The 23rd Annual Tradition of Excellence Awards at Oak Park and River Forest High School honored four prestigious alumni at its dinner and student assemblies last Thursday and Friday.
This year’s awardees:
? Mike Feinberg, class of 1987, co-founder of the KIPP Foundation. KIPP (Knowledge Is Power Program) is a network of more than 45 high-performance schools throughout the nation. Feinberg is also superintendent of KIPP Houston, which includes two middle schools, an early childhood school, and an elementary and high school.
? Alex Wurman, class of 1984, has worked as a film composer since the early 1990s. His film credits include the piano melodies of “Confessions of a Dangerous Mind” directed by George Clooney and “Anchorman” starring Will Farrell. His latest work includes the score for this summer’s surprise box office hit “March of the Penguins.”
? Patricia Paulsen, class of 1945, is a former president of the League of Women Voters and president of the Iron Oaks Foundation. In 1973, Paulsen became the first women elected as a trustee of south suburban Flossmoor. She is currently a member of the Board of Trustees at Eureka College.
? Paul Harvey Jr., class of 1966, is the son of legendary Chicago broadcaster Paul Harvey. Paul Harvey Jr. is a author, pianist, composer and television and radio broadcaster. Among his plays is 1996’s “Burton.” He also created one of the longest-running radio series in history, “The Rest of the Story” has been on the air for 29 years.
Harvey was unable to attend this year’s event. The recipients were honored last Thursday with a dinner and spoke to students at an assembly on Friday. Students seated in the school’s large assembly hall were treated to separate video presentations by Feinberg and Wurman. Ms. Paulsen, asking the students to think of heras a sort of grandmother offering advice, encouraged students to find their motivation and use it to better society.
Feinberg gave an overview of KIPP, telling students that much of his passion to become an educator began as a student at OPRF.
“I think back to the great teachers I had and think about what they did to get me to learn in a fun way and I’ve taken those lessons with me,” he said.
In a change of pace of sorts, Wurman prepared a short video of his work in California including introductions of some of his staff and a tour of his production studios
His memories include former teachers, Wurman said, who taught him inside and outside of the classroom. “I just remember happy, giving people from this institution, that’s the way I remember it,” he said.
CONTACT: tdean@wjinc.com