Schools

First Inductees into District 202's Alumni Hall of Fame Announced

In an event sponsored by the Foundation for Excellence, the four graduates will be honored at an April 8 dinner at the Bolingbrook Country Club.

Four graduates will be the first to be inducted into the district's Alumni Hall of Fame.

Karen Hamilton, class of 1958; Dr. Bradley Barnes, class of 1977; Lt. Col. Christopher Cozzi, class of 1988; and Dr. Julie Ruddy, class of 1988, will be honored at an April 8 dinner and auction sponsored by the District 202 Foundation for Excellence.

"This is an evening which inspires us to stand up and applaud the accomplishments of these fascinating individuals," said Carla Erdey, chairman of the foundation, said in a news release on the event. "It will be a wonderful evening and you will not be disappointed."

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The induction ceremony will be held at the Bolingbrook Country Club. Tickets are $75 and can be purchased at any District 202 school or by using the form at www.d202foundation.org/alumnihall.html.  

The new Alumni Hall of Fame was founded to recognize and showcase graduates who have created a legacy for current and future students. Those selected have had achievements in their chosen profession and have given back to District 202, their community or society. All inductees are nominated by community members.

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Community Service and Volunteerism Category: Karen Hamilton, retired student services department secretary at Plainfield High School (now Plainfield High School - Central Campus), "put the needs of students above all," the release said. "That attitude prevailed beyond the school walls as she has been a supporter of the Plainfield community and has taken exceptional care to look after the less fortunate in the community."

Hamilton has led the Needy Family Drive since 1993, providing families with a meal and gifts during the Christmas season, and is a member of the Plainfield Lions Club and the Plainfield High School Athletic Hall of Fame. She is a key supporter of the foundation's scholarship program.

Medicine and Health Category: Dr. Bradley Barnes, who is described in the release as "a leader in the field of dental health serving his patients at his Normal, Ill., practice; colleagues at the national, state and local levels; and perhaps most impressively serving underserved patients in desperate need of treatment around the world and at home."

He has gone on dental mission trips to Swaziland Southern Africa, Haiti and Northern Africa and as Co-Chairman of Illinois' Mission of Mercy, Barnes has brought together more than 1,000 dental professionals to meet the needs of more than 2,000 underserved patients throughout Central Illinois at a free clinic.

Government and Military Category: Lt. Col. Christopher Cozzi, who following graduation went to the U.S. Air Force Academy, where he was a distinguished graduate and commissioned as a second lieutenant.

In his almost 20-year military career, Cozzi has piloted KC-10 tankers and C-5 airlift aircraft and served on missions in more than 10 major operations including Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom, the release said.

He commanded the 802nd Operations Support Squadron at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, which at the time was a key hub in evacuation efforts for hurricanes Gustav and Ike. It was named the Air Force Air Education and Training Command's Air Traffic Control Facility of the Year and Airfield Operations Facility of the Year in 2008 and 2009.

Cozzi and his wife Gina, a 1989 Plainfield High School graduate, have five children, the youngest two of which were adopted from the foster care system.

Government and Military Category: Dr. Julie Ruddy is the supervisory clinical psychologist and head for recruit mental health at the Navy's James A. Lovell Federal Health Care Center.

According to the release, Ruddy has full clinical and administrative supervisory responsibility for all levels of military and civilian staff. Throughout her career, she has served the mental health needs for the Navy as a naval officer and civilian.


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