“Go West,” an oil painting by Amanda that Creighton University purchased for display in one of its dormitories

Amanda Rackauskas Ross received a Fr. Yunker scholarship in 2009, her last year at Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska, where she graduated with a B.S. in biology and a secondary degree in studio art. Drawing is her favorite discipline in the fine arts, and Creighton University has purchased and displayed several of her pieces.

Amanda Rackauskas Ross, 2009 scholar

Amanda is currently in her fourth year of medical school, also at Creighton. However, she was recently in Springfield completing a month-long “externship” in the SIU Medical School Department of Plastic Surgery. Now, she is serving a month-long externship in trauma surgery in Phoenix, AZ.

Following her graduation from medical school next year, Amanda will enter a residency in general surgery or integrated plastic surgery, with the ultimate goal of becoming a plastic surgeon in 6-8 years.

“Speak,” a self-portrait in glass by Amanda Ross

Amanda is the daughter of Mary Ann Rackauskas (formerly Ross) and the grand-daughter of Helen (Sitki) and George Rackauskas. She was attracted to Creighton University because it’s where her grandfather, George, studied business, graduating in 1939, exactly 70 years prior to her own graduation from Creighton.

Amanda was born and raised in Springfield, attending Chatham Glenwood K-8, graduating from Sacred Heart-Griffin High School in 2005.

The Hill of Crosses, Siauliai, Lithuania

Please spread the word! Springfield Lithuanian-American Club member Mike Lelys will be presenting a 20-minute talk on the two distinct waves of 20th-century Lithuanian immigration to Sangamon County. (I’m assisting Mike with research and graphics for his speech.)
Mike’s presentation is part of a University of Illinois-Springfield luncheon program called “Chasing the American Dream to the Heartland” from 11:30-1:30 Wednesday, Oct. 3 at the UIS Public Affairs Center (parking in lots C and D). The cost is $20 and includes a hot buffet lunch. Registration is required at http://www.uiaa.org/uis . For more information, please phone 206-7395.
“Chasing the American Dream,” in turn, is part of the Fall 2012 Lunch and Learn Series entitled, “Landscapes of Living History: Past and Future, presented by the UIS Alumni SAGE Society (University of Illinois Alumni Association.)
Mike’s Oct. 3 “American Dream” presentation will be accompanied by a talk by Victor Juarez, a first-generation Peruvian-American, about Latino-Hispanic immigration to Central Illinois. (Both talks were suggested/arranged by William Furry, executive director of the Illinois State Historical Society.)

Mike is a first-generation Lithuanian-American who was part of the post-WW II “Displaced Persons” immigration to the United States. He is also executive director of historic Oak Ridge Cemetery, the burial place of Abraham Lincoln.

The Immaculate Conception

Bill Furry has been in touch with Brenda from the Autrenrieb family, whose grandfather painted the St. Vincent de Paul Church ceiling murals. Before Labor Day, Brenda mentioned that she is coming to Springfield in the next week or so, and will take time to inspect the murals that Mike Lelys has in temporary storage at the Catholic Diocesan Archive.Hopefully, we can discuss restoration and display options with Brenda at that time.
I will post again when we know exactly when Brenda is visiting Springfield from Edwardsville, so we can make an appointment to access the murals at the Archives, and so anyone who is interested can join in this new viewing.