May Newsletter

Dear D95 Educational Foundation Supporters,

It’s been an exciting and busy month for the Foundation. We began May with our INCubator Pitch Night on May 1st, showcasing innovative ideas from our LZHS students. We were also honored to sponsor the Educator of the Year event in partnership with the Lake County Regional Office of Education, celebrating the outstanding educators who make a difference every day. Additionally, we had the privilege of awarding the Bonnie Warren Memorial Scholarship to a deserving senior pursuing a career in education. To cap off the month, we presented the most prestigious honor in District 95 - the Gary W. Robillard Educator of the Year Award - to recognize extraordinary dedication and service.

We’re wrapping up the month of May with excitement as we plan for our final event of the school year - our annual Golf Outing at Steeplechase Golf Club in Mundelein on June 9th, which is just around the corner! This is a wonderful opportunity to enjoy a day of fun and friendly competition while supporting District 95. There are still a few openings available, so gather your friends and get your foursome signed up today! Check below for all the details on how to register. We can’t wait to see you out on the course!

As the school year winds down and we head into summer, we want to extend a heartfelt thank you to everyone who makes the work of the D95 Educational Foundation possible. Whether you're an educator, student, parent, or donor - you're part of this story. Without your commitment and generosity, none of this would be achievable. Thank you for helping us celebrate, support and strengthen D95. Here's to a strong finish to the school year, a successful golf outing, and a summer full of fun!!

Liz Hartke

Executive Director
District 95 Educational Foundation

There’s still time to sign up for our Annual Golf Outing on June 9th at Steeple Chase Golf Club in Mundelein, IL! This fun-filled event is a great way to enjoy a day on the course, connect with others in the community, and support the D95 Educational Foundation’s mission to empower learners.

Whether you want to join us as a golfer, put together a foursome, or come on board as a sponsor, we’d love to have you be part of the day. Don’t miss out - reach out now to reserve your spot, and we’ll see you on the green!

The School District 95 Educational Foundation is proud to award the Bonnie Warren Memorial Scholarship, which honors the lasting legacy of Bonnie Warren, a beloved English teacher who dedicated 37 years to Lake Zurich High School. Admired for her passion, commitment, and excellence in education, Mrs. Warren was recognized in 1991 with the “Those Who Excel” Education Award from the Illinois State Board of Education. After her passing in 2019, her family established this scholarship to celebrate her life’s work and inspire future educators. Each year, a scholarship is awarded to a graduating senior who reflects Mrs. Warren’s dedication to teaching and her love for English. This year, we are thrilled to present the Bonnie Warren Memorial Scholarship to Bekah Wessman, in recognition of her passion for education and her outstanding commitment to pursuing a career in teaching.

The D95 Educational Foundation is honored to fund the Gary W. Robillard Educator of the Year Award, the most prestigious award presented in District 95. Named in honor of Gary Robillard, this award recognizes educators who have made exceptional contributions to the district through their dedication, innovation, and impact on students and the school community. In celebration of their outstanding efforts, we are proud to announce that the award amount has been increased to $1,500 for this year. We are thrilled to share that the 2025 Gary Robillard Award has been presented to Kathy Jamison in recognition of her extraordinary commitment and service to our schools.

We’re proud to fund a $13,500 grant at Spencer Loomis Elementary to support the launch of Building Thinking Classrooms! This innovative project brings vertical whiteboards, math resources, and professional development texts to grades 3–5 and K–5 math replacement classrooms - boosting student engagement, collaboration, and critical thinking across subjects. We can’t wait to see the transformation!

The Foundation had the pleasure of joining Pitch Night on May 1st, where we thoroughly enjoyed hearing from a talented group of young entrepreneurs and their amazing ideas. It was inspiring to see such creativity and passion in action. A special thanks goes to our dedicated board members Joe Janicki and Vas Russiss, who both serve as mentors in the program, guiding and supporting these entrepreneurs every step of the way. We also want to extend our deep gratitude to John Sfire, our Trustee Emeritus, for his generous contributions to the program - both financially, with a remarkable $20,000 donation this year, and through his ongoing mentorship. This program is truly valuable to D95, and we are proud to support it.

We're gearing up for the 2025-2026 school year and looking for passionate individuals to join our team! If you're interested in contributing your talents as a trustee or liaison, we'd love to hear from you.

We’re especially looking for expertise in:

• Website design
  
• Event planning
  
• Marketing
  
• Accounting
  

Your skills can make a big impact! If you're interested, or to learn more about becoming a trustee, please reach out to Liz at Foundation@lz95.org.

Indra Josephs, Chair

Joseph Janicki, Vice Chair of Communications

Brittany Tjardes, Treasurer

Andy Spetter, Vice Chair of Grants & Initiatives

Willy Borkowski - Secretary

Jennifer McGrath, Trustee

Kelly Cranstoun, Trustee

Vas Russis, Trustee

Billy Heisler, Trustee

Ashley Scott, Trustee

Dr. Kelley Gallt, Superintendent

John Sfire - Trustee Emeritus

Liz Hartke - Executive Director