Attorney Tony DelGiorno was named 2008 Alumnus of the Year at the recent and final graduation festivities for Ursuline Academy in Springfield. DelGiorno, a 1996 UA graduate, was honored by the Ursuline Academy Alumni Association for his efforts to promptly organize the Ursuline Foundation following the announced closure of Ursuline in May 2007.

Attorney Tony DelGiorno was named 2008 Alumnus of the Year at the recent and final graduation festivities for Ursuline Academy in Springfield. DelGiorno, a 1996 UA graduate, was honored by the Ursuline Academy Alumni Association for his efforts to promptly organize the Ursuline Foundation following the announced closure of Ursuline in May 2007.

DelGiorno and Gary Cline, both attorneys with Rammelkamp Bradney Law Offices, led negotiations to save the school from closure. When those efforts ceased, DelGiorno continued his work with the Foundation as pro bono legal counsel. The Foundation's work includes raising money to provide scholarships to Springfield's Catholic grade schools and to displaced former Ursuline students, and striving to continue the motto of UA, which is "Serviam" or "I will serve."

DelGiorno joined Rammelkamp Bradney in 2003 and practices in the firm's Springfield office. His practice areas include elder law, business transactions (including not-for-profit organizations), wills, trusts, estates, probate, tax, real estate, and general litigation.

John Stimler, principal of Ursuline Academy during the 2006-2007 school year was named an Honorary Alumnus of the Year. Stimler graduated from St. Teresa High School in Decatur and held various positions at Ursuline. Prior to being named principal he was dean of students, campus minister, advised the student council, and coached several sports teams.

The Ursuline Academy Foundation plans to carry on with the Alumnus of the Year Award. "This is something we fully intend to continue. The Ursuline tradition will stay alive," said Derrick Jones, who serves as the foundation's vice president for public relations and graduated from Ursuline with DelGiorno.  

"We have somewhere between 3,500 to 4,000 living alumni," said Jones, who was a Cathedral parishioner before he moved to Washington, D.C., to become communications director for the National Right to Life Committee. "Many of them still live in Springfield, but many live in different states and even around the world."

More information on the Ursuline Academy Foundation can be found at the Website, www.UAFoundation.us .