Grant Community High School is pleased to announce the selection of Mr. Tom Maple, posthumously, and Ms. Shaina Turley to the Alumni Hall of Fame.
Tom Maple was a staff member of Grant Community High School from 1968 to 2000. He taught physical education, health, driver education, and industrial technology for 25 years, and was a dean of students for 7 years. Mr. Maple served in a variety of coaching roles, including assistant track coach, assistant basketball coach, and served as the Boys’ Varsity Head Basketball Coach for 25 years. He experienced tremendous success on the court with 368 wins, the 2nd most in Lake County at the time of his retirement, and a record 25 years with the same coaching staff. Coach Maple led the Grant basketball team to 5 conference championships and 6 regional title wins, while also coaching several teams into IHSA Sectional Tournaments. He received the honor of induction into the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2002 and the Lake County Sports Hall of Fame in 2009. Mr. Maple continued his dedication to Grant Community High School student-athletes long after his retirement by serving as a volunteer coach for the boys’ basketball program. He was a dedicated mentor and role model to hundreds of student-athletes over the course of his career and had a special gift for making student-athletes, coaches, staff members, and friends feel like an MVP – Most Valuable Person
Shaina Turley graduated from GCHS in the Class of 2002. During her years at Grant, she was a member of the National Honor Society and Student Council. She was also a three-sport athlete each of her 4 years in attendance. Ms. Turley successfully obtained her undergraduate degree from the University of San Diego and subsequently earned a commission in the United States Marine Corps. She attended and successfully completed U.S. Marine Corps helicopter training and earned her Wings as a Marine Corps pilot. She was also an accomplished rugby player throughout her career, serving as captain and competing on the USA Rugby Women’s National World Cup Team in 2014, and received national honor in being named Athlete of the Year by the U.S. Marine Corps. She is currently serving as a Major in the U.S. Marine Corps and has provided security detail for a President of the United States and flown on combat and training missions all over the world. Shaina has a never-ending desire to learn and grow and recently
earned a Masters in Business Administration through Keller Graduate School of Management.
Shaina is an inspiration to many and her enthusiasm for life and passion to excel serves as an
excellent role model for our students.
Our inductees will take part in several homecoming activities, including a reception in their honor on September 12, 2019, an all-school pep assembly, the varsity football game, and the homecoming parade.
Please join us for the following homecoming activities to recognize our Hall of Fame recipients:
September 12, 2019 A reception at 6:30 p.m. in the auditorium lobby followed by a Board of Education meeting at 7:00 p.m. to formally recognize the inductions.
September 13, 2019 Recognition at an all-school pep assembly in the afternoon and the varsity football game at approximately 6:45 p.m.
September 14, 2019 Homecoming parade on Grand Avenue at 9:00 a.m.
