Jorndt Foundation Donates $1.2 Million To Amundsen HS

Maegan Resuello, 18, will be the first in her family to attend college and the $15,000 awarded to her and five of her Amundsen High School peers will help make college more affordable, she said on Monday.

“It’s me, my mom and sister, and she takes on the role of father and mother,” said the soon to be college bound senior, who’s headed to Depauw University. “I plan to go off to college and when I’m done, get a job and take care of them.”

She said she wants to either become a biomedical engineer or scientist. Her interest developed at Amundsen where’s she on the robotics team.

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Maegan was one of six Amundsen HS seniors to receive the Joy of Learning scholarship.

CPS CEO Dr. Janice K. Jackson joined Dan Jorndt, a 1959 Amundsen graduate, and former Walgreens CEO at the school for a special award assembly and ceremony. Jorndt’s wife, Patricia, joined him on the stage in calling up each scholarship recipient. Three teachers—Nicole Cordero, Benjamin Craig, and Jenny Nguyen Evans—were awarded the Joy of Teaching awards.

The Jorndts also announced a $1.2 million donation from the Jorndt Foundation toward the renovation of the school’s football stadium in Winnemac Park, which was rededicated as Jorndt Field in 2004. A new turf field will be finished sometime next year, they said.

Jackson thanked the donors, who have been rewarding scholarships since 1999. The idea for this award ceremony began when the Jorndts announced the donation of $1 million to fund scholarships for graduating seniors and grants for teachers.

“On behalf of CPS I want to thank you for being a friend to Amundsen for nearly two decades and also being a friend to CPS,” Jackson said. “Alumni like Mr. Jorndt should be coming back to their schools that they attended and giving back, whether it’s through resources, or through their time, their knowledge or providing access for our students.”

Senior Myreanna Smith, 19, said she feels blessed, adding that she has had her eyes on the scholarship since freshman year.

“I was so shocked they chose my name,” Myreanna said. “It was very competitive. You had to write two essays. It was a lot to go through it so I’m blessed and grateful that I won this award.”

She’s attending Northern Illinois University in the fall, pursuing a degree in international business.

When she heard the announcement about the school’s stadium renovation she said she got excited because she’s on the track team.

“It’ll be here after I’m gone, but this will mean a lot for track. They don’t have to run far to get a nice track field, so this is a blessing.”

Jorndt said the school has been doing well over the years.

“Amundsen has been rising in academics, rising in the quality and dedication of teachers; you’ve risen with this great principal and this will certainly help our track men and women and soccer and football players because now the field will be complete,” Jorndt said.

He said he and his wife have been hosting this annual award ceremony to honor the legacy of his father, Louis C. Jorndt, who served Chicago Public Schools students for 43 years, including more than two decades as a teacher and coach at Amundsen.

Full list of Joy of Learning Scholarship recipients:

Adeel Iqbal
Dang O
Hira Zeeshan
Jennifer Reynoso
Maegan Resuello
Myreanna Smith