PROGRESS2026 PROGRESS 2026
ShawLocal.com | Saturday, April 25, 2026
THIS WEEK’S WINNERS EDUCATION
Bishop McNamara Catholic School Award sponsored by Kankakee Community College See page 1
TECHNOLOGY
Advanced Computer Specialists Award sponsored by Oak Orthopedics See page 4
LARGE EMPLOYER Tiffany Blanchette file photo
Kankakee County Undersheriff Chad Gessner high fives Bishop McNamara Catholic School fifth graders, all members of the student council, as they host the 10th Gratitude Drive-Thru for first responders and military members on Sept. 11, 2025.
Stronger together
Olivet Nazarene University Award sponsored by Riverside Healthcare See page 6
Bishop McNamara Catholic School an enduring inspiration
MANUFACTURING
By RENEE TOMELL Shaw Local News Network correspondent
Silva International Award sponsored by Economic Alliance of Kankakee County See page 8
A
s Bishop McNamara Catholic School moves deeper into its second century of
service, the powerful sense of family at its heart continues to lift up students, families, staff and the wider community.
AGRICULTURE
Kankakee Community College Award sponsored by Kankakee County Chamber of Commerce See page 9
Recently, the Kankakee campus, home to junior and senior high school classes, was damaged by violent storms that struck the county on March 10. While a string of tornadoes missed the school, the building and grounds were hit by a barrage of record-large hail, heavy winds and rain. “We had about 30 skylights – almost all of those were knocked out, and so then that brought water into the building,” Wendy Reid, the school’s coordinator of marketing and social media, said about the storm. “There were (about) six over the gym floor, so it suffered a lot of damage. It is actually
The Rich Zinanni Athletic Complex was completed just last year as the final element in a multi-year, $4.5 million capital campaign marking the school’s first hundred years. “That was the last piece of construction for the centennial project,” Reid said. “We finished it right before football this past season.” But while classes were canceled for the remainder of the week, something positive was born. “Our students spent the entire week out serving the community,” Reid said. “We were off from school, but they weren’t just at home. Most of our students were out every SPONSORED BY day doing something, whether it was here [at the school] or in Aroma Park or Kankakee. They really went above and beyond with their service to the community.” In addition to the Kankakee site, Bishop McNamara Catholic School includes two pre-K through fifth grade campuses, one in Bradley and the other in Bourbonnais. The students’ ready response in an emergency reflects the school’s stated devotion to going to be completely ripped out and promoting leadership, teamwork and comreplaced and the roof on the whole building.” munity, along with Christian service – all Along with broken windows at the school, complementing principles of character, outdoor structures also were damaged, scholarship and faith. including the football stadium and its scoreSee BISHOP MCNAMARA, page 2 board, Reid said.
EXCELLENCE IN EDUCATION
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