Founded in 1886, the school was initially established in Chicago as the all-boys St. Procopius College and Academy by Benedictine monks, who also operated the St. Joseph Bohemian Orphanage.
Notable alumni of the school include Bishop Robert Barron, NBA player Frank Kaminsky, Jim Ryan,[7] and Grammy-winning singer Dave Bickler.
The nuns were transferred from Pittsburgh to St. Scholastica's Convent on Chicago's north side, but later that same year moved to an old parish building at Ashland and 19th Streets, where they would remain until 1912.
[17][18] Failing to attract a single prospective applicant in over seven years, they expanded enrollment to students with no intention of joining the clergy.
The two groups would eventually be taught separately, and the monastic students were trained to become priests fluent in Bohemian, German, and English and prepared to preach to ethnically diverse congregations.
Following the Latin years, students were enrolled in the business course, which included math, bookkeeping, economics, composition, history, oratory, and religion.
[30] Due to increasing applications for admission, still more space was required, and William Schwartz sold the abbey 40 acres (16 ha) of land in Lisle.
On July 16, 1911, a new building was dedicated on the grounds of what is now Benet Academy, the same day the cornerstone was laid for the nearby Sacred Heart Convent.
Bishop of Joliet Martin Dewey McNamara gave the former orphanage buildings to St. Procopius Academy,[39] which was at that time still combined with the college.
[22] The groundbreaking was held on April 19, 1900, the school moved in May, and the new facility was dedicated on July 1, 1901, by Peter Muldoon, Bishop of the Diocese of Chicago.
[14] After the war, the previously ethnic Czech college acquired a more diverse student body, due to rising enrollment caused by the G.I.
In 1926, under the leadership of Mother Mary Genevieve, the convent founded a day and boarding high school for girls—the Sacred Heart Academy.
By 1964, the last year in which boarding school students were enrolled, alumni had hailed from all US states, South America, France, Mexico, and Guam.
The farm was closed in the late 1950s for financial reasons and the convent sold most of the land so a school could be built for the growing village of Lisle.
[53] The business education program from Sacred Heart was continued at the new school; three teachers taught courses in consumer economics, typewriting, shorthand, and bookkeeping.
[32] The new facilities included zoned lighting areas, which allowed for multipurpose use for assemblies, performances, sporting events, and graduation ceremonies.
[63] In the fall of 2015, Benet began its Building + Inspiring + Leading strategic initiative to evaluate ways to improve the student experience.
[67] Shortly after this decision was announced, Austin G. Murphy, abbot of St. Procopius Abbey, released a statement saying that he was "deeply troubled" by the actions of Academy administrators, and that he would be "taking this matter to prayer" in order to discern how to proceed.
Members must maintain high GPAs, take advanced classes, and fulfill a large service hour requirement to remain in the program.
Scholars take part in many events throughout the year, including attending the Harvard Model Congress in Boston, visiting research laboratories, and participating in advisory councils for state lawmakers.
[91][92] In 2000, Benet outscored all DuPage County high schools, which then-Principal Ernest Stark attributed to its closed campus policy, silent study halls, and "more focused" and "not very fancy" curriculum.
[107] Benet competes in the East Suburban Catholic Conference (ESCC), part of the Illinois High School Association (IHSA).
[108] The school sponsors teams, named the Benet Academy Redwings, for men and women in basketball, cross country, golf, lacrosse, soccer, swimming and diving, tennis, track and field, volleyball, and bass fishing.
[117] Benet's boys' basketball team has set several state records, including a 102 home-game winning streak between November 26, 1975, and January 24, 1987.
In 2000, the department began depicting works that were "not quite so fluffy and light", including Children of Eden, West Side Story, Fiddler on the Roof, The Pirates of Penzance, and Into the Woods.
[137][138] In February 2010, the Law Club participated in its first mock trial, sponsored by the Illinois State Bar Association, which is expected to become an annual event.
[141] The fundraiser is a school-wide effort, jointly coordinated by Student Government, National Honor Society, and LIFT, Benet’s Campus Ministry.
The Christmas Drive was featured in the cover story of the December 2010 issue of Christ is our Hope, the official magazine of the Diocese of Joliet.
The money was used to support a mission trip in Appalachia, and also to provide food, school supplies, blankets, and gifts to local families in the Chicago area.
The Friends of Imiliwaha Jr. Board invites all passionate individuals who want to lend a hand in improving lives for those in Tanzania, Africa.