Conversation with Distinguished Alumni Class of 2024

District 303 graduates Cheryl Denz, Rick Gibson, Jeffrey LaDeur, and Karen Schmidt were recently honored as the Distinguished Alumni Class of 2024. As part of their return to their former schools, the four award winners joined the Voices of D303 podcast to discuss the honor and what it means to be recognized. 

“My time at this school is very close to my heart, but I haven’t lived here in 15 years,” said LaDeur, a 2004 graduate of East High School who now works as a  successful pianist and music mentor. “It brought back a lot of beautiful memories and gratitude for this place–just a real honor.” 

The alumni offered advice for current students, emphasizing that they remember what it’s like to be young and unsure what lies ahead. 

“Not every kid is the star student,” shared Denz, a 1991 graduate of St. Charles High School who still lives in the area and provides mental health support to children as a licensed counselor. “I wasn’t that kid, but I still had a lot of potential and I still had the wherewithal to succeed and hopefully make a difference in the world. It doesn’t necessarily start in high school, and that’s okay.”

Several honorees also reflected on their time in District 303, and how they believe the educational system has progressed since they attended school. 

“I was impressed by a lot of the different opportunities that are given today,” said Gibson, a 1985 graduate of St. Charles High School and lawyer who has also joined with his wife, Beth, to create a non-profit focused on improving the lives of children with Down Syndrome. “(Classes in) business, accounting, marketing–all those different disciplines that we didn’t have an opportunity in. It’s really refreshing to see that District 303 continues to evolve and keep up with the demands of the world.” 

All of the graduates agreed that they enjoyed the chance to pay it forward by meeting with current students and staff. 

“As a parent, I’m sure that there’s a little bit of uncertainty of what happens when the student walks out the front door,” said Karen Schmidt, a 1996 graduate of St. Charles High School who works as the managing partner at an executive search firm. “Every single parent of every single student I interacted with should know with certainty that their kids are making them proud by how they went into those conversations (with us).”

Learn more about the Distinguished Alumni recipients on the District 303 website.