Francis W. Parker School Alumni

11/01/2024

IN 4 WEEKS the annual Parker and Latin Young Alumni Holiday Party IS BACK! Details and complimentary registration link below. We hope to see you there!

If you have any questions, please contact Director of Alumni Relations and Institutional Events Chuck Lira at [email protected].

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSe7VJnQTdJvx7LGNq93UQupDivLQ37wvv6HrktZLm-otF2PzA/viewform

10/30/2024

Join us in congratulating Jack Antonow '22 on adding “author” to his resume as a college student!

Jack decided to try decreasing his phone use throughout the second semester of his freshman year. After several months of attempting to modify his behavior and many tweaks to his phone’s functionality, he was able to reduce his mobile phone use by seven hours a day.

Inspired by the changes in his life satisfaction, Jack began to write a book to give the gift of improved life quality to others. He authored his book Enemy in Your Pocket: How Using Your Phone Less Will Change Your Life and How to Do it with the goal of helping others break the cycle of screen addiction and explaining the issues that exist with social media and phone usage from the perspective of a younger person.

To purchase the book, click here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DJ7ZX2TB and follow the Instagram account for more!

10/28/2024

Register below for the 18th Annual Robert A. Pritzker Visiting Scientist • Inventor • Engineer in Residence lecture with Dr. Rama Ranganathan on Thursday, November 14 at 7 p.m (free and open to the public!)
👀 Did you know this program was created by a gift to Parker in honor of engineer, industrialist, and philanthropist Robert A. Pritzker ’44? It aims to expand science education opportunities at Francis W. Parker School and foster an ongoing dialogue among students and teachers about current issues in science 🧬🔬🧫🧪

https://www.fwparker.org/the-robert-a-pritzker-visiting-sie-in-residence/register-for-a-lecture-with-dr-rama-ranganathan?bblinkid=281260535&bbemailid=55937978&bbejrid=-1198398390

10/25/2024

Last week Matt McMurray ’08, chief of staff for Illinois Congresswoman Robin Kelly, shared his journey of becoming chief of staff for Robin Kelly with seniors in the Elections 2024 class. They enjoyed the experience of seeing someone who sat in their very same classroom contribute his time and efforts to the democratic process.

Elections 2024 is an elective for seniors that focuses on not only the election of the new president, but also the process of elections at every level, from local to national.

Please join us in thanking Matt for taking time from his busy schedule to speak to our students!

10/22/2024

Last week, we kicked off the College Dinner Series at the University of Michigan! Young alumni from the classes of ’21 through ’24 gathered for dinner to reconnect with one another, as well as with Upper School History teacher Andy Bigelow and Upper School Dean of Student Life Joe Bruno. Stay tuned for where we head next for the second College Dinner Series event!

10/21/2024

THANK YOU for celebrating Parker Giving Week with us and showing your support of our school! A big THANK YOU to the 35 alumni who made a gift to the Parker Fund—together, we raised $45,365!
Together, our alumni support of the Parker Fund helps ensure that even more students are able to access a Parker education through our financial assistance program. Thank you!

10/18/2024

Holy Socktober, Parker Giving Week is almost over! Make your gift to the Parker Fund by the end of the day and receive the COZIEST Parker-branded socks. 🧦💙

10/16/2024

This and yap (about how Francis W. Parker School is the best)!

Help us celebrate our great school this Parker Giving Week by making a gift to the Parker Fund. An added bonus? Make your gift by October 18, and receive a cozy pair of Parker socks to rock this PSL (Perfect Sock Lounging) Season!

10/15/2024

Help us celebrate Parker Giving Week! This week-long initiative encourages everyone to show their support of Francis W. Parker School by making a gift to the Parker Fund. Make your gift here: fwparker.org/parkerfund

BONUS: Make a gift to Parker during Parker Giving Week, October 14–18, and receive a fantastic pair of Parker socks 🧦

10/09/2024

Join us on Tuesday, October 15 at 5:30 pm for an All Alumni Fall Town Hall. Hear from Principal Dan Frank ‘74 and various members of the Alumni Association Board. This is a great way to hear about all the new and exciting things Parker has in store this school year. Light refreshments will be provided for in-person attendees. RSVP at fwparker.org/alumni-events if attending

09/30/2024

Free and open to the public tonight! Don't forget to register!

Thanks to Parker’s Stenn Civics Speaker and Executive Director of When We All Vote Beth Lynk for speaking to the community at Morning Ex in advance of tonight’s talk on “Changing the Culture of Voting” at 7! https://www.fwparker.org/stenn-civics-speaker

09/23/2024

Come one, come all to the first rehearsal of the Parker Adult Community Choir beginning on Wednesday, September 25 at 6:30 p.m. 🎙🎶🎵🗣

The choir is open to all adults in the Parker community: parents/guardians, faculty, staff, alumni and their spouses, and no previous experience singing in a choir is necessary to join. Rehearsals will occur two times per month, likely Wednesday evenings, from 6:30–8 p.m. After each rehearsal, the group will host an open invite to a local neighborhood establishment. Repertoire will be guided by and informed by the interests of the folks who join.

Do you play an instrument? As repertoire is selected, there will be opportunities to accompany the choir (traditionally, we have needed piano, guitar, drumset, for example) 🎹🎸🥁🎻

The choir will be led by Middle School Chorus Director Rob Denien and another adult (TBD) from the Parker community.

Performance/sharing opportunities will be a part of the choir and may include an evening performance, a sharing at a Parker event or a Morning Ex.

Any questions? Please don’t hesitate to reach out and contact Rob Denien at [email protected]

09/18/2024

A wonderful example of the special connections created in Francis W. Parker School's classrooms that last after graduation: Math Department Co-Chair Steve Tyler met up with alum Eda Altunbas ’23 and her family as part of a trip to Turkiye this summer!

Tyler was Altunbas’ Calculus teacher when she attended Parker as an American Field Service exchange student and has been in close contact with her assisting with the college admissions process since she graduated in 2023.

In making arrangements for a cruise to see a number of places in Greece and Turkiye this summer, Tyler noticed that one of the scheduled stops was in Izmir and couldn’t pass up a chance to visit with Altunbas in her home country.

Altunbas and her family greeted Tyler on the docks at the break of dawn for a day full of fun. The goal was for Tyler to experience as many Turkish delicacies as possible. They shared a meal at Altunbas’ family’s favorite restaurant 20 minutes from the cruise docks, away from the touristy parts of town. Altunbas toured Tyler through the schools that she and her siblings attended, a place where Altunbas worked, a couple of bazaars, the clock tower and Tarihi Asansor, “the historical elevator.” Tyler shared, “Izmir is a beautiful city in Turkiye, and I hope to be able to return there very soon.”

09/10/2024

Do you have news to share with your classmates and friends? 📰 Fill out this link: https://www.formpl.us/form/2103816054

09/04/2024

Happy first day of school, Colonels! What are some of your favorite memories? 📚🍎🌟

08/28/2024

🧑‍🎓CALL FOR CLASS AGENTS!🎓

If you are interested in being a class agent or know a friend who would be ✨stellar✨in this role, please click the link below and choose “Class Agent” from the list.

Class agents act as Francis W. Parker School's Alumni Office liaisons to their classmates. This is a relaxed role without a set schedule, all while being a great way to stay involved with the school at your own leisure.

We are eager to share the news of and celebrate alumni accomplishments. But this is only possible when that information is shared with us! We would like for class agents to assist us in spreading the word and encouraging fellow alumni to get involved.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfIaiAeK8oOhwkgzelKzNFF9J97X5mQ05FD8MMeOGsKk1ijkQ/viewform

08/23/2024

The August 2024 edition of the Alumni Parker Post is out! If you did not receive it in your email inbox, please reach out to [email protected] to make sure we have your correct contact information!

08/09/2024

It was wonderful to see you all at Sushi Hall for the Summer Social all while enjoying a perfect summer Chicago evening! Special congratulations to Hanna Stotland ’93 for winning a Parker-branded Yeti mug in the raffle!

07/31/2024

Come Speak with Parker Students this Fall for Civic Lab!
The Alumni Office is excited to partner with the Upper School and integrate Career Day into Civic Lab (a 20-year tradition!). This new collaboration will allow students to connect with Parker alumni, explore career paths and choices and receive guidance from those who once sat where they are now.

We are looking for alumni, like you, to speak with 12th grade students about how you have used your Parker education to impact positive social change in the world. You can participate in-person or virtually!

Click below to learn more and to apply.
https://fwparker.myschoolapp.com/podium/push/default.aspx?i=625841

07/30/2024

Submit a class note and share your latest updates and great happenings with your fellow Colonels!

https://www.formpl.us/form/2103816054

07/24/2024

Congratulations to young alums Franny Adami '24, Arjun Kalra '24, Dylan Maki '24, and rising senior Beckett Nikitas '25 on their student films being chosen as an official selection for the 2024 All American High School Film Festival in NYC!

Dylan and Beckett's film is called "Forgotten Japantown" and is about the forgotten history of Chicago’s now gone, but once bustling, Japantown. Franny and Arjun's film is called "Captive Conversations" and is about an investigation into the price-gouging practices used on the incarcerated and their families.

The All American High School Film Festival is the premier destination for talented high school filmmakers and media arts enthusiasts from around the world. Our Mission is to provide immersive education with a profound impact, connecting the filmmakers of the future with the rewards, respect and reco

07/11/2024

We are always proud to see our alumni family grow! Congratulations to the Class of 2024 and welcome to an incredible network of Colonels. We’re so grateful to support your connection to the school and each other in your next phase of life. 🎓

06/27/2024

💥SAVE THE DATE💥 Wednesday, August 7 at 5:30 pm at Sushi Hall 🍣🍻 Registration link coming soon!

06/21/2024

The June 2024 edition of the Alumni Parker Post is out! If you did not receive it in your email inbox, please reach out to [email protected] to make sure we have your correct contact information!

06/20/2024

Join us in thanking William McCurine ’65 and Conway Collis ’66 for speaking at Morning Ex last month as the Inaugural Stenn Civics Speakers! (P.S. swipe ➡️ for some throwback photos of them on the football team 🏈)