Throughout his past 22 years on campus, President Harold Wilde has been an important, crucial, and integral part of strengthening the foundation of North Central College. President Wilde has provided strength and endurance to the College through the boom of the 1990's, the horrific terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, and the troubling times of this recession. With his guidance, North Central has ensured its place in our hearts as "the school we love."

President Wilde - refusing to go by the title and rather simply, by 'Hal' - has not only played a central part in the history of the College, but as a memorable part of everyone's time here on campus.

As many of you know, Hal plans to retire on December 31, 2012. We are collecting special, distinctive memories of our beloved ninth president which will later be presented to Hal. Please send your submissions, via email if possible to alumni@noctrl.edu. If you have a photo that accompanies your story, please attach it to your email or send it via U.S. Mail to:

North Central College

Office of Alumni Relations

30 N. Brainard Street

Naperville, IL 60540

Curious about the new president? Be sure to check for the most recent Presidential Search updates from Search Committee Chair Michael Naset here.

Kenton Skarin '04 has reached the upper echelon of the legal profession. He was recently appointed to serve as a U.S. Supreme Court law clerk for Justice Clarence Thomas for the 2012-2013 session. "I really consider this as the opportunity of a lifetime-I'm one of the luckiest guys alive and North Central was the beginning point," he says.

Justices seek out the nation's top legal talent to assist them and each of the nine Justices have four law clerks, many of whom are top alumni of the nation's best law schools; Skarin graduated from Northwestern University Law School in 2009 at the top of his class. During his time as a clerk, Skarin will have three main duties. First, he will help review his share of the approximately 10,000 petitions for writ of certiorari - "cert petitions" - that are submitted annually for review.  He will also help prepare the Justices by reading briefs and preparing oral arguments, as well as writing his or her legal opinions, concurrences and dissents.

Skarin's path to his appointment began as a history major at North Central where he took many of his favorite classes from Barbara Sciacchitano, Professor of History Emerita. "The law involves a lot of research and writing and is really a form of applied history," he explains. "Professor Sciacchitano was instrumental in accelerating my development in those areas."

"I've been blessed by both North Central and Northwestern, the people I've met and the opportunities I've had," he says. "North Central really enabled me to get where I am today . . . I'd go again in a heartbeat."

Congratulations again, Kenton! You've made North Central proud! But this is just a sneak peak... check your mailboxes for your Fall Edition of North Central NOW Magazine to read Kenton's full story!

Em Rademaker '12 is continuing North Central College's tradition of producing well-rounded, informed and involved citizens. Rademaker began her time with the Peace Corp in July and will be stationed in South Africa for two years. Read more about Em and her journey here!