FOSTERING COMMUNITY
Tapping into the Loyola Network
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OW DO YOU TRANSFORM a simple sketch into a multimillion-dollar, multi-use building? What’s it like to work at the first-ever translational research hospital, where clinicians, scientists, innovators and technologists are translating science-driven breakthroughs into cutting-edge physical medicine and rehabilitation? Thanks to our new Grad After Grad Internship Initiative, six rising juniors and seniors gained invaluable insights into these and other fields of interest as they completed internships with Joe Flanagan ’82 and Louis Morici ’10 at Acquirent, Ryan O’Donnell ’95 at Ballyhoo Hospitality, Erin Casey Wolf ’98 at Bella Bridesmaids, Dan Valenti ’01 at Valenti Builders, Amy and Ryan Devore at William Blair Global Investment Banking & Asset Management and Loyola Academy Board Chair Nancy Paridy at the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab. Six additional students will complete their internships when pandemic-related restrictions are no longer in place. “We piloted this program to introduce Ramblers to mentors in their fields of interest, help them gain competence and confidence in the workplace and teach them skills that will support their college and career goals,” says Vice President of Alumni and Network Engagement Marty Jennings ’98. “We hope to expand the initiative in the coming year so that we can provide more formational professional experiences for Loyola students, as well as college-level alumni, through this collaboration with our great Loyola Academy network.”
Interviewing for internships: In Spring 2020, interested Ramblers submitted applications for Grad After Grad internships. Twenty-five made it to the Zoom interview stage (above) and 12 were granted internships.
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Loyola Academy Annual Report 2019–2020
Edward J. Wehmer ’7 2
Wintrust Whiz Kids
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OW DO YOU START A START-UP? Create a business plan? Give a 30-second pitch? More than 30 Ramblers got answers to these questions and more as they participated in the Wintrust Banking Academy, a weeklong virtual pilot program in June. Made possible by an educational collaboration between Loyola Academy and Wintrust founder and CEO Edward J. Wehmer ’72 (above) and Senior Vice President and Head of Retail Kathleen Gallagher, Wintrust Banking Academy was launched in Summer 2020 to introduce Ramblers to business and entrepreneurial concepts, teach them the basics of financial literacy and provide mentoring opportunities with members of the Loyola network. Each morning, our students met virtually with speakers from the Loyola community, including Wintrust Ventures Loan Officer Connor Detjen ’06, Wintrust Mortgage Branch Manager George Kaiser ’78 and two Loyola parents: Wintrust Bank President Doug Boersma and Wintrust Wealth Management Chairman and CEO Tom Zidar. “We were thrilled to bring this experience to our students and connect them with industry leaders at Wintrust,” says Vice President of Alumni and Network Engagement Marty Jennings ’98. ”We are grateful to our friends at Wintrust Community Banks for making this pilot program possible amid the challenges of a pandemic.”
