Marmion Academy
Encyclopedia
Marmion Academy is a Roman Catholic
high school
for young men
located in Aurora, Illinois
. It is located in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Rockford
.
The academy is run by the Benedictine monks of Marmion Abbey
, located on campus. The academy has a United States Army
Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps
(JROTC) program that has been a part of the academy since its early years, but was not a part of the school in the inaugural year of 1933–34.
The school is a part of the Suburban Christian Conference.
) with the Fox Valley Catholic High School, which the Augustinians had just returned to the diocese of Rockford. During the Great Depression
era it was difficult for students to pay their tuition
, so the monks, in 1935, associated with the JROTC program and changed its name to Marmion Military Academy. In order to provide more options for its student body and a return to the original spirit of the school, the monks of Marmion Abbey decided to make JROTC an optional program and to reinstitue the original name of the school, Marmion Academy.
At one point, there were two campuses: one for residential students and one for day students. The two merged back into the Butterfield Road campus, which had been the residential campus. In early 2002, the school decided to close its residential program and started to expand its student body.
In 2010 the Marmion Cadets placed 2nd in state in the 6A state championship for football and 3rd in the cross country class 2A state championships.
Marmion requires that each graduate complete 4 credits each in English and Theology; 3 credits in Mathematics; 3 elective credits; 2 credits each in a Foreign Language (4 credits recommended), Science, Social Studies, and either Military Science (JROTC) or Leadership Education and Development (LEAD); and 1 credit each in Health/Physical Education; and ½ credit in Music and Art. Marmion students are required to perform at least 15 hours of community service each academic year.
At least 23¼ credits are required for graduation.
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
high school
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
for young men
Single-sex education
Single-sex education, also known as single-gender education, is the practice of conducting education where male and female students attend separate classes or in separate buildings or schools. The practice was predominant before the mid-twentieth century, particularly in secondary education and...
located in Aurora, Illinois
Aurora, Illinois
Aurora is the second most populous city in the U.S. state of Illinois, and the 112th largest city in the United States. A suburb of Chicago, located west of the Loop, its population in 2010 was 197,899. Originally founded within Kane County, Aurora's city limits have expanded greatly over the past...
. It is located in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Rockford
Roman Catholic Diocese of Rockford
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Rockford is an ecclesiastical territory or diocese of the Roman Catholic Church in the northern Illinois region of the United States. The prelate is a bishop serving as pastor of the motherchurch, the Cathedral of Saint Peter in the City of Rockford...
.
The academy is run by the Benedictine monks of Marmion Abbey
Marmion Abbey
Marmion Abbey is a Benedictine community of the Swiss-American Congregation in Aurora, IL - it was founded in 1933 from St. Meinrad Archabbey in Indiana...
, located on campus. The academy has a United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps
Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps
The Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps is a Federal program sponsored by the United States Armed Forces in high schools across the United States...
(JROTC) program that has been a part of the academy since its early years, but was not a part of the school in the inaugural year of 1933–34.
The school is a part of the Suburban Christian Conference.
History
Marmion Academy was created in 1933 when the monks of St. Meinrad Abbey combined Jasper Academy (Jasper, IndianaJasper, Indiana
- Strassenfest :The Jasper Strassenfest is a four-day event held annually during the first weekend in August. The "Fest" is a celebration between Jasper and its German sister-city Pfaffenweiler, a small village in southwest Germany. Many citizens of Pfaffenweiler travel to Jasper around this time...
) with the Fox Valley Catholic High School, which the Augustinians had just returned to the diocese of Rockford. During the Great Depression
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
era it was difficult for students to pay their tuition
Tuition
Tuition payments, known primarily as tuition in American English and as tuition fees in British English, Canadian English, Australian English, New Zealand English and Indian English, refers to a fee charged for educational instruction during higher education.Tuition payments are charged by...
, so the monks, in 1935, associated with the JROTC program and changed its name to Marmion Military Academy. In order to provide more options for its student body and a return to the original spirit of the school, the monks of Marmion Abbey decided to make JROTC an optional program and to reinstitue the original name of the school, Marmion Academy.
At one point, there were two campuses: one for residential students and one for day students. The two merged back into the Butterfield Road campus, which had been the residential campus. In early 2002, the school decided to close its residential program and started to expand its student body.
In 2010 the Marmion Cadets placed 2nd in state in the 6A state championship for football and 3rd in the cross country class 2A state championships.
Academics
Graduation Requirements:Marmion requires that each graduate complete 4 credits each in English and Theology; 3 credits in Mathematics; 3 elective credits; 2 credits each in a Foreign Language (4 credits recommended), Science, Social Studies, and either Military Science (JROTC) or Leadership Education and Development (LEAD); and 1 credit each in Health/Physical Education; and ½ credit in Music and Art. Marmion students are required to perform at least 15 hours of community service each academic year.
At least 23¼ credits are required for graduation.
Extracurricular activities
In 1994, the academy introduced an alternative to JROTC, Leadership and Service or L&S. The Leadership and Service program later became the "Leadership Education and Development", or "LEAD", program.Notable alumni
- Brad ChildressBrad ChildressBrad "Chilly" Childress is the former head coach of the Minnesota Vikings. He attended high school at the Marmion Academy in Aurora, Illinois...
is the former head coach of the Minnesota VikingsMinnesota VikingsThe Minnesota Vikings are a professional American football team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings joined the National Football League as an expansion team in 1960...
. - Larry EnglishLarry EnglishLarry English is an American football outside linebacker for the San Diego Chargers of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Chargers 16th overall in the 2009 NFL Draft...
is a LinebackerLinebackerA linebacker is a position in American football that was invented by football coach Fielding H. Yost of the University of Michigan. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and line up approximately three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage, behind the defensive linemen...
for the San Diego ChargersSan Diego ChargersThe San Diego Chargers are a professional American football team based in San Diego, California. they were members of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
. - Chick HearnChick HearnFrancis Dayle "Chick" Hearn was an American sportscaster. Known primarily as the long-time play-by-play announcer for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association, the legendary Hearn is remembered for his rapid fire, staccato broadcasting style, inventing colorful phrases such...
is the former play-by-play announcer for the Los Angeles LakersLos Angeles LakersThe Los Angeles Lakers are an American professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California. They play in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...
. - Chris LauzenChris LauzenChristopher J. Lauzen is a Republican member of the Illinois State Senate. Lauzen was first elected in 1992, has been re-elected to the State Senate in 1996, 2000, 2002, 2006, and 2010, and ran for Illinois Comptroller in 1998 and Congress in 2008...
is a member of the Illinois SenateIllinois SenateThe Illinois Senate is the upper chamber of the Illinois General Assembly, the legislative branch of the government of the state of Illinois in the United States. The body was created by the first state constitution adopted in 1818. The Illinois Senate is made up of 59 senators elected from...
. - James D. OberweisJames D. OberweisJames D. "Jim" Oberweis is an American businessman and investment manager. He is most notable as the owner of Oberweis Dairy, in North Aurora . Oberweis has been a candidate for Governor of Illinois, U.S. Senator, and U.S. Representative.-Education:He attended the University of Illinois, where he...
is a politician and owner of Oberweis DairyOberweis DairyOberweis Dairy, headquartered in North Aurora, Illinois, is the parent company of several dairy-related operations in the midwest region of the United States...
.