By Suzanne Kairis, Marketing Associate Joliet Catholic Academy in Joliet, Illinois, partnered with Sunny Hill Nursing Home to honor 13 of their residents. The student body filled JCA’s Student Activity Center the morning of, April 23rd for a spring concert assembly. At the conclusion of the assembly, the students were informed that they would witness Joliet Catholic Academy’s 2nd Honorary Graduation for the residents of Sunny Hill Nursing Home. Nine residents were in attendance, dressed in cap and gown, to receive honorary diplomas from Joliet Catholic Academy. The pursuit of academic acknowledgement for the residents began in June 2006 when Sunny Hill contacted area high schools asking for help in fulfilling some residents’ dreams of obtaining high school diplomas. Joliet Catholic Academy responded and graduated ten residents as members of their inaugural Honorary Class of 2006. When the school was contacted a second time, they were all too willing to participate. “The residents of Sunny Hill helped build our community; it is our pleasure to recognize their contributions and to present them with honorary Joliet Catholic Academy diplomas,” stated President, Sister Faith Szambelanczyk, OSF. Honorees in attendance ranged in age from 74 to 99. Many had to quit school to help their families. JCA’s Honorary Class of 2009 graduates are: Lana Anderson, 84, was unable to afford a high school education. Her father worked hard but only one sister was able to finish high school. Anderson can remember loving sewing class. She made a pleated skirt that was really in at the time and she is still proud of it today. Aquilina Flores, 86, was unable to start high school because her father passed away when she was 12. Flores took care of her siblings while her mother worked day and night to provide for them. Her favorite memory from school was when she sat in history and geography class because she could wonder around the world. Flores loved to watch the clouds roll by and think about how far the clouds would travel. Emery Gurnic, 87, was in the Marines in San Diego by the age of 19. Gurnic remembers enjoying history and English in grade school. His two sons have college degrees and education means a lot to him. Gurnic knows that his family is proud of him just like they were when he was a Marine. Anne Halik, 99, was unable to finish high school because she needed to work. Halik can remember having a great English teacher. This honorary diploma means everything to her, and she thinks it is just great. Halik enjoyed gym class but was pushed in the pool during swimming and has never attempted to swim since. Mary Ann Knorr, 74, was unable to finish high school because she got married and started having her seven children. Knorr remembers enjoying football games with her friends,
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