OLW Alumni Perspectives

Wayside’s Lasting Impression

Our Lady of the Wayside’s spiritual training and high academic standards prepares our students for a successful
future. Several of our excellent OLW graduates have highlighted for us the role Wayside has played in their lives.
If you are a graduate and would like to share your thoughts on Wayside’s lasting impact on you, please do so via
our Alumni Registration page. We would love to hear from you!

“Wayside has been and continues to be an important part of my family’s life. My mother taught at OLW for 25 years and all three of her children graudated from Wayside. OLW not only provides an excellent academic experience but strongly instills a Catholic focus on daily life that has helped me both professionally, as a parent and being a friend. Our children are currently enrolled at Wayside and we are seeing those same virtues reflected in their education.”
- Karen DeZellar, OLW Class of ’78

“The sense of service and community that I developed at OLW has led me to a career of service in the US Army. Wherever I go in the world, those strong values serve as the foundation for my actions.”
- Court Harris, OLW Class of ’99

“The strong educational foundation from Our Lady of the Wayside School during my elementary and middle school years provided me with the tools, both intellectually and spiritually, to pursue my career aspirations. I currently work as a Nurse Practitioner and, on a daily basis, am able to work with others and give back to the community. My husband and I moved back to Arlington Heights a little over a year ago, and re-joined the Wayside Parish because of my strong beliefs in the school and church’s commitment to their members and students.”
- Michelle (Koulias) Harris, OLW Class of ’92

”Hi I’m Tyler Stanley. I graduated from OLW in the class of 2006, St. Viator in 2010, and am currently a freshman at Vanderbilt University. Wayside provided me with the solid foundation of both academics and morals which I continue to rely on today. In Ms. Cavers’ honors math class I observed her passion for math and she helped me realize how much I enjoy it too, which is why I am studying to be an engineer. Also, my first experiences in peer ministry with Kevin O’Connell caused me to be involved in Youth Ministry all through high school, leading retreats and going on mission trips, and will surely continue to be a part of my college experience.”
- Tyler Stanley, OLW Class of ’06

“OLW provided a challenging educational environment with excellent teachers who took their jobs seriously, were there for the right reasons, and were genuinely interested in their students’ academic and personal achievements. OLW held me accountable to high standards, taught me the foundations of my faith, and most importantly, helped me develop a properly formed conscience-to determine right from wrong and take into account “doing the right thing” even if it may be contrary to personal gain. My experience at OLW was, without question, an essential part of my academic, professional, personal, and spiritual growth, and as long as I have the means, I will do everything I can to ensure my children are provided a Catholic school education during their formative years.”

- Jay Cherwin, OLW Class of ’90

“Attending Wayside has provided me with a strong spiritual and educational foundation that has contributed to my success today. Because of the memorable and hard-working teachers who taught me at Wayside, I have chosen a career as a teacher, where I can have the same impact on students’ lives that these teachers had on mine. My years at Wayside not only provided me with wonderful memories to last a lifetime, but a quality, faith-filled education that has allowed me numerous opportunities in my high school and college careers.”

- Lisa Koulias, OLW Class of ’97

“I can honestly say that the friendships I made at OLW are ones that are going to stay with me for a lifetime. In my journey through high school, I have learned how to be open to new friendships because of the confidence I gained from Wayside. At Rolling Meadows High School I am involved in Student Council, Stampede Executive Board, basketball and soccer. I continue to stay involved with Wayside and even participated in a mission trip with Wayside this past summer to Davison, Michigan.”

- Anne Marie Lynch, OLW Class of ‘08

“Going to Our Lady of the Wayside taught me many great things, but one of
the most important was good study habits. High school is definitely more
challenging, but using the study habits Wayside taught me has helped me in
my success at Prospect.”

- Connor Milligan, OLW Class of ‘08