Selection Committee

Terry Stephens
Terry Stephens is a lifelong resident of the Village of Midlothian. He is an alumnus of St. Christopher School, Bremen High School, and Elmhurst College (now Elmhurst University). He started his teaching career in District 228 in 1974 at Oak Forest High School. In 1984, Terry became the Head Swim Coach at Bremen, a position he held for 21 years.
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Jessica Rucinski
Jessica Rucinski is a proud graduate of Bremen High School, Class of 2003. Jessica’s positive experience as a student at Bremen, coupled with the mentoring and guidance she received from outstanding Bremen educators led her to pursue a degree in Education. Jessica began her career in Education in 2008...
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Tony Velasquez
Tony Velasquez, a proud graduate of Bremen High School, class of 2003, is the Founder and Managing Director of Wisely Advised. With a strong focus on helping individuals and families achieve financial success, Tony is also committed to giving back to his alma mater by supporting the development of the Bremen Hometown Hero program.
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Erin Shank
Erin Shank (née Stephens) is a member of the Bremen High School Class of 2000. Erin went on to receive her Bachelors of Science at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. She studied Virology and Biochemistry and worked in research and diagnostics before starting her life’s biggest adventure
raising seven children.
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Chris Deems
Chris Deems, a graduate of Bremen High School, class of 2024, is the owner of Wisely Advised Accounting, a full-service CPA firm. With a passion for financial excellence, Chris is dedicated to helping businesses navigate their financial futures with confidence. As Treasurer of the Bremen Hometown Hero program, he plays a vital role....
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