Alumni Achievement Awards

​Foundation names Ike Reilly and Peter Lopez as their 11th Annual Alumni Achievement Award Recipients.​​​​​​​​​​​​​

 

The District 128 Foundation for Learning is proud to announce the recipients of its 11th Annual Alumni Achievement Awards:  Ike Reilly (Libertyville High School '1980) and Peter Lopez (Vernon Hills '2012). Reilly and Lopez were honored at the Foundation's annual fundraiser, THE BIG EVENT on Friday, November 8, 2024 at Austin's in Libertyville.

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Ike Reilly is an influential and impactful alumnus of Libertyville High School. Ike Reilly has achieved great success as a musician, singer, and songwriter as a solo artist and as part of the Ike Reilly Assassination. Those accolades aside, what sets Mr. Reilly apart from his creative and musical peers is that he has been a generous and engaged member of our school community, contributing his time, his talent, and his celebrity in ways that have had a lasting impact on our students and faculty.

As an artist, Mr. Reilly’s work has garnered widespread acclaim for its authenticity, powerful storytelling, and connection to the working-class experience. His contributions to music, particularly in the story-teller genres, have been recognized by critics and peers alike, including a lauded endorsement from Bruce Springsteen. Mr. Reilly’s artistic achievements are certainly worthy of recognition, but what further distinguishes him as an alumnus of Libertyville High School is his ongoing commitment to giving back to the school and community that helped shape him.

Ike has been a guest at Libertyville High School’s Writers Week, where he shared the stage with fellow LHS alumnus and world-renowned musician, Tom Morello. During these events, Mr. Reilly offered invaluable insights into the creative process, life as a musician, and the importance of following one's passions. His participation in these events has inspired countless students to pursue their artistic dreams and has highlighted the caliber of talent that comes from Libertyville High School.

 

During the pandemic, Mr. Reilly went above and beyond by generously offering his time and talent to engage with our students via Zoom. He conducted virtual sessions with some of our music classes and their teacher, providing students with unique opportunities to interact with a successful musician and learn about the industry in a deeply personal way. His presence and willingness to connect during such a challenging time had a profound impact on both students and staff.

Ike Reilly exemplifies the values of Libertyville High School and is a shining example of the incredible accomplishments that our alumni can achieve. His dedication to his craft, his generosity with his time, and his commitment to giving back to his alma mater. 

 

Ike Reilly was nominated for the award by LHS Assistant Principal, Eric Maroscher.

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Peter Lopez was a student who excelled in the culinary Arts Program at Vernon Hills High School. He took all levels of foods and competed in the Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) club where he earned a gold medal at state in a culinary competition.  He loved the field so much that he went on to attend The Culinary Institute of America (CIA) in New York. Peter graduated with an associates degree in Culinary Arts. During his time at CIA he participated in a competitive internship at one of Chicago's top Italian restaurants called Spiaggia. After 6 months of honing his Italian cooking skills and working under some of the best chefs in the city, he decided to further his education.  Peter’s father (also a chef) encouraged him to earn a bachelor's degree in hospitality with a concentration in food and beverage management to make him a well rounded person in the restaurant industry. Attending Kendall College was a turning point for Peter and his career.  He found his love for educating people on the topics of food and wine. Peter went on  to earn his level 1 and 2 sommelier certification.  Prior to graduating from Kendall, Peter completed a manager internship at RPM Italian.  This is where the foundation of his career was truly built.  

At RPM Italian, Peter worked for 6 months with the General Manager learning and working in the wine cellar. From this experience, Peter was offered a managing position at Summer House Santa Monica in Lincoln Park.  In his 2 years there he worked side by side with the wine director and curated the wine list and wine training. Peter was so successful in Chicago that he was sent to other cities and locations to help their restaurants.  Because of his hard work, Peter was sent to open Ramen San in Streeterville. He spent a quick 6 months there before he was asked to open Pizzeria Portofino along the riverfront. For almost 2 years he was in charge of scheduling, food and wine selection, beverage ordering, delivery platforms, and VIP guest service. Given Peter’s excellent record, he was then recruited by a new restaurant called Adalina; a fine dining Italian restaurant in the Gold Coast featuring spins and twists on Italian classics.  Here, he is currently the General Manager and was a part of the opening team. Adalina was nominated "best new restaurant" by Jean Banchet in 2022 and the wine program won a Wine Spectator award in 2022. 

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Peter was nominated for the award by LHS CTE Department Chairperson, Kristin Schwarz.

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Read About the 2023 Honorees

Rachel Jacoby

Patrick Slade

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Read About the 2022 Honorees

Bob Chikos

Danny Park

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Read About the 2021 Honorees

Frank Fitzgerald

Kate Lee

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Read About the 2020 Honorees

Jessica Lawdan

Tom Morello

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Read About the 2019 Honorees

Jessica Chiarella

Sarah Potempa

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Read About the 2018 Honorees

Chris Bryant

Dr. Raghu Mirmira

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Read About the 2017 Honorees

Steven Breitenfield

Brett Butler

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Read About the 2016 Honorees

Y. Ralph Chu, M.D.

David Margules

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Read About the 2015 Honorees

Allyson Bain

Gwynne Rowley Shotwell

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Read About the 2014 Honorees

Dale Eggert 

Matt Nuernberger

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