News

Niles Education Foundation starting new year

Supporters of the Niles Education Foundation are receiving invitations in the mail this week for the Third Annual “Legendary Evening” fundraiser on Aug. 20, 2016. The NEF event at Orchard Hills Country Club is honoring “Exemplary Vikings Making a Difference” in their communities.

Recipients being honored at this year’s August event were nominated by their former Niles Community Schools’ teachers and administrators and staff. The Board of Trustees of the NEF made the final selections for the “Exemplary Vikings” honors. Their names will be announced in mid-July.

Niles students cook up Thanksgiving meal for area seniors

Leader photo/CRAIG HAUPERT
Niles High School culinary arts students, on the left, serve guests Wednesday at the Greater Niles Senior Center.

When guests say the only thing better than the food is the service, it makes for a good meal.

Culinary arts students from Niles High School garnered rave reviews for a Thanksgiving meal served to local seniors Wednesday morning at the Greater Niles Senior Center.

“It looks good, it smells good and what I’ve had so far tastes good,” said Eleanor Parker, who regularly eats lunch at the senior center. “The group serving it is extremely friendly and doing an excellent job.”

Approximately 30 students in grades 10th through 12th split into groups to either prepare, cook, serve or wait on the dozens of guests packed into the senior center’s eating area.

Culinary arts instructor Jayson Zoll said the students have been preparing for this day since last Thursday.

Niles Education Foundation commences new giving year

The Niles Education Foundation is kicking off its 2015-2016 fundraising campaign with its second annual “Legendary Evening” at Orchard Hills Country Club on Saturday, August 22 beginning at 6 p.m. featuring Peg Parrott and music by the Sixth Generation, a nationally-acclaimed band made up of several Niles High School graduates from the 1960s.

Last year’s “Legendary Evening” was the Foundation’s first major fundraising event and thanks to the generosity of many local people, family foundations and local businesses, the Niles Education Foundation cleared $35,000!

Niles Schools looking Wall of Fame Candidate

Niles Community Schools is making a renewed effort to find eligible candidates for the district’s Alumni Wall of Fame.

Located outside the high school auditorium, the Wall of Fame currently has just one member: famous 1960s musician Tommy James of Tommy James and The Shondells. The band’s classic single, “Mony Mony” reached number one of the U.K. Singles Chart in 1968

Apple Cider Press

Leader photo/CRAIG HAUPERT
From left, Cheyanna Lewis, Angelique Mills and Katie Bell extract juice from apples using a press machine Thursday morning in the culinary arts room at Niles High School.

The sound of shoes moving across a sticky floor traveled throughout the culinary arts room at Niles High School. A tangy scent filled the air. All around, students wearing white aprons and hairnets grinded and pressed apples to create the signature drink of the fall season: apple cider.

United Federal Credit Union check presentation

United Federal Credit Union donated $5,000 to the Niles Education Foundation in support of this weekend’s Tribute to Vikings Legends gala. In back, from left, are Jack Strayer, Shane Shidler, Bill Haslett, Sue Majerek and Hal Davis. In front, from left, are Jan Badtke, Lorrie Vallance, Brett Wier and Darla Schneider. (Leader photo/CRAIG HAUPERT)