Lewis University

Infobox University
name = Lewis University


motto = Signum Fidei ("Sign of Faith")
colors = Red and White
established = 1932
president = Br. James Gaffney, F.S.C.
city = Romeoville
state = Illinois
country = United States
undergrad = 4,000
postgrad = 1,500
faculty = 170 (full-time)
campus = Suburban
nickname = Flyers and Lady Flyers
free_label = Newspaper
free = the lewis flyer
website = http://www.lewisu.edu/

Lewis University is a private Roman Catholic and Lasallian university located in Romeoville, Illinois. The enrollment is currently around 5,200 students. Lewis offers more than 70 undergraduate majors and programs of study, 20 graduate programs, and accelerated programs for working adults.

History

Lewis University was founded in 1932 by the Chicago Archdiocese and Bishop Bernard J. Sheil as the "Holy Name Technical School". The school gets its name from philanthropist Frank J. Lewis who funded the construction of many of the school's buildings. In 1934 it was renamed the "Lewis Holy Name Technical School". The next year its name changed yet again to the Lewis Holy Name School of Aeronautics. In 1940, the name of the school changed to the "Lewis School of Aeronautics". During World War II, normal classes were suspended as the campus was given to the United States Navy to train pilots. Regular classes resumed in late 1944 and the college soon adopted a more traditional arts and science curriculum. Women were admitted for the first time in 1949. Three years later the school's name was changed to the "Lewis College of Science and Technology". The school's name was shortened to simply "Lewis College" in 1962 and finally received its current name of "Lewis University" in 1973.

In 2004 and 2005, Lewis continued to shatter enrollment records, reaching more than 5,000 total students. Lewis’ strengths as an institution of higher learning have been evidenced through various sources. The University has been cited as one of the best colleges in the region for the last two consecutive years by both The Princeton Review and U.S. News and World Report. The University is included in the top tier of U.S. News and World Report’s rankings of the best Midwest master’s-level universities, most recently placing 58 out of a total of 144 institutions. The Princeton Review named Lewis one of the “Best Midwestern Colleges,” with Lewis being ranked among a select list of 23 Illinois colleges and 158 Midwest institutions.

Colleges and schools

* College of Arts and Sciences
* College of Business
* College of Education
* College of Nursing and Health Professions
* School for Professional and Continuing Education

Athletics

"Lewis University" is a NCAA Division II school that is part of the Great Lakes Valley Conference and the Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association.

The men's volleyball team won the 2003 NCAA Division I/II National Collegiate Men's Volleyball Championship by defeating Brigham Young University, but it was later stripped due to violations.

Notable alumni

* Scott Becker, Vice President, John Burns Construction Company, Orland Park, IL
* Kay Cannon, television writer and actress
* Philip J. Cline, Superintendent of the Chicago Police Department (2003 - 2007).
* Charles H. Ramsey, Commissioner of the Philadelphia Police Department (2008 - present), Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department of the District of Columbia (1998 - 2006).
* Ernie Young, baseball player with the Oakland A's and San Diego Padres
* Brad Fiorenza, cast member from MTV's ""
* Larry Tucker, principal of Marist High School (Illinois) in Chicago
* Rick Huisman, professional baseball player
* Tim McCarthy, US Secret Service Special Agent that took a bullet for President Reagan assassination attempt(1981), Superintendent of the Orland Park Police Department
* James T. Borello, President, James T. Borello & Co. (1985 - )
* Joe Perrino, President, Home Run Inn Pizza
* Eric Urbanski, Lewis's most eligible bachelor
* Tim Colletti, Chicago White Sox Batboy from 2001-2007
* John W. Kilpatrick, 3 time Daytime Emmy Award recipient for the "Oprah Winfrey Show".
* John V. Strolia, 7 time Daytime Emmy Award recipient for the "Oprah Winfrey Show".
* Douglas Bobrowski, midday radio air personality "Doug Styles" for CBS Radio station WBBM-FM B-96.3 Chicago
* Deborah Olivia Brown, Director of Station Relations for NBC WMAQ-TV in Chicago
* George Schmidt, NFL Player for 1952 Green Bay Packers and NFL Player for 1953 Chicago Cardinals
* Wayne Molis, NBA 1966-68 Player for New York Knicks and Houston Mavericks
* Jerry Bennett, Mayor for City of Palos Hills, Illinois
* Yvette Marie Stevens - stage name: "Chaka Kahn", Performer and 8 time Grammy award winning artist, 4 time American Music Award winning artist, BET Lifetime Achievement Award
* John Lopreino - television actor in One Life to Live, Search for Tomorrow, and As The World Turns
* John Caponera '79, television actor and comedian

Campus Media

* The Flyer Newspaper [http://www.lewisflyer.com online "Flyer Newspaper"]
* WLRA Radio station [http://www.lewisu.edu/wlra listen live]
* Lewis University Television Network

ee also

*Lasallian Volunteers

External links

* [http://www.lewisu.edu Official website]
* [http://www.alumni.lewisu.edu Official Alumni website]
* [http://lewisflyers.collegesports.com Official athletics website]
* [http://www.lewisu.edu/campuses/romeoville/maincampusmap.htm Campus map]