Alumni
Holy Trinity's alumni are a testament to the enduring value of a Holy Cross education. Alumni find success and fulfillment in their adult accomplishments, whether they pursue business, the arts, academia, sports, journalism, politics, or any other vocation. Our alumni are committed to the school, serving on the Board of Trustees, Advisory Council, Alumni Association, and volunteer committees. Alumni continue to give their time, talent, and treasure to the school. More than 20% of current students are children of alumni, showing their continued support and faith. Holy Trinity continues to be a resource for alumni throughout their lifetimes.
Click here to update your HT Alumni contact information!
Alumni Association Meetings
Holy Trinity High School, 7 p.m. on the first Tuesday of every other month. Please RSVP to Chet Lis at (847) 816-8433 or chetlis27@aol.com.
Young Alumni Committee The YAC meets monthly to plan events and other ways to support Holy Trinity. To get involved, please contact Kimberly Hart at yingyang1616@hotmail.com or check us out on Facebook. The next YAC meeting will be held at Leona's Restaurant, 1936 W. Augusta, on Tuesday, May 26, at 6 p.m.
Alumni Baseball Outings! June 27, 2010 -- Cubs vs. White Sox at U.S.Cellular Field! Also, August 29, 2010 -- Yankees vs. White Sox at U.S. Cellular Field! Contact Luisa Cabrera at (773) 278-4212 x.3047 for details.
Alumni Golf Outing August 28, 2010 -- Save the date! Play nine holes of golf with HT Alumni at Billy Caldwell Golf Course, and stay for lunch. More details coming soon!
.jpg) | Brothers of Holy Cross Honored at Holy Trinity's Guardians of Hope Dinner on March 12, 2010Pictured (l. to r.): Chet Lis '58, Br. Phil Smith, Br. Chester Freel, Br. Ken Haders, and Alfredo Avila '90. |
Alfredo Avila ‘90 honors the Brothers of Holy Cross:
Wow, 100 years. Today, I consider myself the luckiest man in the world. What an honor and privilege I have to talk about a place and people that are so near and dear to my heart. Not just me but thousands of other families that have been touched by Holy Trinity and the mission of the Brothers of Holy Cross.
Yes, I am a graduate of Holy Trinity, as is my sister Nicki, my sister Carmen, and my sister Gilda. All the Avila kids are graduates of Holy Trinity. All the Avila kids would go on to earn their college degrees. All the Avila kids; first generation Americans from parents immigrating to this great country searching for the American dream. Holy Trinity has and continues to be a springboard for success in my life and in the community.
100 years. Just stop and think what this celebration means today; it’s incredible. Holy Trinity has remained a constant light in a world full of disruptions; Two World Wars, The Great Depression, The Kennedy Expressway, and the changing demographics of the neighborhood. Through it all the Brothers of Holy Cross’ mission as educators survives and thrives on Division Street.
100 years. That my friends IS Sustainability. That is the Brothers of Holy Cross; they LIVE Social Responsibility. You don’t create that kind of passion through a marketing campaign. You don’t exist 100 years on slogans. You don’t stay in a neighborhood when three other high schools within eyesight of Holy Trinity close their doors because the neighborhood changes. If you know any Holy Cross Brother you know that his mission is to educate, educate, educate.
Neighborhoods change, values should not. If your values change because the neighborhood changes, then they were never really values, they were just buzzwords. For 100 years, the Brothers of Holy Cross have remained true to their values on Division Street, regardless of the color of your skin or the language you speak at home; if you are willing to work hard and be challenged then the Brothers of Holy Cross welcomed you to Holy Trinity.
It is no coincidence that the Patron Saint of the Congregation of Holy Cross is Saint Joseph. Saint Joseph led a life of sacrifice. He had a calling, a vocation to serve as a father figure to a child that was not his own flesh and blood. In my life and for every student that has walked the corridors of HT, the Brothers of Holy Cross have been our personal Saint Joseph. They have challenged us to dream bigger dreams and take steps towards fulfilling those dreams. That Holy Cross mentality and legacy lives on through the corridors of HT. The teachers, faculty, and staff all sacrifice to make sure students are educated, challenged, and developed to their full potential. That is Sustainability.
Like Saint Joseph, the Brothers rolled up their sleeves and earned our love and respect with their hard work. Help me in recognizing that sacrifice. Help me in thanking these men, the Brothers of Holy Cross. Help me in showing how much their work has meant in the lives of Holy Trinity students, the community, and the City of Chicago. Help me celebrate 100 years with them.
Chet Lis '58 honors the Brothers of Holy Cross:
I am Chet Lis. I am proud to say that I am a graduate of Holy Trinity High School and a product of the unparalleled teaching, mentorship, and friendship of the Brothers of Holy Cross.
Of all the schooling that I have had in my life – grammar school, high school, college, and graduate school, the schooling that stands out and is the most memorable is my high school days at Holy Trinity High School.
I will always remember the Brothers of Holy Cross, who were not only outstanding teachers and mentors, but also great friends. They were strict when strictness was called for and compassionate when compassion was called for.
We students respected them and they respected us as students and young adults.
When I went to Holy Trinity High School (you realize that I am a young alum), 90% of our teachers were Brothers. They prepared us very well for our future endeavors, whether it was going on to college, being a tradesman, being a member or superintendent of the Chicago Police Force, being an entrepreneur, or whatever vocation we went into. The education and textbooks that were part of the classes were second to none. I will always remember the great teaching and textbooks in algebra, chemistry, physics, and English.
Not only did the Brothers give us a great education, but they instilled into us Christian values and responsibilities. Because of the environment that the Brothers created, I met classmates that I will respect and be friends with forever. Not only did we have a great learning environment, but we also had a great extracurricular environment of sports, band, glee club, yearbook staff, newspaper staff, leadership opportunities as class officers, student council, as well as other opportunities.
I have always respected the great financial sacrifice that the Brothers made so that students of poor immigrant families, like we were, could receive a great and affordable education. Our tuition was low because the Brothers’ salaries were basically nothing. I always respected the fact that the Bothers, with college degrees, gave up the opportunity for high paying jobs to teach us. This was a great sacrifice on their part and I respect them for this sacrifice.
A measure of a true friend is one who will answer your calling for help and assistance without any questions asked. I would like to say that I am a true friend of the Brothers of Holy Cross.
Brothers of Holy Cross, on behalf of all of the alumni of Holy Trinity High School and all of the people present, I thank you for what you have done for Holy Trinity High School for the past 100 years.
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