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Each week, a Most Valuable Player from the Team of the Week in Shaw Media’s coverage area is awarded a title belt. A Shaw Media sports writer presents the belt to the winner in front of his team, and the whole thing is recorded and posted as a video to the website. The winner is chosen by a vote of fans visiting the FND site. (Shaw Media photo by Mark Busch)
By WILL NORRIS
For Illinois Press Association
Perhaps more than any other sport, football enjoys a fan culture, especially at the high school level. In big and small towns, prep football games are a gathering place on Friday nights.
And after the games, fans flock to the print and digital coverage from their local newspaper.
This football season, Shaw Media has definitely stepped up its game with a new franchise of prep football coverage.
Friday Night Drive is an online digest of the in-depth Illinois high school football coverage from all of Shaw’s Media’s sports reporters, editors and photographers. The extensive and impressive website is quickly becoming an essential counterpart that feeds the needs of a devoted fan base on the days between the games.
Launched in June, Friday Night Drive was conceptualized in a meeting back in January.
“We went from covering 30 to 40 teams to well over 100, and we thought maybe it’s time to start thinking about putting this all in one place,” says John Sahly (shown at left), editor in chief of Friday Night Drive and managing editor for digital editorial content for Shaw Media. “Let’s have one great football site instead of having it live in so many different places.”
So, with the season still a few months away, Shaw Media’s then six daily newspapers – it’s now seven with the recent acquisition of the NewsTribune of LaSalle – and two dozen non-daily publications began a training camp of sorts.
“Summertime is usually light as far as football goes, so that gave us the opportunity to figure some things out, try a couple of ideas, flood the zone on some seven-on-seven events, and really make a concerted effort to have a fresh website every day with new, engaging content,” Sahly said. “I think that really did a great job of laying the groundwork for when practices and the season started, so we were already established in some circles before the season even kicked off. Everyone pretty much got on board with the new brand right away.”
Each team in the Shaw Media coverage area, which includes most of northern Illinois, has its own page on Friday Night Drive. On those pages you’ll find all the information a fan of a particular school or player might need.
“That came from our sports editors who felt that we should make it easy for anyone in our market to find the school that they care about most,” Sahly said. “Yes, we’re introducing this new brand, but there are people who are only interested in their town, their school. We have to make it easy for them to find it.”
In addition to a colossal website and a popular weekly email newsletter, Friday Night Drive has a social media presence that is just as robust on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Instagram. With a healthy number of photos, social media postings have attracted a younger audience to Friday Night Drive.
“We realized that it’s where the younger generations are, so we said, ‘Let’s play where they’re at!’”, Sahly said.
Back to the website, which has so many more content offerings. One that is unique is a weekly projection of playoff brackets for each of the state’s eight football classes.
“It’s an absolutely insane task to project 256 playoff games every week. And to seed them in all eight classes, no one else is doing this,” Sahly said. “It’s been a driver of subscriptions for us, every week there’s a new playoff bracket.”
Giving credit where it’s due, Sahly sings the praises of one of Team Friday Night Drive’s MVPs.
‘That’s all Steve Soucie, the Joliet Herald sports editor,” Sahly said. ‘There’s maybe three guys in the state that can get you any score, has every coach as a contact in his phone. He’s that connected. He knows everyone, understands the game and has been covering it for so long. We don’t have the site without a Steve Soucie type.’
And then there’s the belt.
Each week, a Most Valuable Player from the Team of the Week in Shaw Media’s coverage area is awarded a title belt. A Shaw Media sports writer presents the belt to the winner in front of his team, and the whole thing is recorded and posted as a video to the website. The winner is chosen by a vote of fans visiting the FND site.
“If we’re going to do a regional brand, let’s make sure we’re embracing that and going beyond just a football player of the week,” Sahly said. “We’re going to have this fan vote, someone is going to get the most, that person should be the MVP. We should have a championship belt to give out.”
Sahly admits the idea of having a belt to present each “felt pie-in-the-sky.”
“That’d be so cool to have, but there’s no way it’s realistic,” Sahly said. “Then we heard back that the advertising guys had sold it, and it was like, ‘Oh! I guess I better get those made!’”
Decorated with FND’s logo, the belt has become a sought-after accolade (as well as a conversation piece and marketing tool) with recipients proudly displaying the honor both in person and via social media.
The site also includes news stories, features, weekly analysis by Shaw sports reporters, a podcast, a power ranking of the state’s top 25 teams, and recruiting information.
There’s also a weekly email newsletter that features original content.
In addition to the sponsors of the belt, Shaw Media monetizes FND through monthly and annual digital subscriptions. Sponsorships and advertisements also are sold for the website and podcasts.
The FND logo is published often in print to build to the brand, and the company is planning a special section for the state title games to be played Nov. 29-30 at Northern Illinois University’s Huskie Stadium in DeKalb.
Tapping every aspect of the game with a wide range of offerings, Shaw’s prep powerhouse of a website is gaining yardage every week. Sahly said there are no plans for other sports niche sites. For now, the focus is on football.
With just a few weeks left in the 2019 high school football season and then the playoffs, the surface has just been scratched in Friday Night Drive’s inaugural season.
“You never know when you launch how it’s going to play out. People have really embraced the concept of Friday Night Drive. From readers to coaches to program directors, the response has been great,” Sahly said. “Sky’s the limit.”
Huntley's Alex Janke runs the ball through the Cary-Grove defense during their week 4 football game at Cary-Grove High School on Friday, Sep. 20, 2019 in Cary. Huntley won 21-14. (Shaw Media photo by Matthew Apgar)
Prairie Ridge's Mason Loucks holds up the Friday Night Drive Team of the Week MVP belt for winning MVP in Week 1, after getting three interceptions, including one for a touchdown. (Shaw Media photo by Kyle Nabors)
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 11, 2025 Contact Information: Cadeala Troublefield, project manager Griffin & Strong Ph: (678) 364-2962 ext. 111 cadeala@gspclaw.com Courtney Clark, deputy project manager Griffin & Strong Ph: (404) 348-0690 ext. 113 courtney@gspclaw.com
VIRTUAL INFORMATIONAL MEETING DETAILS DATE(TENTATIVE): Wednesday, November 19, 2025 6 PM CST/7 PM EST Interested Participants Can Register Here: https://gspclaw.zoom.us/meeting/register/ytfUEAagQzqnrQE8eO8mSQ#/registration
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 6, 2025 Contact Information: Kara Kienzler, associate executive director - communications Illinois Association of School Boards (IASB) Ph: (217) 528-9688
SPRINGFIELD — November 15 of each year is designated as School Board Members Day. The day of recognition is an occasion to build community awareness about the important role school board members play in a representative democracy by providing a local voice for community education decisions. In 2007, the Illinois House of Representatives declared November 15 as School Board Members Day in the State of Illinois. The resolution states the annual recognition is “a way to honor those citizens who devote so much of their time and energy for the education of our children.” “School board members serve as our local, volunteer education advocates striving for quality learning opportunities for every student. They take on this immense responsibility not for a paycheck, but because they are committed to their communities and the belief that every child deserves a quality education,” said IASB Executive Director Kimberly A. Small, J.D. “Our school board members wear many hats; beyond their educational leadership, they are policy-makers, contract negotiators, and budgeteers. They are also our neighbors, our friends, and our schools’ biggest fans. On November 15 –– School Board Members Day — it is our chance to say, ‘Thank You.’” IASB encourages school districts, communities, businesses, and others to thank local school board members and recognize them for their dedication to providing successful education opportunities for all students. Resources and images to recognize school board members on November 15 are available at www.iasb.com/thankaboardmember.
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 6, 2025 Media Contact Illinois Principals Association Alison Maley, government and public relations director PH: 217-299-3122 alison@ilprincipals.org
SPRINGFIELD – In a direct response to the growing school leadership shortage across Illinois, the Illinois Principals Association, through its Ed Leaders Network (ELN), has teamed up with Aurora University to launch an exciting and streamlined Alternative Principal Endorsement Program. This endorsement pathway enables educators who already have five years of experience and hold a master’s degree in education to earn their Principal Endorsement in just one year – without completing an additional graduate degree. Approved by the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) and aligned with National Educational Leadership Preparation (NELP) standards, the program blends an immersive one-year internship with micro‑credentials tailored to school leadership practice. Eligible educators can earn licensure‑approved endorsement within one calendar year. This program is significantly less expensive than a full master’s degree and delivered on a fully remote platform. Participants in the program have appreciated the flexibility and experience the program provides as they enter or continue their school leadership journey. “Having already completed my master's degree, I knew I wanted to add the Principals Endorsement to my license, but I did not want to enroll in another full master's program. I was able to pull from previous leadership experience as I worked through the micro-credentials while still gaining valuable experience during my internship activities. The program is challenging but rewarding as it offers a way to reflect on previous experiences while building new skills as an educational leader."
- Jon Pieper, division head for Career & Technical Education, Physical Education, Drivers Education, and Health Education at Elk Grove High School
“The Alternative Principal Endorsement program was a great fit because everything was online, and I could work at my own pace. The flexibility allowed me to balance professional responsibilities while advancing my leadership skills. I would highly recommend this program to aspiring leaders.”
- Dr. Maribel Guerrero, director of language acquisition, Naperville CUSD 203
Dr. Ed Howerton, director of graduate education programs at Aurora University and former district administrator, shared: "Our program leans heavily into a ‘learning by doing’ framework that is extremely self-driven. It provides flexibility for professionals and ownership in the learning process. Many of our completers have moved into administrative roles sooner than if they had gone through a master’s degree program, and filling leadership voids in our schools is key to promoting student success.” Dr. Jason Leahy, executive director of the Illinois Principals Association, also shared: “When compared to a little over a decade ago, the State of Illinois has experienced an almost 60% reduction in the number of individuals who earn their principal endorsement each year. This alternative pathway provides a rigorous, cost effective, and expedited opportunity for quality educators to demonstrate they possess the skills necessary to be effective school leaders.” Eligible candidates must hold a current Illinois Professional Educator License (PEL), possess a master’s degree in education, have completed five years of teaching or school support experience, are employed in a full‑time, permanent educational position before program start, and complete required evaluation training and principal content exams to qualify for endorsement. Currently, 81 students are enrolled at various stages of the program at Aurora University, including 30 students that began this fall semester. Twenty-four students have completed the program since its inception, with 12 individuals working in leadership positions. Aurora University Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, Aurora University is committed to preparing leaders for the future of education. For a full overview of the program’s structure and registration information, visit the Alternative Principal Endorsement at https://aurora.edu/academics/graduate/principal-endorsement/index.html. Illinois Principals Association The Illinois Principals Association is a leadership organization which serves more than 6,900 educational leaders throughout the state of Illinois and whose mission is to develop, support, and advocate for innovative educational leaders. For more information about the IPA, please visit www.ilprincipals.org. Program Contacts Aurora University – Ed Howerton, director of Graduate Education Programs, ehowerton@aurora.edu, 630-844-5626 Ed Leaders Network / Illinois Principals Association – Arlin Peebles, Ed Leaders Network director, arlin.peebles@ilprincipals.org, 217-241-0598
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 5, 2025 Contact Illinois Bar Foundation Jessie Reeves, director of events & administration Ph: 312-920-4681 jreeves@illinoisbarfoundation.org
CHICAGO, November 5, 2025 - Mark D. Hassakis, a personal injury and workers' compensation attorney at Hassakis & Hassakis, P.C. of Mount Vernon, Illinois, was recently honored with the Illinois Bar Foundation’s Distinguished Award for Excellence on Oct. 17 at the Four Seasons Hotel in Chicago. Mark D. Hassakis has the legal advocacy of Illinois victims in his blood. Born and raised in Mount Vernon, Mark followed in the footsteps of his father, Demetri, a lifelong Mount Vernon attorney, to practice law at Hassakis & Hassakis, P.C, now celebrating 75 years. Mark has dedicated his professional life to helping his fellow Illinois citizens and the community at large. In addition to his exceptional career representing individuals’ needs in the areas of personal injury and workers’ compensation, professional malpractice, and general tort injury cases, Mark is a true leader with unparalleled dedication to giving back to the community. The Illinois Bar Foundation’s Distinguished Award for Excellence, the organization’s highest honor, is awarded annually to individuals whose career and personal life exemplify their ongoing commitment to the law and legal community. “The selection of Mark Hassakis for this year's Distinguished Award of Excellence reflects our belief in the principle that legal excellence and community service go hand in hand. His career demonstrates how individual attorneys can make a lasting impact not just through their practice, but through their commitment to strengthening the legal profession and ensuring access to justice for all Illinois residents.”
Lauren N. Tuckey, Tuckey Law Illinois Bar Foundation President 2025-26
Bar leadership and community impact Mark's commitment to the legal profession extends far beyond his practice. As president of the Illinois State Bar Association (2010-11), he championed juvenile justice reform, established young attorney mentorship programs, and highlighted the vital role lawyers play in strengthening their communities. His passion for juvenile justice led to the establishment of the Illinois Bar Foundation's M. Denny Hassakis Fund, which focuses on improving Illinois' juvenile justice system through public policy changes and programs supporting vulnerable youth. Mark served as president of the Illinois Bar Foundation from 2000 to 2002, during which time he was instrumental in creating the organization's signature fundraising events, including the Gala and Lawyers Rock concert. Mark has held numerous other leadership positions, including chairman of the ISBA Mutual Insurance Company; president of the Jefferson County Bar Association; and board member of the Hellenic Bar Association, the Lawyers' Trust Fund of Illinois, and the Juvenile Justice Initiative. Beyond his legal work, Mark has been a driving force in Mount Vernon and Southern Illinois development. He has spearheaded projects focused on downtown development, historical building restoration, and the support of community parks and arts initiatives. Notable achievements include bringing nationally acclaimed jazz artists to teach area grade school students and commissioning an "Abraham Lincoln as a Lawyer" sculpture for the 5th Appellate Court grounds in Mount Vernon. A proud Northwestern University alumnus, Mark continues to serve as an alumni regent and member of the Northwestern University Leadership Circle since 2012, acting as an ambassador for the university. Mark's extensive community involvement includes leadership roles with the Downtown Development Corporation of Mt. Vernon, Jefferson County Historical Society, Lincoln Park Foundation, Vernon West Rotary Club (Paul Harris Fellow), and numerous other local organizations dedicated to enriching Southern Illinois. Bar Admissions