1. SPECIALSECTIONS.SUNTIMES.COM
FW | THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2013 | CUSTOM MEDIA SOLUTIONS, A DIVISION OF , LLC.
Get inspired
EDUCATION
SPECIALSECTIONS.SUNTIMES.COM
Alessandro Mazza,20,a junior at Lewis University in Romeoville,
majors in physics and chemistry.He minors in math.
But what he really excels in is the mechanics of running.
BY CARLY A. MULLADY
For Sun-Times Media
Lewis physics major teaches
how to get ahead of the race
Figuring the physics: Alessandro Mazza, a track team runner and a physics major at Lewis University in
Romeoville, uses his scientific knowledge to work with teammates to properly warm up before running.
Warming up at Lewis University are: Max Sliwa from Yorkville, Kayla Patterson from Fort Wayne, Ind., and
Sarah Kearney from Glen Ellyn. | MARY COMPTON ~ FOR SUN-TIMES MEDIA
SEE RUNNING, PAGE 2
Thescience
ofrunning
OPPORTUNITY SPEAKS | MENTORING THE FUTURE
Contact us for more information
(815)836-5250
admissions@lewisu.edu
www.lewisu.edu
New Oak Brook Location
1111 W. 22nd Street
Oak Brook, IL 60523
Achieve more.
Together
Lewis faculty and staff work together for the success of our students.
We invite you to learn more and achieve more at Lewis University.
Programs for Adults
Lewis offers multiple
Adult Undergraduate and
Graduate Open Houses
with multiple dates, times and locations.
www.lewisu.edu/ProgramsForAdults
Campus expansion
· Opening of a new 30,000
sq. ft. facility in Oak Brook
to serve graduate and adult
undergraduate students
· Acquisition of the St. Charles
Borromeo Pastoral Center in
Romeoville, providing 40 acres of
additional land and 140,000 sq. ft.
of buildings to the main campus
Recognitions
by Arbor Day Foundation
U.S. News & World Report
and Princeton Review
New academic programs
· Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)
· Nurse Practitioner programs
(Family Nurse Practitioner and
Adult Geriatric Primary Care
Nurse Practitioner) (MSN)
(M.S.)
Certificate Program
· Early Childhood Education
(bachelor’s and master’s)
· Educational Leadership with
Principal Endorsement (M.Ed.)
www.lewisu.edu/visitday
Undergraduate CampusVisit Day

2. PROGRESSEDUCATION2 | THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2013 | SPECIALSECTIONS.SUNTIMES.COM | CUSTOM MEDIA SOLUTIONS | FW
forward-up running mechan-
ic,which will lessen chances
of injury.
“Some people lean too far
forward when they run,for
example,”he said.“So with
those people we see a lot of
knee issues.”
They work with individuals
to a healthier,more produc-
tive form.
“Instead of saying,‘you
lean forward when you run,’
we try to help them under-
stand the difference between
the lead and being upright,”
Mazza said.“Some coaches
say‘relax your shoulders;’
if you run and get tired,it’s
difficult to remember.We’d
rather give the athlete a drill
that corrects that error.”
Mazza shows how to use
multi-joint exercises to relieve
poor tendencies.
“Athletes I work with,I like
to let them come to that con-
clusion themselves,”Mazza
said.“You break them of their
bad habits but we do it in a
way that is more natural.”
Limiting chance of injury
He and Leet have been
involved in injury preven-
tion programs the past two
summers.Last summer,they
worked withYMCA Camp
Benson in Mt.Carroll.
Mazza also worked with
Robert Narcessian at St.
Joseph Hospital in Newark,
New Jersey.
Whether in person or over
Skype,Mazza’s used running
mechanic drills for injury
prevention running mechan-
ics exercises.
“There’s a big neuromus-
cular thing,but it’s kind of
complicated,”he said.“It’s
all based on biomechanics
equations,and physics helped
me understand it.But you don’t
need physics to understand it.”
He said injury prevention
hits home for him as a student
athlete.While he’s had close
calls himself,he’s managed to
stay in pretty good condition.
When that isn’t the case for
other teammates,Mazza vol-
unteers to help them recover.
“There’s one athlete in par-
ticular,she’s a sophomore on
cross country and track.She’s
red-shirting this whole year,”
Mazza said.“She’s had shin is-
sues for about a year straight
and the head women’s coach
came and let me do my thing
with her.She’s red-shirting
this year,and he figured it was
worth a shot.He’s worked with
Janet (Leet) prior to this.”
Mazza worked with the
student for about a month.
“We have her doing the
forward-up running me-
chanic,”he said.“It’s really
relieved her pain.”
Future plans
After Lewis,he wants to
continue his education in
sports science,sports medi-
cine or biomechanics.
“I would like to go on to the
German Sport University in
Germany,”he said.“It’s one of
the better sports academies
in the world.After school,I’d
love to come back here.This
avenue of trying to prevent
injury has been very produc-
tive in my experience.”
He thinks it could tran-
scend into all sports and
could be taught in schools
and in gym classes,meaning
fewer injuries,surgeries and
need for physical therapy.
For more information on
Sub5,visit www.sub5dynami-
crunning.com.
On track: Alessandro Mazza (left), a member of Lewis University’s track and cross-country teams and a physics major
at the Romeoville school, uses his science knowledge to teach teammates how to run more efficiently. | MARY COMPTON
~ FOR SUN-TIMES MEDIA
Success story: Runner from Lewis University, Alessandro Mazza, from River
Grove holds a running trophy with his coach, James Kearney, from Lockport.
Mazza is a physics major at the Romeoville school. He uses his science
knowledge to teach teammates how to run more efficiently. | MARY COMPTON ~
FOR SUN-TIMES MEDIA
Columbia College Chicago was
recently awarded a grant by the Illinois
Department of Commerce and Economic
Opportunity to implement a more com-
prehensive composting program across
campus.This $5,000 grant will allow the
college to reach more of the campus with
the goal to divert 13 tons of food scrap
waste from landfills in 2012-2013, almost
double the 2011-2012 school year’s
achievement of seven tons.
“Expanding compost efforts allows an
opportunity to educate the community
about this new reduction process that will
help lower the school’s carbon footprint,”
explained JohnWawrzaszek,sustainability
manager at Columbia College.“The mis-
sion of the college is to educate students
who will communicate creatively and
shape the public’s perceptions of issues
and events,and environmental sustainabil-
ity is one of today’s most important issues.”
Composting is the process of decom-
posing organic matter,such as food waste,
into a soil fertilizer.The college’s pilot
compost program began in 2011 as an
extension of the recycling program diver-
sion efforts,focusing on campus cafes and
catered events,with the Columbia College
Library acting as a partner since the in-
ception of the program.The expansion will
include faculty,staff and student spaces.
To save fossil fuels and reduce their
carbon footprint, the college’s food scrap
waste is picked up by a local hauler Re-
source Center and processed at a facility
owned by Land and Lakes. After scraps
are broken down, they become a “soil
amendment,” or nutrients to be added
back to the soil. Practicing a “closed
loop” approach, Columbia has used this
product in campus landscaping efforts.
“The college takes a holistic approach
to campus-wide sustainability as is shown
through our online Sustainability Roadmap
that guides our campus events,purchases
and practices,”said Alicia Berg,vice presi-
dent of campus environment.“Columbia
College’s sustainable practices include all
aspects of campus life.”
In 2010, the college’s first newly con-
structed building, its Media Production
Center, attained LEED Gold certification.
Additionally, the remodeled fifth floor of
33 E. Congress is LEED Silver Certified,
and all renovation projects are built in ac-
cordance with LEED standards. Campus
buildings have occupancy sensors for
lighting in 90 percent of occupied spaces,
and nearly 50 percent of all campus
buildings’ HVAC systems are controlled
by Building Automation Systems.
Columbia College Chicago
GrantexpandsColumbiaCollege
Chicago’scompostprogram
Reduce your carbon footprint: Student orientation leader Goli
Parvinian composts food scraps on campus. | SUPPLIED PHOTO
Running expert: Lewis University junior, Alessandro Mazza, from River Grove, uses his physics expertise to teach teammates and adult students how to run
more efficiently. | MARY COMPTON ~ FOR SUN-TIMES MEDIA
Squared away: Lewis University track team member, Alessandro Mazza, from
River Grove, works with Matt Jemilo, from Tinley Park, to properly warm up
before running. | MARY COMPTON ~ FOR SUN-TIMES MEDIA
Mazza,originally from River
Grove,is on the university’s
track and cross country teams.
“Way back in high school,
my interest was in soccer,”
Mazza said.But,his school
didn’t have a soccer team,so
he played on a club team.
Looking to stay fit,he
joined cross country and sped
through sectionals and into
state competition.
“Since then I realized
maybe I was a little better at
running.”
His math and science back-
ground,which has been strong
since grammar school,helps
him develop an understanding
of the body’s movement.
This has been useful for
cross country,and the 1,500
and 5,000 meter runs in track.
It also comes in handy for
business.
Efficient running
mechanics
About once a week,Mazza
teaches classes at Sub5 Run-
ning Dynamics,which recently
opened in Arlington Heights.
“I teach mostly dynamic
running classes,”he said.
He joins owner Janet Leet in
improving customers’running
mechanics and strengths for
injury prevention.
“The goal of it is to get them
to feel the difference between
how they are running currently
and a more efficient mechanic
that would make them faster,”
Mazza said.
The idea is to create a
RUNNING | CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
The goal of it is to get them to feel the difference
between how they are running currently
and a more efficient mechanic that would make
them faster.
ALESSANDRO MAZZA,
Lewis University student who teaches mechanics of running
“The mission of the college is to educate
students who will communicate creatively and
shape the public’s perceptions of issues and
events, and environmental sustainability is one
of today’s most important issues.”
JOHN WAWRZASZEK, sustainability manager at Columbia College

3. PROGRESSEDUCATION FW | CUSTOM MEDIA SOLUTIONS | SPECIALSECTIONS.SUNTIMES.COM | THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2013 | 3
Waubonsee Community College has pro-
vided educational programs and services to
more than 275,000 students since its found-
ing in 1966, helping them to shape their own
unique paths to success.
Since the 2009 launch of our Project Gradu-
ation initiative, the number of students who
earned a credential here has nearly doubled,
from 1,271 completions in 2009 to 2,411 in
2012. Certificates give students real-world
skills to move out into the workforce, while
degrees can be used to obtain a job or trans-
fer on to a four-year college or university.
Residents can also enroll in Adult Second-
ary Education (ASE), Adult Basic Education
(ABE) or English as a Second Language (ESL)
courses.The noncredit classes, trips and
special events offered through Community
Education enrich the quality of life of both
children and adults;Workforce Development
offers noncredit classes for professional de-
velopment purposes.
These high-quality educational programs
are offered at convenient times at locations
close to home.The network of four campuses
includes locations in Sugar Grove and Plano,
along with two campuses in Aurora, one
downtown at 18 S. River St. and a building on
the Rush-Copley Medical Center Campus
on the city’s far East Side. Online learning is
another popular option.
Join our vibrant learning community.Visit
www.waubonsee.edu or call (630) 466-7900.
—Provided by Waubonsee Community College
Waubonsee helps shape the future
Who: Philip Danforth Armour Sr.,
1832-1901
His legacy: More than a business
tycoon in the meatpacking industry,
Armour was an admirable philanthro-
pist.A million-dollar contribution led
to the founding of Armour Institute,
later to be known as today’s Illinois
Institute of Technology (IIT).
Upon hearing about Chicago min-
ister FrankWakely Gunsaulus’vision
to build a school that would be open
to students of all backgrounds,rather
than just to the elite,Armour was on
board.All Gunsaulus needed was $1
million,and the meatpacking mogul
was willing to hand it over,as long as
Gunsaulus became the first president
of the school,which he did.Gunsaulus’
sermon became known as the“Million
Dollar Sermon,”and it resulted in the
opening of Armour Institute in 1893,
which offered professional courses in
engineering,chemistry,architecture
and library science.
IIT was formed in 1940 by the merg-
er of the Armour Institute and the Lewis
Institute (founded in 1895).Following
the initial million-dollar contribution,
Armour’s wife and son continued the
legacy for three decades more with
their own contributions.
Terra Cooney,For Sun-Times Media
Notable namesake: Philip Armour Sr.’s
donation helped found the Armour Institute.
| COURTESY OF ILLINOIS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
INSPIRATION IN ILLINOIS
19th-century donation
made high ed accessible
Despite efforts of many well-intentioned organizations and
individuals working for change, social movements often fail.
“Principles of Social Change” by Leonard Jason, a DePaul
University professor of psychology and director of its Center
for Community Research, examines how change can be ac-
complished more effectively.The new book, published by
Oxford University Press, is intended for academics as well as
anyone working to bring about societal improvement.
“Principles of Social Change” is drawn from Jason’s 30-plus
years of experience as a researcher working in the field with
medical professionals, community organizations, govern-
ments and others to improve society through initiatives such
as reducing teen smoking and stemming recidivism among
former alcoholics and substance abusers.
“The efforts of social activists and mental health profes-
sionals to institute population-level social change, such as
reducing poverty, often fail because they tend to focus on in-
dividuals and not real-life community conditions,” Jason said.
“They also fail to account for stakeholder commitment to
the status quo and do not develop concrete strategies to build
coalitions to alter policies.These unsuccessful attempts at
change can leave citizens, community groups and healthcare
professionals feeling dispirited and overwhelmed,” he said.
Jason points to the current epidemic of gun violence as a
long intractable social problem that has repeatedly defied
massive reduction efforts, but it could be addressed through
the principles he details.
He notes that similar steps have been used to dramatically
reduce the prevalence of smoking in many developed countries.
The book outlines how those looking to bring about social
change need to better understand what is required for suc-
cess and to avoid typical pitfalls, including:
■ Clearly defining the change being sought.
■ Identifying current stakeholders and forces leading to
status quo.
■ Creating coalitions that will work for the desired change.
■ Being patient while persistently working toward the goal.
■ Measuring success and integrating incremental progress
into revised plans.
Jason uses first-hand accounts of those who have worked
on a range of social justice issues, while giving unique insight
and presenting a comprehensive approach to develop-
ing social and community interventions, such as protecting
children, providing affordable housing and cleaning up the
environment.
“Paradigm shifts rarely happen within established institu-
tions in a society. It often takes a grass-roots initiative that
radically challenges the system or status quo,” Jason said.
“Throughout history, it has been ordinary people, driven by
a desire for social justice, who have achieved meaningful, life-
changing reforms, often starting in their own communities,” he
said.“Ordinary individuals who do not lose faith can overcome
enormous odds to target the root of a systemic problem.”
Jason is an author or editor of more than 20 books, includ-
ing “Havens:True stories of community healing,”“Rescued
Lives:The Oxford House approach to substance abuse,” and
“Remote control: A sensible approach to kids,TV, and the new
electronic media.”
His current research involves evaluating a bilingual volun-
tary community-based healthcare organization, which is fund-
ed by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.
Under a grant from the National Center on Minority Health
and Health Disparities, he also is studying community partici-
patory intervention with high-risk African-American women.
Jason is a past recipient of the American Psychological As-
sociation’s Karl F. Heiser Award for Advocacy.
About DePaul
With approximately 25,000 students, DePaul is the largest
Catholic university in the United States and the largest pri-
vate, nonprofit university in the Midwest.The university offers
approximately 275 graduate and undergraduate programs of
study on three Chicago and two suburban campuses.
For more information, visit www.depaul.edu.
DePaul University
DePaulprofessoraddresseshowtoachievesocialchange
I
t is not difficult to find private Eng-
lish language tutoring,a service that
can cost individuals and families
anywhere from $25 to $90 per hour.For
many people in Illinois and Indiana,
this price simply isn’t affordable.
But other options exist,many
of which are completely free and
available to those who want to learn,
better their lives and function well
in an increasingly complex society.
Citizenship,economic stability,job
security,self-sufficiency and the
ability to communicate with schools,
doctors and other professionals all
depend on learning and under-
standing the English language.
In Illinois,ESL courses are
provided through state and federal
funding via the Illinois Community
College Board.These programs
change lives by working to get
adults the assistance they need to
improve their English fluency.Just
ask Eduvina Onate,a volunteer tutor
at Joliet Junior College.
“Working here gives me a huge
opportunity to support people who
need help,”Onate said.“When I see
that my students have learned a new
word,it makes me feel that I have
done my job.I know that keeping
up with tutoring is going to make
them feel more confident in their
everyday lives.”
At age 33,Onate used the ESL ser-
vices and one-on-one tutoring at JJC,
which enabled her to pass her GED
exam.She then earned her volunteer
tutor training credentials and went
on to help other ESL students.
“Eduvina uses her personal
experience to help drive her in-
struction and inspire her students,”
said Emilie McCallister,director
of Adult Education and Literacy at
Joliet Junior College.“She has faced
what most of her students are going
through and she is an example of
how far they can go.Her students are
grateful for her help and they never
stop telling me about how patient
she is.When Eduvina tutors at a local
library,people from the community
approach her to see if they too can
get help.When she added yet an-
other student to her tutoring group,
I asked if she was doing alright with
the workload in addition to her col-
lege preparations,and she simply
replied that it’s not work,it’s fun.”
As a literacy trainer and support
specialist at JJC,Mandy Paquette
knows how difficult it can be to ask
for help when you’re not proficient
in English.
“It’s always rewarding to see how
thankful and surprised people are
when they realize they can get the
help they need for free.It’s not an
opportunity they waste.
“ESL students improve their read-
ing,writing,speaking and listening
skills,and often transition to adult
basic education or GED courses
with the ultimate goal of obtaining
or retaining employment,and/or
entering an occupational training
program,”Paquette said.
In Indiana,the Northwest Indiana
Literacy Coalition (NILC) as-
siduously works toward connecting
language and literacy programs with
the people there that require them.
“The Coalition is an issue driven
group,involved with literacy and
literacy related issues,”said Carol
Moore,Northwest Indiana Literacy
Coalition,board of directors.
Incorporated in 1987,the NILC
has been responsible for literacy
BY WENDY ALTSCHULER
For Sun-Times Media
ESL volunteers provide a
bridge to self-sufficiency
Languageofopportunity
Here to help: Joliet resident Eduvina Onate, left, volunteer tutor for the free ESL adult education and literacy program at Joliet Junior College,
goes over sentences with student Mayra Contreras of Joliet. | MARY COMPTON ~ FOR SUN-TIMES MEDIA
ENROLL TODAY:
www.waubonsee.edu
WE MAKE QUALITY
AFFORDABLE
WCC does not discriminate based on any characteristic
protected by law in its programs and activities.
Sugar Grove Campus
Rt. 47 at Waubonsee Dr.
Sugar Grove, IL 60554
(630) 466-7900
Aurora Campus
18 S. River St.
Aurora, IL 60506
(630) 801-7900
Copley Campus
2060 Ogden Ave.
Aurora, IL 60504
(630) 585-7900
Plano Campus
100 Waubonsee Dr.
Plano, IL 60545
(630) 552-7900
At Waubonsee, you’ll find a learning experience unlike any
other — one that combines innovative technology with
individualized instruction. Just bring your imagination,
enthusiasm and dreams, and we’ll help you achieve
beyond what you thought possible.

4. Joliet Catholic Academy
prides itself on setting an
academic standard.
It offers a three-tier pro-
gram to meet the needs of its
students:College Prep,Up-
per College Prep,and Hon-
ors.The Class of 2012 boasts
a 100 percent graduation
rate,a 26.2 ACT mean score
for the top 50 percent of the
class,and nearly $9 million
offered in scholarships.
Because of its small aver-
age class size of 23 students,
each individual receives
the attention they deserve.
Faculty and staff are invested
in students’ lives and wish to
see them succeed in and out
of the classroom. In addition
to one-on-one meetings with
their guidance counselors,
resources like NHS tutoring
exist for additional help and
the Naviance program for
college planning.
Students also have the
opportunity not only to take
accelerated courses,but
to earn up to 30 college
credits through the“Degree
In Three”program with the
University of St.Francis,or
take Dual Credit courses with
Joliet Junior College as part of
regular coursework.
JCA prepares students for
college and the real world.
“JCA more than prepared
me for the real world.The
classes that were offered
allowed me to advance in my
career field much faster than
most others do,” said Shan-
non (Mulcahy) Urbanzyk,‘07.
Opportunities abound
here at JCA. For more in-
formation, contact Debbie
Dispenza or Mary Ragusa
in the Admissions Office at
(815) 741-0500, or visit www.
jca-online.org.
Provided by Joliet Catholic
Academy
Joliet Catholic aims for excellence
G
rowing up,Topher Gleason of Joliet
struggled to find good role models.
“There were a lot of ‘untaught’ men
who were trying to teach me,” Gleason said.
It wasn’t until Gleason was an adult that he
sought and found men to teach him “how to
be a man.” He wanted to take that knowledge
and share it with somebody other than just
his son. He made a pledge: to pay it forward
by becoming a mentor himself. Gleason has
been a mentor with Big Brothers Big Sisters
of Southern Kane and Kendall counties in
Aurora for the past six years.
“The main thing a boy wants in his life is
to have another man show him how to be the
man he knows he can be,” he said.
How it works
One of the most universally recognized
mentoring programs is Big Brothers Big
Sisters.
Their mission is to “provide children
facing diversity with a strong, enduring, pro-
fessionally supported one-to-one relation-
ship that changes their lives for the better
forever,” said Eric Dhom, school-based pro-
gram coordinator for Big Brothers Big Sisters
of South Kane and Kendall Counties.
Through the BBBS program, volunteers
make a commitment to mentor a young per-
son for a minimum of 12 months.
“We look for someone who is dedicated
and willing to try and make a difference,”
Dhom said. Commitment on the part of the
grown-up is essential to becoming a suc-
cessful BBBS mentor.
“Be consistent … show up, be a positive
influence, have an open mind and a positive
attitude, be a good listener … those are the
core skill sets that we’re looking for,” said
Jeremy Foster, vice president of corporation
and foundation relations with Big Brothers
Big Sisters of Metropolitan Chicago.
Prospective BBBS mentors fill out an ap-
plication.The organization then conducts a
layered background check. If all systems are
a “go,” the organization matches “littles” in
need of “bigs,” and with whom they share
similar interests.
Because BBBS receives about 4,500 to
5,000 inquiries a year from people wanting
to volunteer, they have to be stringent in
their efforts to provide good mentors for the
children.
As such, mentors receive training about
best practices for interacting with children.
This can range from walking a mentor
through how to talk to a child that may have
developmental issues to simple conversation
starters.They also learn about proper and
improper touching, listening skills and dif-
ferent activities that “bigs” and “littles” can
do together.
Foster says background checks don’t stop
after volunteers have been screened and
matched — not by a long shot. In fact, after
a mentor has been approved and matched
with “a little,” BBBS continues to perform
background checks at least twice a month.
“Because you’re still matched with our kid
through the life of the program ... we want to
know what type of person you are,” he said.
The rewards
Isaiah, 13, of Montgomery, who was
matched up with Big Brother Gleason,
confirmed that mentoring has made a big
difference in his life.
“Topher talks to me a lot and he’ll answer
whatever questions I have … I feel like his
little brother,” Isaiah said.
Isaiah said the relationship with Gleason
has helped him to be able to talk to people
more easily and get to know them — some-
thing he didn’t do before he met Gleason.
But it’s not always the mentee who is
learning.
“He’s good in so many different ways …
the greatest thing about him [Isaiah] is that
he’s teaching me how to be a man myself,”
Gleason said.
Bowling buddies: Topher Gleason from Joliet gives a pump fist as his “little brother” Isaiah knocks almost all the pins down during a night of bowling at Brunswick
Zone in Naperville. Gleason is a volunteer for Big Brothers Big Sisters and has been a “Big Brother” for six years. | PHOTOS BY MARY COMPTON ~ FOR SUN-TIMES MEDIA
BY RHONDA ALEXANDER
For Sun-Times Media
Positiveinfluences
BIG IDEAS
Are you interested in learning more about becoming
a Big Brother or Big Sister? Visit the website at www.
bbbs.org.
Mentoring program provides strong relationships for
Helping hand: Topher Gleason from Joliet goes over bowling tech-
niques with his “little brother” Isaiah from Montgomery during a
night of bowling at at Brunswick Zone in Naperville. | MARY COMPTON
~ FOR SUN-TIMES MEIDA
PROGRESSEDUCATION4 | THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2013 | SPECIALSECTIONS.SUNTIMES.COM | CUSTOM MEDIA SOLUTIONS | FW