Blog Posts - St. Mary Catholic School - DeKalb, Il.

Scott deOliveira - Class of 1990

12/11/2019

This week’s SMS Alumni spotlight is Scott deOliveira, who graduated from St. Mary School in 1990.

Scott was born, raised, and educated in DeKalb, IL at St. Mary School and DeKalb High School. He attended the College of Business at Northern Illinois University where he obtained a degree in Marketing. Throughout high school and college, Scott worked for the DeKalb Park District seasonally in a variety of capacities. Upon graduating from college, he worked for a data analytics firm in Naperville for a few years. Scott then found his career path lead back to the DeKalb Park District where for the last 15 years he held leadership positions with the District in marketing, aquatics, golf, IT, and banquet operations. He recently joined the PrairieView Golf Club and The Byron Forest Preserve District as the Assistant General Manager of both PrairieView Golf Club and the new Toptracer facility that is under construction and set to open in early 2020.

In his free time, Scott enjoys spending time with family and friends, golfing, playing guitar, and attending concerts and sporting events.

Congratulations Scott- SMS is very proud of your accomplishments!

Zachary Maeder - Class of 2011

12/11/2019

I went to St. Mary’s from Preschool through 8th grade and graduated in 2011, since then I attended DeKalb High School, graduating in 2015. While in high school I played football, basketball, and track. Also during my time at DHS I was involved in the Graphics Club where I developed multiple skills I use today. Which also ended up getting me a job at a local sign shop, Banner Up Signs, that I held all throughout college. Once I graduated I followed my parents and older sister by enrolling at Northern Illinois University. From NIU I received a degree in Visual Communication (Graphic Design). From my time at NIU I was not just a student, I became very involved on campus. I joined Sigma Nu Fraternity where I became Vice President of the organization. This position lead to me being Executive Vice President of the InterFraternity Council that oversees all Fraternities on NIU’s Campus. I was also drawn to join the Campus Activity Board organization where I had an internship with for Graphic Design. These involvement opportunities allowed me to network with amazing and talented people. The skills I developed and events that I was exposed to while at NIU helped shape me in every way possible. Upon graduation I was quite fortunate that Banner Up Signs offered me a full-time position which started right away. Working all throughout college and accepting a job right away allowed me to buy my first house at the age of 22. In addition to having a full-time job, I also work for my older sister's photography and video company as her main videographer (mackenziemaeder.com). Also in the past month or so I have launched my own graphic design business that I am currently growing and expanding (zacharymaeder.com).

Adam Wilson - Class of 2011

11/20/2019

I moved to New York City about 3 months ago. I am pursuing my dreams as a music artist, producer, performer, and writer, indulging in all things creative. I am also working in a Michelin Star restaurant titled Gramercy Tavern.

Katelyn Sullivan - Class of 2005

11/15/2019

Reflecting back on my years in school, I feel confident in saying that SMS gave me the strongest foundation for my future. St. Mary School was my home away from home from kindergarten through eighth grade (class of 2005)and for that I will always be grateful. It was in middle school language arts class where I realized that my love for reading, writing, and helping others could all be turned into a career. Ever since then, I made it my goal to make that happen. After graduating from DeKalb High School in 2009 I moved to Illinois State University and studied middle level education with endorsements in language arts, reading, and social studies. In 2013 I began my teaching career in Plainfield School District 202 as a long term substitute which allowed me to gain experience in classroom settings from 5th-8th grades. In the fall of 2014 I found my home at John F Kennedy Middle School in Plainfield and have taught 6th and 7th grade language arts, 8th grade communications, computers, and reading intervention courses across various grade levels. I recently started my seventh year of teaching and have also served as our student council advisor for the last few years. I am forever grateful for the foundation that St. Mary School provided me and how it shaped me into who I am today.

Sarah Friedlund - Class of 2010

11/6/2019

I graduated from St. Mary in 2010 and went on to attend high school at DeKalb High. During my time in high school I played softball , volleyball and basketball, and was able to receive a softball scholarship to attend Judson University. At Judson University I played for the softball team where we were able to make is to the National Christian Collegiate Athletic Association National Tournament four years in a row and placed in the top 5 all four years. I graduated from Judson University in 2019 with a Bachelors Degree in Interdisciplinary Communications. During my time in college I coached a young women’s travel softball team for the Wasco Diamonds in Elburn and led a high school girls youth group at Willow Creek Community Church. While finishing up my college courses I worked for Townsend Realty and Management from May 2018-September 2019. I just began a new job at CHS, and I am excited to see where life takes me!

Mary Krupp - Class of 1958

10/30/2019

We moved to DeKalb in 1957 so I attended St. Mary School for 8th grade only. My teacher was Sister Mary Eusebia, who was also the principal. I learned so much, especially in math and language arts. I took piano lessons from Sister Mary St. Jane until my sophomore year in high school. I was also persuaded by my parents to join the band, but the only instrument left was trombone. I hated it!!! J
I graduated from DeKalb High School, earned a BS in nursing from St. Xavier College, and a Masters of Science in nursing from Loyola University. I married Tom Krupp, my high school sweetheart , in 1967. When Tom finished law school , we came back to DeKalb where he began his law practice with his twin brother Bob. I worked part time in the obstetrics unit at DeKalb Public Hospital from 1967-1972, and taught at NIU in the nursing department during the 1972-1973 school year. We were blessed with two sons, and I was able to be a stay-at-home mom.

In 1984, Fr. William Schwartz asked me to become active in forming an outreach to parishioners who were in the hospital, nursing homes, or confined to their own homes. I had a great team of helpers, and the Ministry of Care began. I completed the diocesan Ministry Formation program and was asked to be part of the staff at St. Mary Parish. I retired from this position in 2003 to be a full- time grandma. I cherish the years at St. Mary School and my membership in the parish since 1957. I currently have a granddaughter in the 4th grade at SMS.

James Henry - Class of 2011

10/23/2019

Since graduating from St. Mary in 2011, I attended DeKalb High School where I graduated in 2015. While at DHS, I played baseball, football, performed in the musical Hairspray, and sang with the a cappella group my senior year; all while managing to graduate in the top 3% of my class! After high school, I went to Kishwaukee College to start my Bachelor degree. In 2017 I transferred to the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Since coming here, I joined No Comment A Cappella, which is a nationally recognized collegiate a cappella group. We've done some incredible things since my time in the group. I am particularly proud of Enlighten Up, a project we spent most of 2018 working on (I'll link and timestamp this from youtube at the end of the email). Earlier this year, I finished my Bachelor degree in Liberal Arts and Sciences, with a major in Political Science and minor in Business. Fast forward a little bit, and I am back at UIUC getting a Master of Science in Finance degree! It was a pivot from my original intention of going to law school, but I couldn't be happier with the career prospects I will have with an MS in Finance. I have definitely found my passion (it only took me 8 years of high school and college haha!). I am hoping to take the degree somewhere into the fintech sector, as the finance industry in general is due for some heavy disruption from tech in the coming decades. To watch and listen to Enlighten Up click HERE; to skip to my solo go to 8:48. We also released an album this year on Spotify, Apple Music, etc. (literally everywhere), called No Heart. If you search No Comment A Cappella No Heart on any streaming service, it'll pop up. You can hear me on Devil's in the Details for another solo! Here's a Spotify link just in case you use that: Devil's in the Details

Violet Marie Nicolini Deverell - Class of 1933

10/16/2019

Violet was born in 1919 to an Italian family. Her family came through Ellis Island and settled in DeKalb, IL. The sisters of the Blessed Virgin Mary made up the faculty at SMS at that time. Violet attended St. Mary School during the Great Depression and it was a true financial sacrifice. Violet was able to reduce her tuition costs by taking on several tasks, such as: taking money collected each week to the bank on her way home from school and correcting/grading homework for her teachers.

After SMS, Violet graduated from DeKalb High School and began working as a secretary at DeKalb Ag Assoc. taking dictation and shorthand. Violet was an accomplished accordionist and vocalist. While working for DeKalb Ag, she was sent to Iowa to entertain Italian prisoners of war. She played the accordion on WLS radio with Lawrence Welk.

In 1947 she married a farmer, Samuel Alan Deverell and they had 5 children. She and her husband sang in the choir at St. Mary Church and in their church in Genoa. As most women during this time, she stayed home to care for her children. When they were all in school she returned to work at DeKalb Ag Association. A true pioneer for women!
Violet and Samuel were married for 59 years. Her husband passed away in 2006. Violet loved to read, pray, cook, and entertain her family and friends playing the accordion. She often told people that her greatest answered prayer and greatest fulfillment of her life was being a wife and a mother. Violet died on Sept. 15, 2012.
What an amazing and inspirational woman. Thank you Janet Deverell for sharing your mother's wonderful story with our St. Mary family. God Bless you and your mother!

Suzanne Jackiw- Class of 2002

10/4/2019

Suzanne Jackiw is a video game lawyer. She attended Northern Illinois University, St. John’s College, and Chicago-Kent College of Law prior to becoming an attorney in November 2015. She is currently Counsel at Epic Games, makers of Fortnite and the Unreal Engine. She also volunteers with an organization that advocates for mental health in the games industry, Take This. She lives near Seattle with her husband and two dogs - and is eternally thankful to SMS for introducing her to computers so early in her education.