Community news: Elmhurst U names health department after longtime nurse, and more

Chicago Tribune

6 days ago

Longtime critical care nurse Diane Tyrrell has been honored by Elmhurst University, which dedicated the Diane Tyrrell Department of Nursing and Public Health during a ceremony at the university's new Health Services Building.
The 45,000-square-foot facility, which opens in the fall, will be a hub for the public health and nursing programs, as well as the occupational therapy and communication sciences and disorders programs.
Tyrell, a critical care nurse for 45 years, was named Nurse of the Year at University Hospitals Cleveland medical center in 1988. Her husband, Trustee Emeritus Thomas Tyrrell, an alum, has joined her in supporting Elmhurst University for nearly 50 years. He joined the university's board of trustees in 1990 and was a trustee until 2011, including leading the board from 2002-07. He was given the university's Founders Medal in 2007.
The Tyrrells also have supported athletics and the Tyrrell Fitness Center, the Annual Fund, campus improvement projects and student scholarships, including the Diane M. Tyrreel Clinical Nursing Endowed Scholarship Fund.
'We are so inspired by how Tom's love for Diane and his alma mater came together to create this generous gift, which will benefit our students and faculty for years to come,' President Troy VanAken shared in a news release.
Hinsdale students were among winners of Metra's 18th annual Safety Contest, in which students across the Chicago area used their creativity to educate the public about the importance of being safe around railroad tracks and crossings.
In this year's contest, which had a theme of 'See Tracks? Stay Back,' students competed for up to $500 Amazon gift cards for their original artwork. Winners will be featured in Metra's 2026 safety calendar and on its Saturday/Sunday/holiday day passes. Students in fifth through 12th grade could enter hand-drawn or digital artwork, and children in kindergarten through fourth grade entered hand-drawn posters.
First-place winners were recognized at a recent Metra board meeting.
For hand-drawn posters, Leah Wong, a seventh-grade student at Hinsdale Middle School, and Conner Jaoran Jia, a ninth-grade student at Hinsdale Central High School earned first place. First-grade student Juno Zhao of Lane Elementary School in Hinsdale, and Michael Chen, ninth grade, at Hinsdale Central, were named second-place winners. Third-place winners included Logan Ho, a kindergartner from Madison Elementary School in Hinsdale; Nathan Macrie, third grade, and Grace Fu, second grade, both at Madison Elementary School in Hinsdale.
Studying Arabic language and culture is a little easier for Tinley Park resident Mikala Marcussen-Abuharb, Elmhurst University's first student to be accepted into the Critical Language Scholarship program.
After finishing the program, Marcussen-Abuharb becomes a priority candidate for the CLS program in Jordan the summer after her senior year at Elmhurst. She'll be a junior this fall.
The U.S. Department of State offers the fully funded summer program for undergraduate and graduate students to learn languages that offer 'strategic importance to the United States' national security, economic prosperity, and engagement with the world,' according to a university news release. Its acceptance rate of less than 10% makes it the most competitive foreign language scholarship program in the country.
She is one of 20 students who will learn one academic year of university-level work in the eight-week program, which started June 16. She'll also work with a private language instructor.
Marcussen-Abuharb served the U.S. Navy for six years as a machinist's mate second class stationed in South Asia and the Middle East after high school. Her husband, a native Arabic speaker from Jordan, sparked her interest in the language.
'We live in a predominantly Arabic-speaking area of Tinley Park, and I have witnessed the inequities in health care access created by language and cultural barriers,' she said via the release. 'My goal is to become a dentist for the Arabic-speaking population, to bridge this gap. I also seek fluency, to converse and better understand the culture of my new family in Jordan.'
Donuts with Dads takes place from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Aug. 16 at the Hinsdale Public Library, 20 E. Maple St.
Fathers can enjoy coffee and the sweet treats while spending time with their children of all ages at the library. Different activities take place each month.
Details are at hinsdalelibrary.info or 630-986-1976.
Paul Connery, of Downers Grove, was promoted last month to partner at the personal injury law and medical malpractice firm Levin & Perconti in Chicago.
Before joining the firm, Connery was a Cook County state's attorney for four years, working in the Narcotics Prosecutions Bureau. He also was part of the team that started the Chicago Prostitution and Trafficking Intervention Court in Chicago.
After that, he spent time defending product liability cases and tort claims at a defense firm.
Connery, who has a bachelor's degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and a law degree from the Loyola University School of Law, also does volunteer work, serving on the board of directors for Life Span, an organization that serves victims of sexual abuse and domestic violence in the Chicago area.
Adults 21 and older who love music from the 1990s should plan to attend Cantigny Rewind, featuring live music with the Boy Band Review tribune group, from 7:30 to 11:30 p.m. Aug. 9 at Cantigny Park, 1515 Winfield Road in Wheaton.
Attendees are invited to dress in throwback attire, snap photos at themed spots, play childhood games and experience creative cocktails and mocktails with a DJ set from Airro Music. The park's beer garden and cafe will offer a variety of hot meals, cold sandwiches and grab-and-go snacks.
Upgraded tickets include early entry at 7 p.m., premium parking, four drink tokens and access to a private bar.
Before Aug. 9, regular tickets cost $40 and upgraded tickets cost $115; on the day of, tickets cost $45 and $135 respectively. Information is at cantigny.org or 630-668-5161.