This fall, the New Trier High School Kinetic Wellness (KW) & Athletic Department Office Suite was named for former New Trier staff members Bonnie Beach and Lee Kennicke, known for their work in pioneering gender equality and Title IX. The official ceremony took place on Sept. 18, but through the honorary plaque and recognition, their legacy lives on. 

Title IX refers to a section of the Education Amendments of 1972 that prohibits gender-based discrimination in educational programs and activities that receive federal funding. Specifically, the text states “No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance[.]” This legislation has impacted women’s participation in organized sports across the country, and, at New Trier, the effort was led by Beach and Kennicke. 

“[Beach and Kennicke] were involved in a lot of different committees and really pushed for gender equity and equity in general across athletics,” Athletic Director Augie Fontanetta said. “Bonnie and Lee really were at the forefront, and not just in Illinois but across the country.”

Throughout their careers at New Trier, from 1967 to 2001 for Beach and from 1972 to 2002 for Kennicke, both women stepped up to coach different athletic programs, such as volleyball, swimming, badminton, basketball, and track. Beach and Kennicke also served as co-founders for the Illinois Coaches’ Association for Girls’ and Women’s Sports. 

“[Beach and Kennicke had a] major impact on the culture and attitude towards athletics and physical education in the New Trier community,” KW Department Chair Andy Butler said.

As co-head coaches of girls volleyball, Beach and Kennicke went on to win the first Illinois High School Association (IHSA) girls volleyball state championship, a feat that was recognized in 2024 at the 50th anniversary for the state championship. 

“[The championship] really helped propel female athletics here at New Trier,” Fontanetta said. 

According to the National Women’s Law Center, females made up  295,000, or 7%, of all high school athletes in 1972, just before the integration of Title IX. Beach and Kennicke’s work greatly contributed to the subsequent growth of this statistic—the number reached an all time high in the 2024-2025 school year, with nearly 8.3 million female athletes participating in high school athletics.

“They’ve really paved the way for equality within athletics,” Fontanetta said. “[Women’s athletics] is what it is today because of people like Bonnie and Lee.”

Today, athletic opportunities remain important for female students and New Trier.

“To me, athletics is important because it gave me a chance to get out of my comfort zone [and] find a sport I enjoy showing up to everyday,” senior Ashley O’Brien said.

Throughout their careers, Beach and Kennicke also worked with the KW Department as a whole. Prior to 1994, New Trier separated their physical education classes by sex, and it was not until Beach became the KW Department Chair that the different departments were united into the KW Department that stands today. 

As stated by the official plaque just outside the office, “Their passion and vision played an instrumental role in shaping the Athletic and Kinetic Wellness Departments.”

According to Butler, a group of staff members wanted to find a way to honor Beach and Kennicke, and they worked with Winnetka Campus Principal and Assistant Superintendent Denise Dubravec to do so. 

“We thought the athletic and KW office was a perfect opportunity,” Butler said. “Like, here are two people that have had a major influence on the Kinetic Wellness and Athletics Departments.”

Fontanetta explained that not a lot of places at New Trier are named, and those that are typically highlight administrators. 

“I’m really happy and proud that we were able to recognize both of them and really honor their legacy in a way that will be here forever,” Fontanetta said.

The dedication and unveiling ceremony, which was held at a girls volleyball match, was attended by current and retired teachers, administrators, family, and friends. 

“They have done so much for the school and [are] so deserving,” Butler said. “[It’s] pretty unbelievable when you think of both of them being here for over 30 years and the amount of lives that they impacted over that time.”