CHICAGO HEIGHTS, Ill. (WLS) -- This week, we feature Marian Catholic High School on ABC7's Friday Flyover, celebrating high school sports!
PHOTOS: Marian Catholic High School
PHOTOS: Friday Flyover
FUN FACTS
Marian Catholic will host a Super Shadow Day for 8th Graders on Monday, October 8, and Open Houses on Wednesday, October 10 and Sunday, November 18. For more information, visit https://www.marianchs.com. All are welcome!
School History/Information:
Completion of Marian Catholic High School was the fulfillment of a dream for Monsignor Walter Croarkin, former pastor of St. Agnes Parish in Chicago Heights, Illinois. Seven years before the construction of the school, Monsignor Croarkin enlisted the aid of Samuel Cardinal Stritch, and organized the priests and laypeople of the area into committees to support the project. The entire community embraced his vision of a Catholic high school that would serve the families of Chicago Heights, Flossmoor, Homewood, Park Forest, Steger, Hazel Glen and Matteson.
On January 6, 1957, ground was broken for Marian Catholic at the corner of Joe Orr Road and Ashland Avenue, the site of the former Chicago Heights Airport. In September of 1958, Marian Catholic High School opened under the leadership of the Dominican Sisters of Springfield with a class of 205 freshmen, a staff of ten, and a tuition of $150 a year.
Since then, the original building has undergone several modifications including multiple classroom additions, a convent and chapel, the Monsignor Croarkin Auditorium, Spartan Stadium, a fine arts center, a second gym, the Sister M. Paul McCaughey, OP Leadership Center, a media center, and an engineering lab/Maker Space.
Today, Marian Catholic serves approximately 1000 Scholars with a Soul from over 40 communities throughout Chicago and Northwest Indiana. The Dominican Sisters of Springfield continue to sponsor Marian Catholic where students are called to seek truth, exhibit personal responsibility, cultivate their individual talents, and demonstrate ethical leadership and Christian service.
Famous alums
Sr. Mary Paul McCaughey, OP 67, Instructional Assistant Faculty and Coordinator Catholic Educational Leadership DePaul University, former Superintendent of Schools for the Chicago Archdiocese.
Dr. Mark Talamonti 74, Professor of Clinical Surgery, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and Chairman, Department of Surgery, at NorthShore University HealthSystem, was named in Chicago Magazine's Special Medical Report for January 2008 as one of the "Top Docs" in the Chicago area.
NFL players Mike Prior 81 (Green Bay Packers, Indianapolis Colts, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers), John Holecek 90 (Buffalo Bills, San Diego Chargers and Atlanta Falcons), Rodney Harrison 91 (San Diego Chargers and New England Patriots), and Dennis Kelly 07 (drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles, currently playing with the Tennessee Titans).
Television producer, screenwriter, and author Shonda Rhimes 87
Paul Pabst 87, Executive Producer of the Dan Patrick Show.
Actor Colin Egglesfield 91
DePaul Head Volleyball Coach Marie Zidek 02
NFL Tight Ends Coach for the Texas Titans, Tim Kelly04
Whitney Wandland 09, Miss Illinois USA
NBA player Tyler Ulis 14 (Golden State Warriors and Phoenix Suns)
Awards, accolades
School colors
Black and white, accented with gold
Mascot
Spartans/"Sparty"
School song
Fight on, you Marian Spartans,
Black and White and Gold,
Fight, you Marian Spartans,
True and strong and bold,
Spartans, we stand with you,
For you all the way,
Hey!, Hey!, Hey!,
On to another Spartans vic-tor-y,
V-I-C-T-O-R-Y,
Victory, Victory,
That's our cry!
Tonight's Varsity Football Game against Marist High School is at home at 6 p.m. on Dave Mattio Field in Spartan Stadium. The JV team plays Marist on Saturday at 9 a.m. at Marist.
To find out more about Marian Catholic High School, visit www.marianchs.com.