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Amidst newly painted walls, a refurbished and repainted gym floor and a brand new computerized, electronic scoreboard, Guerin College Preparatory High School held a ceremony Feb. 9 to thank those who assisted with the renovation of the Holy Cross Athletic Center on Guerin Prep’s 22-acre campus. Both those who helped with the actual renovation of the center and those who offered financial support were recognized, including Bill McCarty (shown above), the CEO of Belmont Bank and Trust, who was on hand to present school officials with a donation of $20,000. In appreciation for the gift, the school has painted the Belmont Bank and Trust logo on the gym floor. Janet Cobb, new president of Guerin Prep, offered a blessing as part of the ceremony.
Other signage has been introduced in the gymnasium to honor the legacy of Holy Cross and Mother Theodore Guerin high schools, including a life-size Crusader on a horse, accompanied by words of dedication: In Honor of the Men of Holy Cross 1961-2004. Other work included renovated restrooms in the vicinity of the gym, restored walkways and the addition of outdoor signage.
One of the outstanding new features of this gym is the scoreboard, created by All American Scoreboard company. Sponsors of the scoreboard were also recognized during the ceremony, including Vince’s Restaurant on Harlem and its partners: Nuccio D’Argento and Rocco DeFrenza; and Steve Bisilvestro and Fredie Radifi from Luke’s on Harlem. Three Guerin Prep Families were honored as scoreboard sponsors: the Annunzio Family and the Fanning/Fallon Family, both of Chicago, and the Tarpey family, who sponsored the scoreboard in honor of the patriarch of their family and the patriarch of the Village of River Grove—Mayor Tom Tarpey.
In addition to the support of those recognized during the ceremony, the renovation projects have been funded by the sale of property and from monies raised through the Straight A Capital Campaign. Following the sale of four acres of property in 2010, Guerin Prep has sought to implement a long-range plan that calls for the enhancement and expansion of the four core components of Guerin Prep’s mission– academics, athletics, arts and financial aid. The first project was the renovation of the girls’ softball field and the surrounding fence and gate areas, completed in time for last spring’s softball season. This summer, Guerin Prep upgraded the football/soccer and baseball fields and installed a safety fence for the stadium field area. Parking lot repair, resurfacing and restriping also was completed in time for the start of the school year. Inside the original Mother Theodore Guerin High School building, new science lab desk tops and chairs have been installed in two of the science rooms and new risers have been added to a new chorus room. Additionally, a students’ commons study area was developed and new tables were purchased the school cafeteria.
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Guerin Prep Com
Mike Swain of B & D Custom Builders and Rob Kos of RK Construction (at left) were recognized for their roles in the renovation of the gym as well as the development of a new fitness center to serve all serve all Guerin Prep’s athletic teams and physical education classes, a refurbished concessions area and the reconfiguration of a former stage area in the gym into a location for a batting cage. 
The wall constructed to close off the stage is now being used to display a large painted Gator Mascot and other Suburban Conference Signage that was developed by Tony Morrone, a 1999 HC graduate, through his company Signco. 
Swain and Kos worked closely with Joe Annunzio (at right), Guerin Prep’s project manager for the renovation, and Kevin Miller, vice president of financial affairs at the school, who was the overseer of the renovation project. (Both shown at right with Mrs. Cobb.)
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Contact Us | Guerin College Preparatory High School | 8001 W. Belmont Av. River Grove, IL 60171 | T: 708.453.6233 | F:708.453.6296 |
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