Moraine Valley CC speech team takes top marks during season The speech and debate team at Moraine Valley Community College had a spotless record during its fall 2024 season, earning first place at all four contests. The team won the McHenry County College Tournament on Oct. 12 in Crystal Lake, Illinois, followed by winning the two-day series of competitions during the Moraine Valley Applequist Speech tournament it hosted, held Oct. 24 and 26. The Halloween-themed tournament featured more than 125 competitors from 19 schools in the Midwest. Ten MVCC team members won in categories such as Persuasion, Oral Interpretation, Novice Poetry, Dramatic Interpretation and Speech to Entertain. The team won its third competition on Nov. 16, traveling to Highland Community College in Freeport. The last tournament of the fall was the Shadwell-Dittus Elgin Community College Speech Tournament on Dec. 6 and 7. Dominating the competition, the MVCC team earned both the first-place Quality Champion trophy and first-place Tournament Champion Trophy. MVCC members taking top honors were Kandyce Swain, of Blue Island, first and Julian Zubrzycki, of Chicago Ridge, second in Informative Speaking; Aaron Lopez, of Bridgeview, first and Marel Doon, of Chicago Ridge, second in Speech to Entertain; Mustafa Hammo, of Justice, first in Dramatic Interpretation and in Poetry Interpretation; Zubrzycki, second place in Prose Interpretation; Lopez, first and Juno Granados, of Hometown, third in Persuasive Speaking; Omar Uwainat, of Burbank, second in Impromptu Speaking; and Mariam Chuli, of Bridgeview, first and Doon, third in Program of Interpretation. Lemont HS student cast in ‘The Prom’ at state theater festival Lemont High School junior Julia Macari steps on stage as part of the cast of “The Prom,” the 2025 Illinois High School Theatre Festival All-State Production, during the festival, held from Jan. 9 to 11 at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. It’s the first time since 2016 that a Lemont High student has been chosen to perform in the festival’s main event. “The Prom” will be performed five times during the festival, which draws more than 3,000 students from across Illinois. Macari, who has acted at Lemont High, will portray Angie, one of eight lead roles in the show. Just 40 students were chosen from the more than 300 who auditioned for roles. It’s produced by Homewood-Flossmoor High School’s J.R. Willard-Rose and Deerfield High School’s Britnee Kenyon. Hinsdale South High School’s Danny Yuska is directing it. Macari also was cast in Lemont’s production of “The Carol Burnett Show,” which was chosen to be part of the 2024 Illinois high School Theatre Festival. The festival is the largest event of its kind in the country, and the All-State Production brings together students and staff from all areas of Illinois, who put together the production with a limited number of rehearsals. The Illinois Theatre Association produces the festival. Father Perez KOC treats Special Olympians to lunch Knights, friends and family members from Father Perez Knights of Columbus Council 144, Our Lady of Fatima Council 3582 and Brother William Kerkel Council 5866 manned the grill and prepared lunches for Special Olympians during the snowshoe races at Mount Greenwood Park in Chicago. (Bob Szyman) Competitors at the Illinois Special Olympics Area D Snowshoeing had a special treat during the recent event hosted by Mount Greenwood Special Recreation at Mount Greenwood Park in Chicago. Father Perez Knights of Columbus Council 1444 knights, friends, family members and brother knights from Our Lady of Fatima Council 3582 and Brother William Kerkel Council 5866 grilled hot dogs and offered condiments, chips and soft drinks to competitors. Special Olympians donned snowshoes to compete in 50-, 100-, 400-meter and 4-by -00-meter races. Gold medal winners in each division will advance to the State Winter Games at Chestnut Mountain in Galena, set for Feb. 11 to 13. The fraternal organization, which began in 1909 with seven Catholic men who established a Knights of Columbus Council at St. Brendan Parish on Chicago’s South Side, has grown to more than 800 members from several parishes. Job fair scheduled for Jan. 16 in Tinley Park Job seekers are invited to join the Southwest Job Fair, set for 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Jan. 16 at the Tinley Park Convention Center, 18451 Convention Center Drive. Veterans may arrive at 11 a.m. Attendees can explore diverse job openings, connect with top employers and network with employers. The job fair is presented by the villages of Orland Park and Tinley Park. Information is at 708-444-5000. Socializing session planned at Green Hills library Adults 50 and older who are feeling cooped up can gather for a social hour from 1:30 to 3 p.m. Jan. 16 at the Green Hills Public Library District, 10331 Interlochen Drive, Palos Hills. During this casual gathering in the ground floor meeting room, attendees can socialize with friends and neighbors while playing board games, doing puzzles, coloring and enjoying coffee. Registration is required. Nonresidents may participate as well. Information is at 708-598-8446. Send news to [email protected].