Why We Walk |
Sandy McDermott
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The Walk-a-Thon began in 2007 as a Nichols Student Council event that partnered students, staff, parents, and the community. In 2008 the Walk-a-Thon was dedicated to honor Sandy McDermott, a beloved Nichols teacher who died suddenly of a heart attack at school in February of that year - and the event officially became known as "Nichols Has Heart - A Walk-a-Thon in Memory of Sandy McDermott."
Money RaisedOver the past 10 years the Nichols Has Heart Walk-a-Thon has raised over $220,000!
The money that the Walk-a-Thon raises is used to help out both Nichols Middle School as well as the Community. In the last 12 years the money that has been raised has been awarded in college scholarships to Evanston Township High School students who also attended Nichols Middle School, donated to great causes like The American Heart Association and Presence Saint Francis Hospital, and given to the Nichols PTA. |
The scholarship is in honor of Sandy McDermott to remember her devotion and dedication to Nichols Middle School. In her memory, Nichols sponsors an annual Walk-a-Thon to raise funds for Presence St. Francis Hospital and to provide scholarship opportunities to ETHS graduates. $2,000 scholarships will be awarded to four ETHS seniors who are graduates of Nichols Middle School.
Scholarship Requirements: Applicants must: • Be a graduate of Nichols Middle School • Be College Bound (Either 2 or 4 years) • Have completed 3-4 years of high school math Applicants must submit 2 essays: • Must be typed • Double space in 12-inch font. • 1-3 pages For more information on how to apply, or to apply online, please click here. |
Sandy McDermott Sandy McDermott was born in Evanston, attended District 65 schools, and graduated from ETHS. She also graduated from Northwestern University with a degree in Mathematics Education and began teaching at Nichols in 1984. Sandy married Jim McDermott and had three sons, Ryan, Geoff, and Kevin.
Sandy was very active in her career in District #65. She was a Math Department Chair, served on several committees that wrote curriculum for the Math Department, and sponsored clubs such as Future Problem Solvers, Matheletes, the Stock Club, and the St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital Math-a-thon. She was a union representative, and was elected several times to the District Track Movement Evaluation team. Sandy taught at Nichols, coached softball, and was on the social committee at Nichols for 23 years. She was truly an educational leader. In Glenview, Sandy was also very active in the District 34 schools. For example, she assisted the intermediate schools in piloting and implementing the Gateways Math Program. Sandy was very active in her sons' sports programs. She did not miss any Junior Titan football games or volleyball games. Once the twins started playing football at GBS, she was in charge of the Thursday night Pasta Parties for all 3 levels and could always be seen and heard cheering at GBS football games. She treasured her time at her lake house in Wisconsin, where the family enjoyed boating, water sports, snow skiing and snowmobiling. She traveled extensively in both the United States and around the world throughout her lifetime. Sandy is and will always be best remembered for her smile, her laughter and her friendship. She truly cared about everyone she knew-especially all the students at Nichols Middle School. |