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Legacy Book

The College of Science & Health

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The College of Science & Health is proud to announce forthcoming publication of a book documenting the rich history of the sciences at Benedictine University, Illinois Benedictine College, and St. Procopius College. Authored by BenU alumnus and professor Dr. Tim Marin, Dept. of Physical Sciences, he states “Truly, this project has been a labor of love, in honor our founding monks and dedicated members of the faculty who have shepherded our science programs over the years. Our history is unique and fascinating, with ties to Nobel Prize winners, the Manhattan Project, and birth of the US Space Program. None of our peer institutions has a story that can compare.” The book reads as a chronological narrative that celebrates our science legacy. A plethora of historic photos reaching back to the 1880s nicely complement the text. The end result is to be a beautiful hardcover book worthy of display on the coffee tables of our science alumni.

CoSH historical banner

Tim Marin

Developed over three years, the book project has seen contributions of students and faculty across three colleges. Dr. Tim Marin’s physics and chemistry students worked alongside him to gather all the necessary information to tell the beautiful story of our science legacy. Many hours were spent in the University Archives, perusing BenU’s large collection of photos, reading various incarnations of student newspapers, and examining the repository of historic science equipment collected through the years. Students from the College of Liberal Arts are producing the book layout, formatting, and typesetting, and students from the College of Business are mapping out a marketing plan. The monks of St. Procopius Abbey and our Professors Emeriti have also greatly enriched the text by sharing their knowledge and stories.

Book Excerpt

The first several pages of the book can be viewed here as a teaser for the full publication to come. The narrative of the final version will include:

  • a history of the beginnings of St. Procopius Abbey and the formation of St. Procopius College, emphasizing the special intent placed upon establishing strong science and math education.
  • discussion of the evolution of the College as a whole, up to the present-day Benedictine University.
  • stories regarding development of each academic program and department within the sciences, from their inception up to the present day.
  • professional biographies lay faculty members whose impact over the years was so strong as to be awarded the title Professor Emeritus.
  • Necrologies and photographs for the Benedictine monks who shepherded the science programs over the years, including the program founders.
HILARY teaching BUGS lab
Procopius Hall

Per St. Procopius College alumnus and BenU Professor Emeritus Dr. Ralph Meeker, “Dr. Tim Marin has provided a comprehensive history of the sciences at St. Procopius College/Illinois Benedictine College/Benedictine University. When I think about the past 100 years or so, I cannot help but remember the contributions of the monastic community of St. Procopius Abbey, particularly Fr. William Shonka, OSB; Fr. Richard Shonka, OSB; Fr. Edmund Jurica, OSB; Fr. Hilary Jurica, OSB; and Fr. Cyprian Tomecko, OSB. Starting in the 1920s, they set a high bar of commitment to excellence in science and science teaching that has served as the foundation for achievements of generations of students.”

As a last stage in completing this project, we are reaching out to our science alumni in hopes that you will help enrich this work. We are looking for candid reflections or remarks about your days as a science student at BenU/IBC/SPC any related photos that you may have from that time. Your stories will be incorporated into the book as vignettes nested within the main text that complement the running narrative. Please click the ‘Submit Story’ button below to be taken to a separate web page where you can share your own story. Alumni stories will be accepted through April 15, 2022.

SUBMIT YOUR STORY NOW!
Scholl Hall
Ben Hall

The book will be sold at cost for $50 (shipping to your home included). We anticipate publication in August of 2022. Please express your interest in purchasing the book by clicking ‘YES’ below so that we can plan budget appropriately for demand. The College of Science and Health will be communicating an expected summer, 2022, publication of the book via social media and email.

ORDER A COPY OF THE LEGACY BOOK NOW!

Our amazing science legacy would not exist without the donation of time, talent, and financial resources. Thanks to the generosity of many donors, the College of Science and Health is blessed with a variety of endowments that primarily support the education and scholarship of our students. We kindly ask that you consider donating to the College of Science and Health General Fund using the link below.

Donate to the College of Science and Health
(Please write "College of Science and Health" in the designation area)