For the past 55 years Sacred Heart Schools in Chicago has hosted an Angel Brunch. This event is one that students, as well as, parents, grandparents and family friends enjoy attending as it honors the 8th grade graduates from The Academy and Hardey Preparatory. The annual brunch is hosted at the Chicago Hilton and all in attendance enjoy the music of The Stanley Paul Orchestra. The Academy girls were beautifully dressed in white and the Hardey boys looked so distinguished in their dark blazers emblazoned with the Hardey Prep crest and special custom red ties. The crest proudly worn on their blazers reads "Hardey In Hoc Signo Vinces" which means "in this sign you will conquer".
Sheridan Road Alumni Association President Elect, Joey Yao, HP'86 welcomed everyone and as the traditional Flag Ceremony began read each country in alphabetical order. As is the tradition the tallest boy from the Hardey Prep graduating class of 2013 carried the United States flag up to the podium and we all sang The Star Spangled Banner accompanied by The Stanley Paul Orchestra.
Dr. Jane M. Steinfels, ASH '92 Campus Minister gave the Invocation. After we enjoyed a delicious lunch, Nat Wilburn, Head of Schools introduced the Keynote Speaker and Sacred Heart Alum, Virgil Williams, HP'84.
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| Virgil Williams, HP '84 |
Keynote Speaker: Virgil Williams, is a 1984 graduate of Hardey Prep. After graduating, he attended St. Ignatius for one year, transferring and graduating from The Latin School. Virgil attended the University of Southern California majoring in communications and took many film classes. He graduated from USC with a BA in communications in 1992 and set out to find work. His credits include NBC's ER, Fox's The Chicago Code and is currently a Co-Executive Producer on CBS' Criminal Minds. Recently Virgil sold his first screenplay, an adaptation of Hilary Jordan's bestselling novel MUDBOUND. Virgil currently lives in Los Angeles with his wife, Steffanie and two daughters Isabelle (5) and Sophia (19 months).
Virgil Williams' talk centered around five key points: Commitment, Compassion, Love, Gratitude and Change. It was very inspirational and meaningful. Virgil's wife and two daughters were in attendance beaming with pride as he spoke so eloquently to the graduates and their families.
During the Presentation of Graduates Stephen Puricelli, Head of the Middle School read each graduates name as they came up on the stage for their official Induction into the Alumni Association. Sheridan Road Alumni Association President, Kwaben Komai, A'85 presented each of the Academy graduates with a charm engraved with their initials and Sheridan Road Alumni Association President Elect, Joey Yao, H'86 presented each Hardey graduate with a Hardey pin. All of the graduates received their Christmas Lamb as a keepsake as well as the International Passport.
The International Passport given to all graduates during the Induction Ceremony is a card that identifies the holder as a member of the worldwide Sacred Heart community (AASH and AMASC). It serves as a means of introduction in the forty-four countries where the Society of the Sacred Heart serves.
Once the Induction ceremony had concluded all sang Coeur de Jesus and each graduate went to the dance floor and danced their first dance with either their father or mother to the music of The Stanley Paul Orchestra. A simply beautiful tradition that will long be remembered in the lives of these 79 Sacred Heart graduates.
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