Outstanding Alumni and Service Award Winners
Three Holy Cross College alumni were recognized this past weekend at the College’s annual Ave Crux Weekend President’s Gala. This year the Outstanding Alumni Award was given to the two co-founders of the Holy Cross Alumni Club of Chicago, Caitlin Hurley and Van Giles. The Outstanding Service award was given to Br. Shaun Gray for his lifelong contributions to Catholic primary education.
Caitlin Hurley graduated from Holy Cross in 2002. While there, she served as Residence Hall Council Representative and Student Body President. Her love for the school prompted her to co-found the first Holy Cross College Alumni Club in Chicago. She also serves on the Holy Cross Alumni Board of Directors and is a Class Agent for the 2002 class. She currently lives in Chicago and works at the University of Chicago’s Medical Center as a development officer.
Van Giles, a 2000 graduate of Holy Cross College is the co-award winner and co-founder of the Holy Cross College Chicago Alumni Club. He is the son of Holy Cross College Trustee, William Giles and is the younger brother of a 1995 alumni of the school. While at Holy Cross, Van Giles was a Dorm Representative and Secretary of the Student Government Association. He was also a featured writer for The Observer, the Notre Dame campus newspaper, and contributed to The Crossword, the Holy Cross student newsletter. He was also a member of Phi Beta Kappa.
Giles is currently employed as an Account Manager for Lake Effect Communications of Chicago. He is a member of the Publicity Club of Chicago and the Lincoln Park Young Professionals. He also volunteers weekly with the Lincoln Park Community Shelter dinner/brown bag service and annually with the Children’s Memorial Hospital toy drive.
Both award recipients are excited to report that the Holy Cross Alumni Club of Chicago has received overwhelming support and has exciting plans for 2008 and beyond.
Brother Shaun Gray, the recipient of the 2008 Service Award, graduated from Holy Cross College in 1968 and spent the next thirty-four years as an educator at Le Mans Academy, a Catholic boys boarding middle school run by the Holy Cross Brothers. At Le Mans, Gray served as the Director of Residence, Activities Director, Athletic Director, Director of the Military Program, Commandant, bus driver, basketball and soccer coach and assistant headmaster.
Brother Shaun is greatly loved by students, parents, faculty and staff alike. He has had a positive influence on young boys around the world, as the academy had many international students. Currently he works at St. Stanislaus Elementary School in Michigan City, Indiana.
Published 2/14/2008 by KP Palmer