Congratulations to our 2023 Scholarship Winners!
Jennifer Leon
TCU Superintendent’s Scholarship
Jennifer Leon is a senior at Washington High School who will continue her academics at theUniversity of Notre Dame. She is a part of Ivy Academy and received her Associate in General Studies in May 2023. Additionally, she is in the WHS Medical Magnet, which has allowed her to obtain certifications in Dementia Care and Basic Life Support.
One of her most influential mentors at WHS has been Jill Stamatovich, her Medical Magnet Health Science teacher, who has encouraged her to pursue her goals and supported her in her personal and academic life. Jennifer has loved volunteering for the Indiana Latino Institute, where she has pushed public health initiatives, highlighted leaders in her community, and helped provide educational resources to students in under-resourced communities.
She is most grateful for the various awards and scholarships she has received to help her further her education and credits her accomplishments to her humble upbringing that taught her to always make the best out of what she had. If Jennifer could share one last sentiment, it would be “Si Se Puede!
Braylon Shambry
Jack M. Champaigne Scholarship
Braylon Shambry is graduate of Riley High School, and plans to study Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering at Purdue University in the fall.
During his time at Riley, Braylon played on the Baseball team and the Bowling team. In his senior year, he led the varsity bowling team, taking a leadership role among his younger peers. He has also been a 4 year member of the Riley band, and hopes to be a part of the All-American Marching Band at Purdue.
Braylon is a member of the National Honor Society, and the recipient of the African American National Recognition Award (2022), the Brian Przbylski Sportsmanship Award (2023), and the Rising Star of Indiana Award (2022).
He is grateful for the help and encouragement that he has received over his four years of high school, and hopes that going to college will allow him to connect with companies and other companions to better his education and show the world that black men are capable of going to college and earning a college degree.
Kimberly Ruiz
Connie S. Varga Scholarship
Kimberly Ruiz attended Washington High School. Her extra curricular activities included being the WHS cheer captain for football season, senior class advisor, Latino Student Union club and many other clubs. She is planning to pursue Nursing in Fall 2023 at IUSB. She is most proud of winning the Connie S. Varga Scholarship and the Zeta Phi Beta Scholarship.
One of Kimberly’s favorite memories from high school was going down to the state finals in 2021 and 2022 to cheer on our girls basketball team. “This was one of my favorite memories because I felt the community pour love into each game and show dedication for our team. For each game we had the love of panthers that helped us win the state championship.”
Several mentors have helped her achieve success throughout high school including: Mr. Roberto Leal, Mrs. Jill Stamatovich, Mrs. Sonya Watkins and Mrs. Mary Bowers.
Thank you to Teacher’s Credit Union, Jack M. Champaigne, and Maranda VanBruaene for their generous support of these scholarships!
Kris Choinacky is celebrating 1 year of service with the SBAA!
I am so proud of all the SBAA has accomplished during my first year as the Executive Director! Since I started, we have awarded over $92,000 in Co-Ex Grants to 13 Elementary, Middle and High Schools in the SBCSC, supporting athletics teams, dance, music, robotics, quiz bowl and more. We have sponsored many community events; among them: we helped to bring 9,000 students to the South Bend Civic’s performance of West Side Story at the Morris, worked with the South Bend Symphony Orchestra on a free Dia de los Muertos event, and co-sponsored the South Bend Empowerment Zone’s celebration of Black History Month.
At our annual Hall of Fame event in October, we inducted a strong class of community All-Stars. This month, I was proud to witness the excitement of our three scholarship recipients as they recieved their awards at the SBCSC Celebration of Excellence, and we had two beautiful days at the new Girl Outing and our 30th annual Golf Tournament on May 10 and 11. Together, these two events raised over $40,000 to bolster our programs. All of the work we do in service to the growth and education of the children and youth in South Bend is the direct result of the generosity of our partners and volunteers. It has been a great year building new relationships with all of you. I greatly appreciate the support from our Board of Trustees. I hope to emulate their example of commitment to SBAA past and present, and to the students, teachers and adminstrators of SBCSC.
Thank you for all of your support! As an alumna of Washington High School, I am proud to be at the service of our students and our community. Ever onward!
CO-EX GRANT & SPONSORSHIP SPOTLIGHT
Riley Spring Musical
We were pleased to support the Riley High School Thespians this year! The production rights, rehearsal materials, and rehearsal/performance tracks for the Riley High School spring production of “Once Upon a Mattress” were all secured with the help of a Co-Ex Grant. The cast and crew all did an amazing job bringing this story to life! Bravo!
Using fleece donations collected during the run of the musical, cast members made tie blankets for the Sweet Dreams Ministry (St. Vincent de Paul Society of St. Joseph County). These blankets will be given to youth in the Michiana area that lack proper bedding.
“‘Once Upon a Mattress’ provided the opportunity for 34 students to come together, create art as a group, and form a community within school walls. Without these funds, we would not have been able to produce our spring musical.”
Nathan Mittleman, Choir and Theatre Arts Teacher
Co-Sponsored “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom”
On May 24, over 400 students from all 4 SBCSC High Schools were able to attend a performance of August Wilson’s play “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom” presented by the South Bend Civic Theatre at Washington High School.
Written in 1982 and set in 1927 in Chicago, the play follows black blues artist Ma Rainey’s struggle for control over her art with her white producer and explores cultural conflicts of the time.
The SBAA was proud to be a sponsor of this great event for SBCSC students!
RECENT EVENTS
Inaugural Girl Outing
May 10th was a beautiful day to spend at Elbel Golf Course! 80+ ladies gathered to contribute to the SBAA in our mission to support the students of the SBCSC. After a few false starts with the golf carts, the participants roamed the course, sampling food and drink from 16 local businesses, and shopping at unique area women-owned businesses. Along the way, they enjoyed some putting practice, great conversation, new professional connections, and discovered new area businesses to patronize. Thanks to all the Girl Outing Committee members, our Salutatorian Sponsors, Gurley Leep Automotive and Teacher’s Credit Union, ALL of our generous sponsors, and the participants and vendors who helped to make this event such a success!
30th Annual TCU Superintendent’s Golf Tournament
On May 11, we hit the links again with participants in our beloved annual Golf Tournament. We had over 100 participants join us for a great day of golf, friendly competition, and camaraderie, all in support of the SBAA and students in the SBCSC. Congratulations to the winning team from Intercambio Express (pictured top center)!
Thank you to our Golf Tournament committee, our title sponsor, TCU, and all of our sponsors, and to all the participants who came out and made this such a great day! For more pictures from the Golf Tournament, check out this video!
A special thank you is owed to the staff (Tony, Gary, and Tammy!) at Elbel Golf Course and South Bend Venues, Parks and Arts. Without your help, we could not have made either of the wonderful events happen!
2023 REUNIONS!
RILEY AFTER 50th
August 12, 2023
Contact: Darnall Bailey
RILEY 50th
Class of 1973
September 30, 2023
Contact: Kevin Williams
RILEY 40th
Class of 1983
July 15, 2023
Contact: Lorraine Badowski
LASALLE ALL YEAR
June 25, 2023
Contact: Craig Clark
LASALLE 50th
Class of 1973
June 24, 2023
Contact: Carla Csiszar Huegel
LASALLE 40th
Class of 1983
August 26, 2023
Contact: Kim (Hauguel) Shreve
LASALLE 41st
Class of 1983
Summer TBA
Contact: Lori Wisner Jamieson
JACKSON 50th
Class of 1973
September 9, 2023
Contact: Jon Shaffer
JACKSON 70th BASH
Class of 1971
October 7, 2023
Contact: Bill Thompson
CLAY ALL YEAR
July 29, 2023
Contact: Pattie Gates
CLAY 55th
Class of 1968
August 19, 2023
Contact: Patti McDonald Nemeth
CLAY 50th
Class of 1973
August 11, 2023
Contact: Judi Van Es
CLAY 45th
Class of 1978
July 22, 2023
Contact: Cheryl Romaine
CENTRAL 39th ALL YEAR
June 30, 2023
Contact: Greg Humnicky
ADAMS ALL YEAR
August 11, 2023
Contact: Jim Champaigne
ADAMS 60th
Class of 1963
July 22, 2023
Contact: Denny Rose
ADAMS 57th
Class of 1966
July 15, 2023
Contact: Linda (Biggs) Lange
ADAMS 50th
Class of 1973
August 12, 2023
Contact: Judy Miller
ADAMS 46th
Class of 1977
July 14, 2023
Contact: Pam Podenski
ADAMS 20th/21st
Class of 2002
June 23, 2023
Contact: Wally McWade and Erin Fairchild
ADAMS 13th
Class of 2010
June 10, 2023
Contact: Haley Patterson3
Stay up-to-date on your high school classmates and reunion activities by creating an account on your school’s site. Its FREE!
“The South Bend Alumni Association high school websites will be eight years old in July 2023. The seven public schools have over 101,800 classmate names and senior photos posted, with more being added each day.
The goal is to provide means for all classmates to connect individually with private or public postings as well as collectively by announcing reunions and related activities including posting upcoming classmate birthdays as well as obituaries.
An important aspect of classmate profiles is the recording of high school memories and later life in college, travels, military service, employment, marriage and children etc. These stories are very important to your fellow classmates, your family and future generations. Give some thought to review your story and update it. Your grandchildren will be very happy to read them.
You can leave comments in the “In Memory” section for a classmate, however, they will not be reading it. You may want to send the message now while you are both “above ground”. It’s like sending a smile electronically. They may be waiting for a hug or your good news.
We depend on yearbooks donated to scan and store in our reference libraries. All South Bend Schools for all years. Also, hundreds of our school newspapers have been scanned and searchable. Please donate any that you may find.”
— Jim Champaigne
southbendadams.com
southbendclay.com
southbendwashingtonhs.com
southbendriley.com
southbendjackson.com
southbendlasalle.com
southbendcentral.com
**Please click on each school link for the wizard to join each school.**
IS YOUR HIGH SCHOOL CLASS HAVING A REUNION THIS SUMMER?
- Who is on the committee?
- Date
- Place
- Cost
Please send information to: jfchampaigne@gmail.com