Cynthia Collins: Prescription for a Fulfilling Career

Although she had graduated from the school more than four decades earlier, 1979 alumna Cynthia Collins arrived on the SFDS campus last summer with the excitement of a freshman. “I’ve gotten the school newsletters throughout the years, and have gone to our class reunions,” Ms. Collins said. “When I got the email blast that Roni Facen was the new principal, I was so excited that I just had to go meet her!” Ms. Collins attended the August 2020 SFDS cookout, and was surprised to find that Principal Facen already knew of her. “Prior to the cookout I had bought some things on the school’s Amazon wish list. Roni remembered that right away,” Ms. Collins said. “I’m excited to have someone with such energy leading the school, and am happy to offer any support I can.”

Ms. Collins says that one of the reasons Roni’s arrival has been significant to her is that the population of Black students during her own time at the school was very small. “The immediate area around the school was Croatian, Serbian, and Polish,” she said. For Ms. Collins, however, navigating the school’s diverse environment was second nature. “I grew up the daughter of an electrical engineer and an educator,'' she said. “The circles that my family traveled in were always multicultural, so I had friends of all walks of life.”

After attending elementary school at St. Edmunds Episcopal School, Ms. Collins enrolled at SFDS, following in the footsteps of her older cousin. She and her family lived in Chatham until Ms. Collins’ junior year, when they moved to Glenwood, Illinois—but the distance didn’t stop her from completing her SFDS education. “My dad bought me a car, and for that last year and a half, I commuted up to an hour each way.”

One of the reasons Ms. Collins didn’t consider transferring schools after the family move was her involvement in the school’s extracurricular activities. “I was really into student government and was a student council officer for awhile,” explained Ms. Collins, who helped organize the school’s first dance-a-thon as a fundraiser for Providence St. Mel High School. “We were at the school all night. It was a lot of planning but a lot of fun, and groundbreaking at the time,” she said. Ms Collins’ other favorite memories of her SFDS days include the Homecoming pep rallies and parades, and the dances in the Rink with live bands.

But while her activities outside the classroom were memorable, Ms. Collins says that her experiences in the classroom were especially transformative. “I think the academic environment at St. Francis was outstanding,” she said. “We had opportunities that I didn’t hear people from other schools talk about. Latin was my favorite class—I will never forget Sister Rita Marie! Being a pharmacist, I still use Latin to this day.” Ms. Collins also cited the school’s “outstanding” AP program, which allowed her to place out of a few first-year college classes, and the business law class. “Business law was taught by Mr. Goich, a former New Orleans Saints football player,” Ms. Collins said, marvelling, “He was the biggest man you’ve ever seen!” 

 Not all classes received the same high marks from the alumna, however. “In PE class, we had these thick polyester rompers—they were awful—and we had to run to Cal Park when the weather was nice. I hated that!” Ms. Collins laughed. “I did enjoy learning ballroom dancing, lindy hop, and the fox trot, but the other stuff? They could keep it!” 

 After graduating from SFDS near the top of her class, Ms. Collins attended the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana, initially on a pre-veterinary track. It wasn’t long before she realized it wasn’t for her. “They took us out to the farm, and we had to try to milk a cow. Not long after that, I switched to pre-med!” 

 Ms. Collins credits much of her success in college to SFDS: “St. Francis prepared me very well for higher education. I didn’t have any unusual struggles academically or culturally, or with my confidence. The school gave me an excellent foundation to move forward.”

 Following U of I, Ms. Collins attended pharmacy school at the University of Illinois Medical Center. She jokes that upon graduation she started with “the obligatory Walgreens tour.”  She moved onto Mercy Hospital, and later Northwestern, where she served as director of the hospital’s outpatient pharmacy. For the last 13 years of her full-time career, she returned to a retail environment, working in various management positions for Sam’s Club.

 In 2018, Ms. Collins left full-time work in retail pharmacy.  Although she doesn’t think she’ll return to a retail environment, she has not ruled out working in another capacity. “Pharmacy is a really interesting profession,” Ms. Collins said. “ I loved it, and got a chance to do a lot of things. Working on the clinical side,in administration, and on the retail side, they all had their merits. I think I made a very good career choice!”

 Ms. Collins has one daughter, Kelli, who lives in Chicago, works as a personal trainer and manager of a fitness facility, and competes in powerlifting. The irony of her daughter’s career path is not lost on Ms. Collins. “As much as I hated everything athletic, my daughter is that much into it,” she laughed. “She loves what she does, and I’m so proud of her.”

 Ms. Collins has some words of advice for current SFDS students. “Whatever is offered, participate. You only go around once.” Ms. Collins added that, even though this school year has looked very different due to Coronavirus, this is still an important time for students: “People say this is the best time of your life. You don’t believe it until 20 years later! Make networks, talk to each other. Above all, be safe, be smart in your choices, and be patient. I know it’s hard for some young people to be patient, but we can get past this.”

Meet the Brizuelas: A Pioneering Family

Growing up in the South Chicago neighborhood in the 1980s, Elisa Brizuela didn’t have much say in which high school she would attend. “A lot of people in our neighborhood went to St. Francis de Sales [SFDS], including my two older sisters,” explained Elisa. “Going anywhere else wasn’t even something our family considered.”

Fortunately, her parents’ choice was one the 1986 SFDS graduate ended up wholeheartedly agreeing with. “My high school experience was awesome,” Elisa recalled. “The school was extremely diverse, with a lot of different ethnicities strongly represented. That was nice, because you learned a lot from other people.” 

Diversity wasn’t the only thing that stood out for Elisa about her years as an SFDS Pioneer. “Everybody was so smart!” Elisa exclaimed. “That was one thing I noticed when I got there. Kids really wanted to do their homework, and it seemed like everybody was in honors classes.” Reflecting upon how that academic culture impacted her, Elisa added, “The environment definitely inspired me. It helped me stay on top of my game, and kept me motivated.”

That motivation led Elisa to DePaul University, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in finance, and it has fueled her work as an equity trader in the Loop over the past three decades. She admits, though, that her memories of SFDS weren’t entirely positive: “I didn’t like the uniforms. I’m not gonna lie, I hated them,” laughed Elisa. “And the school was really strict. You couldn’t chew gum. You couldn’t run in the hallways, and I was always in trouble for wearing crazy socks.” Elisa acknowledges that those rules may not have been all bad: “I liked the fact that there was discipline, even though at the time I complained,” Elisa reflected. “It was a small price to pay for what I got. The experience helped me with my career, because I’m still surrounded by smart, diverse people, just like I was at school.”

Nearly 35 years later, Elisa’s youngest daughter, Maya, is now following in her footsteps, although Maya’s feet are walking the virtual halls of SFDS for now. Despite this being anything but a typical freshman year so far, Maya has a positive view of her first several weeks at SFDS: “It was actually easy getting used to my schedule, and the homework isn’t bad!”

Maya credits the two-day orientation at the beginning of the school year with helping her get to know people. “My classmates and I exchanged information during orientation, and we are helping each other out, but I’m really looking forward to being able to connect more in person.” Maya says that when extracurricular activities do resume, she is interested in participating in volleyball, basketball, and track. 

Both Elisa and Maya were thrilled this past summer when they learned that Maya was named the recipient of the SFDS Alumni Raffle Scholarship. “We’re still emotional about it,” said Elisa. “My husband and I are confident that Maya is going to receive an excellent education here, and it’s a wonderful feeling knowing that she is attending the same school that gave me such a strong foundation.”

And although Maya is only just beginning to write her own SFDS story, she appreciates what the scholarship means both for her own education and for her family. “I’m looking forward to everything I’ll learn, and it’s great knowing that I am helping my parents out by getting this scholarship,” said Maya. “They’ve always worked so hard to keep me on track with my education, so it feels good to be able to help them, too. The fact that I’ll be doing it at my mom’s Alma mater makes it even more special.”

Interview with Senior Rosa Mendoza

St. Francis de Sales senior Rosa Mendoza has a lot to celebrate. Not only is she poised to graduate at the top of her class and be the first in her family to attend a four-year university, but she was also the first SFDS senior to receive a college acceptance letter this year. We caught up with this busy young woman to learn more about her journey.

How would you describe your experience here at SFDS?

 Rosa: Being in a small school has made it easier for me to voice my opinion and be able to talk to my classmates. I have one friend whom I used to not get along with AT ALL, and now she’s the closest person to me! I feel like it helped me realize that people aren’t always what they first seem, and you need to communicate to understand people. I also like going to mass and spending more time in church...sometimes going to church has helped me take a mental break from school! My teachers have helped me manage my time better and have made me get out of my comfort zone.  

What activities have you been involved with over the past few years?

 Rosa: A lot! I’ve played volleyball and soccer, and have also participated in the photography club, the newspaper team, and the National Honor Society.

What staff members have had a particular influence on you, and why?

Rosa: Mr. Sanchez and Coach Flores have both influenced me a lot. Mr. Sanchez has always told us that he sees potential in every single student. He’s always been there to help me, and answers any questions I have about anything. Coach Flores has been there for me since I met her, and she always listens to me complain and gives me the best advice! 

How did it feel to get your first college acceptance letter? 

 Rosa: It felt amazing! I applied to ten colleges—I think!—and I’ve received five acceptances so far.  

Have you made a decision on where you will go?

 Rosa: Yes! I plan to attend the University of Illinois and major in BioChemistry so I can get into Pre-Med and become a gynecologist.

 What is something that your classmates and teachers don’t know about you?

 Rosa: Many people at my school might not know that I actually hate socializing and it makes me very nervous.

Tell us a little about your family. 

Rosa: My family came from Mexico and I’m the first to be born here, so there’s a lot my parents and older brothers don’t know about this country and that I’m also learning as well. My family is completely determined to move forward and do their best. I don’t think there’s a day that anyone in my family just sits at home doing nothing. Everyone is always moving and trying to get ahead. 

What has been the key to your success? 

Rosa: I think it’s important to mention that this wasn’t easy. There have been nights where I haven’t slept because I’ve been studying for my classes, then staying up doing homework for Olive-Harvey College because I take dual enrollment classes there. I leave my house at 6:50am every day, and when I have class at Olive-Harvey, I don’t get home until 9:30pm, and that’s when I eat and start to do my homework or projects. People think I’m just smart so I get good grades and college acceptances, but that all has come from the hard work I put in.

Mike Zunica’s Field of Dreams

While it may be true that no one gets into high school coaching for the money, it’s also rare for someone to trade in a lucrative career for a baseball cap and clipboard. Yet for Mike Zunica (St. Francis de Sales, ’81), a former options trader at the Chicago Board of Trade for 11 years, it was only a matter of time. “In my mind I always wanted to get back into Catholic education and coach,” he explained. “I made a deal with myself that if I could swing it financially, I would.” 

In 1993, Zunica began laying the groundwork for his career change, coaching sophomore baseball for St. Francis de Sales High School (SFDS), where he had been a star outfielder more than a decade earlier. “I had chosen to go to school at de Sales because of their great reputation for baseball,” he recalled. “We had nine guys in my freshman class who were committed to winning the Chicago Catholic League Championship. The school had never won one in its history, and together we accomplished that goal. It was a phenomenal experience.”

After one year with SFDS and subsequently coaching for Stagg High School and Argo High School while continuing to work at the Board of Trade, Zunica took the professional leap, accepting a full-time coaching position with St. Rita of Cascia High School in 1997. It doesn’t take a professional trader to see that it was a sound investment: In his 21 seasons as head baseball coach, which included eight years as athletic director, Zunica was the fastest coach to 600 wins in Illinois High School Association (IHSA) history. Under his leadership, the program amassed 14 regional championships, five sectional championships, five super-sectional championships, five Chicago Catholic League Blue Championships, and three summer state championships. Zunica’s program was also ranked nationally in 13 of those 21 seasons, including a number one ranking in the USA Today poll for a portion of the 2015 season.

More significant to Zunica than championship banners and trophies, however, were the more than 200 players from St. Rita’s program who proceeded to play college baseball over his two decades at the helm, with many going on to play professionally. That number—approximately 10 players per year—is more than ten times the national average for high school programs.

Zunica credits a large part of the program’s success to its priorities. "We made sure our players knew that faith and family came first, and then baseball,” he said. “But when they were on the field, all their focus had to be there.” His own commitment to his players didn’t begin and end on the field. “It was all about the journey, and my biggest goal was to make sure every one of my players felt they were equally important,” said Zunica. “I always told them, ‘our commitment to you isn’t just for four years; we’re going to be here for life if you need us.'” It is a promise he has kept, from writing recommendations for former players, to counting many former players among his close friends. “The relationships that have come out of coaching have been the biggest blessing,” he added.

Putting his own family first, Zunica retired from coaching at the end of the 2017 season to be able to follow his son Mateo’s baseball career at Kansas University, where Zunica’s elder son was completing a four-year football career. St. Rita honored the longtime coach at his final game, declaring it “Mike Zunica Day” and renaming the baseball field “Mike Zunica Field.” “That was very humbling; I didn’t see it coming,” Zunica said. 

In honor of his achievements, Zunica has been inducted into three halls of fame: St. Xavier University Athletics Hall of Fame (2004); St. Rita High School Hall of Fame (2018); and Sports Faith International Hall of Fame (2016), in which he joined the ranks of George “Papa Bear” Halas and Boston Celtic Hall of Famer Bob Cousy. Zunica is also an eight-time Illinois High School Baseball Coach of the Year, and was named a Men of Tolentine “Man of the Year” in 2011, following in the footsteps of honorees including Cardinal Bernardin and New York Yankee player Nick Etten.

Following his retirement from coaching, Zunica served as president of St. Rita for three years. He is now in his rookie year at Brother Rice High School as Vice President of Development and Assistant to the President. “I’ve not been a big change guy; I’ve had my life planned out in chunks,” admitted Zunica, “but I love my new environment and I love the people I’m working with.” Asked if he misses coaching, he is frank: “Twenty-six years of coaching high school baseball is a grind—there’s a lot that goes into trying to run a program at the highest level—so really, it feels pretty good,” he laughed. 

For the past two years, Zunica has shared his time and talents with SFDS’s work study committee, helping to recruit local businesses to participate in the impending program. He says that the business response has been positive because of the important role the school plays in the neighborhood. “Local businesses know the value in the strength of their immediate surroundings and community. It makes sense for them to keep the school strong, as it’s a stabilizing presence in the neighborhood,” he explained, adding, “the East Side cares about SFDS and its future.”

Zunica’s participation on the committee stems from his faith in the mission of Catholic education.  “I agreed to help because I believe the gift of a Catholic education is one of the greatest gifts someone can receive,” he shared. “Those of us committed to Catholic education know that we have the ability to change lives and create opportunities, and we believe that that changed life will pay it forward.” With more than four decades under his belt between learning, competing, and coaching at, and leading Catholic institutions, Zunica shows no signs of slowing down. “SFDS changed my own life and I will forever be grateful, and will continue to do my best to keep paying it forward.”

Team Aubert

Team Aubert

As you might expect from a teenager, St. Francis de Sales (SFDS) sophomore Jai Aubert is quicker to point out the differences between himself and his dad than the similarities. When pressed to identify things the two have in common, Jai eventually conceded, “We both love basketball and the Lakers, and we both like cracking jokes.” When asked about the differences between them, the self-proclaimed jokester was much quicker to respond. “I have hair; my dad’s bald,” Jai deadpanned. 

Their shared love of basketball has another important commonality: both have played point guard for the SFDS Pioneers. Last winter, Lanell Aubert (’94), a Chicago police officer, was working security for the school when his son Jai scored 25 points in the junior varsity game against Washington High School. “I was a proud papi,” said Lanell. “Jai had a great game.” Not surprisingly, Jai considers that game his most memorable experience at the school to-date. 

Both Jai and Lanell say that SFDS coaches and teachers have had a significant impact on them. “Mr. Moore, my basketball coach, and Mr. Myers, my baseball coach, believed in me and pushed me to be better,” recounted Lanell, who went on to play baseball at Chicago State University after graduating from SFDS. Off the court, Jai credits English teacher Mr. Hodorowicz and theology teacher Mr. Warner as “fun teachers who made the work seem easy.”

Perhaps most poignantly, when asked what has been the most important aspect of their SFDS experiences, both Auberts identify the same thing: the relationships they have developed. “The friendships that I obtained while I was there and that I have kept over the years are the most important thing to me,” said Lanell, who noted that he was looking forward to his upcoming class reunion. Jai admits that entering a new school where he didn’t know anyone was “kind of nerve-wracking,” but says that his sports involvement helped him make friends early on, which has made a big difference in his high school experience.

Lanell’s two decades in law enforcement showed as he talked about the value of an SFDS education: “I think the whole idea of accountability at the school is important,” he said. “When I was a student, if you missed a class, they called your house and your parents were notified. That helped tremendously, especially with some of my friends from other schools trying to get me to play hooky at times. Lanell added, “I thank God for my mother sacrificing to send my brother and me to a private school where we could get the education we did.”

The alum says it has been wonderful seeing his son thrive at SFDS. “I’m proud of him,” Lanell beamed. “I think he’s become more responsible, and he takes the initiative to do stuff on his own. I don’t have to push him too hard.”

Jai’s independence has been particularly helpful since Lanell has his hands full with Jai's two-year-old sister, Laila Heaven Aubert. Does Lanell find being a parent the second time around any easier? “Nope, it’s definitely harder this time around,” he quipped. “Being older, I need my rest!” Fortunately for Lanell, Jai says that although he definitely plans on going to college, he doesn’t want to go somewhere far from home. “I don’t want to be too far away from my mom and dad,” Jai explained. Perhaps Lanell can expect some continued help with his daughter over the next several years—but he may want to turn down any one-on-one basketball contests!