Where are they now?
ANDREA (DONALDSON) ZENKER
City where you currently reside – West Chicago.
Year graduated from VCHS – 1998
Education or training after graduation – Graduated with bachelor’s degree in journalism from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale in 2001 and juris doctorate degree from Northern Illinois University College of Law in 2005.
Parent/Spouse/Children – My parents, Dannie and Patty Donaldson, still live in Vandalia. I am married to Jon Zenker, and we have two sons.
Occupations during and after high school – During high school, I worked at Dairy Queen and Gallatin Street Grille in Vandalia, as well babysitting for a couple families.
During college at SIUC, I worked at the Daily Egyptian Newspaper as a reporter and editor. I also spent a summer working at the Vandalia Correctional Center and the Effingham Daily News, doing the annual Farm Fair edition. After graduation, I worked at the Effingham Daily News before going to law school. During law school, I was a law clerk at Burnside, Johnston, Choisser & Sheafor for a summer and then two years at Higgins & Burke, PC in St. Charles, Ill. I have been an attorney with Higgins & Burke, PC, for the past 10 years, in general practice with a focus in the areas of insurance defense, personal injury and securities and financial fraud litigation.
School activities/clubs/sports in which you participated – Yearbook, statistician for wrestling, student council and National Honor Society.
School friends – Bethni Ruot, Elizabeth Zeman, Tiffany Roberts, Ryan Lewis, Kris Donaldson, Jason Cearlock and so many others,
Vandalia teachers/coaches/administrators remembered – Some of my best memories are from working on the yearbook with Sharon LaDeage and her advanced English class. I also have fond memories of classes with Craig Hart. He was a great adviser and a great source of information in preparing for the future. He was always unfiltered, which was refreshing.
Fondest memories of Vandalia – I loved my summers spent working at Dairy Queen. It was always a fun crew and Pauline was one of a kind.
I have also always felt blessed to have grown up in the First United Methodist Church in Vandalia. Many of my memories of junior high and high school stem from choir, youth group and mission trips. I love to make it to church and see familiar faces when we come back for a visit.
I will also never forget square dancing with Mrs. (Sandra) Leidner and the Old Capitol Square Dancers – old settler dresses and square dancing in 100-degree heat, but we had so much fun.