Illinois Famous Private School Alumni

Use the table below to browse notable alumni from private schools around the United States.

Private School Alumni Directory:

Famous Private School Alumni (Illinois):

School Name
Notable School Alumni (Sample)
  • Christopher Paolini - Chris has taken millions of readers into fabulous fantasy worlds in his novels Eragon, Eldest, Brisingr and Inheritance. Chris’ books regularly appear on top of the best seller lists, and Eragon was adapted into a full-length motion picture in 2006.
  • Andre Agassi - Andre is one of greatest American tennis players of all-time. He is one of only five men to have won all four Grand Slam events-the Australian Open, the French Open, Wimbledon and the U.S. Open. His 60 tournament titles include eight Grand Slam triumphs in all, and in 1996 he added an Olympic gold medal to his trophy case.
  • Sho Yano - Sho earned his high school diploma from American School at age 9. Three years later, he earned a bachelor’s degree from Loyola University in Chicago and enrolled in a dual Ph.D. and M.D. medical scientist program. In 2009, at age 18, he earned a Ph.D. in molecular genetics and cell biology from the University of Chicago. In 2012, at age 21, he became the youngest person to receive an M.D. degree from the University of Chicago. He is currently a resident in pediatric neurology.
  • The Osmond Family - Donny and Marie Osmond teamed up for hit television shows in the 1970s and 1990s in between crafting successful careers as solo performers. Donny hit #1 in the 1970s with “Go Away Little Girl” and has had numerous top 10 records in the decades following. He reinvented himself in the 1990s and began a six-year run in the title role of “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” that played to sold out theaters across the United States and Canada. More recently, he was runner-up in the first season of “The Masked Singer”. Marie became the first female country artist to debut with a #1 record when “Paper Roses” reached the summit in 1973. That song helped her earn a gold record and Grammy nomination the following year. More recently, she has appeared in many television movies, starred on Broadway in “The King and I” and was co-host of “The Talk”. In their five-decade career, the Osmond Brothers have sold out more shows than the Beatles and Elvis Presley. Pop, rock and country hits-including the chart-topper “One Bad Apple”-have helped Allan, Wayne, Merrill, Jay and Jimmy garner several gold and platinum records and a People’s Choice Award.
  • Bethany Hamilton - Bethany is one of the top surfers in the world despite losing her left arm in a shark attack in 2003. Her autobiography Soul Surfer was adapted into a motion picture in 2011, and she and her husband appeared on CBS’s The Amazing Race in Fall 2014.
  • Brienne Minor '15 - NCAA Champion Tennis Player who competed in the 2017 U.S. Open ?
  • Carol Tyler - Internationally known artist, ?cartoonist and humorist ?
  • Joe Tyler - Olympic athlete who was on the 1980 gold-medal-winning U.S. Bobsled Team ?
  • Hugh Brown - Famous 3-time Grammy Award winning musician, with 11 nominations ?
  • Bill Fusz - Director of Global Business ? Development Operations at Facebook? Recently visited Carmel to speak to students
  • Marietta DePrima? - Northwestern University graduate, actor best known for her role in The Hughleys?
  • Shaun Livingston - Three time NBA champion, professional basketball player
  • Kayla Lazarra - Class of 2010- returned to HCA- GR 02 Teacher
  • Lauryn Miller - Class of 2011- Admissions Lead since 2017
  • Kyle Trosien - Class of 2014- US History Teacher, returned in fall 2020
  • Valerie Ritcher - Class of 2015- US Science Teacher, returned in fall 2020
  • Nathanael Strissel - Class of 2018- US Science Teacher, returned in fall 2021
  • Jean Harlow - Actress
  • Bix Biederbecke - Jazz cornet player
  • Bradley Russell Weinberger, - Oklahoma Supreme Court Justice
  • Bill Ayers - Political activist and professor at the University of Chicago
  • David Bradley - Film director
  • Bill Schulz - Panelist, writer, and producer on Fox News Channel's late night show, Red Eye w/ Greg Gutfeld
  • Judy Baar Topinka - Former Illinois State Treasurer
  • Frances Perkins - First female Secretary of Labor
  • Heather MacIntyre - NCA Grammar School Faculty
  • Stevie Melter - NCA Upper School Faculty
  • Michael Melter - NCA Student Support Faculty
  • Virgil Abloh '98 - World-renowned fashion designer (Off-White, Louis Vuitton, Nike)
  • Dean Lowry '12 - NFL Player (Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings)
  • James Robinson - Record holder in State IHSA and NFL running back.
  • Caren Kemner - Olympian: volleyball
  • Jim Finigan - MLB
  • Jonathan Carbone, 2000 - Jonathan Carbone graduated from Spectrum School in the year 2000. Jonathan had a rough start in life weighing only 4 lbs at full term birth. As he grew it was obvious that he had some difficulties with muscular coordination. He struggled with throwing a ball, riding a tricycle, and , in his early elementary years at Spectrum, had great difficulty drawing, and making letters and numbers. His teachers used multiple materials and strategies to help him work on his eye-hand coordination. Beginning reading was difficult as his letters were not stabilized. He was never made to feel inadequate or like a failure. Because the classrooms were multi-age, it was not an issue that he remained in the same class for more than a year. Indeed Jonathan was quite pleased to spend additional time with the person who became one of his favorite teachers. When he was ready and confident in his abilities, he moved on and on – to graduate from college, to attain a Masters Degree from New York University and a Doctorate from Florida International University. He now teaches courses in Legal Psychology at the University level.

Recent Articles

Private School Search Tips
Private School Search Tips
We look at several ways you can use to search for private schools. Whether you are beginning the search process for a school for your child or just want to find out more about particular schools, we offer some tips and tricks to make searching more efficient.
Secrets to Becoming a Great School
Secrets to Becoming a Great School
Discover the essential ingredients that drive academic success and cultivate a thriving school community.
All About JROTC
All About JROTC
Explore the multifaceted advantages of Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps (JROTC) programs in private schools. Delve into how JROTC cultivates leadership, discipline, and citizenship skills among students, contributing to their holistic development and future success.