

The first program will begin at 5 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 17, in the St. Mary’s Parish Center Hall inside the school building at 1040 W. 32nd Pl. A free pizza dinner with beer, wine, and dessert will be served. Marriage expert Jack Berkemeyer will speak on the topic “Marriage and the Movies.”

Married and engaged couples from all faiths are welcome. Married couples also are invited to a 4 p.m. Mass, in which they will be invited to renew their marriage vows. All attendees will receive a special renewal certificate.

The program is free, but reservations are required. Call (773) 927-6646 or log on to www.SMPH125.com.