Hope Biegon Prasse
Class of 1973Alumni Recognition Award, 2007
Hope Prasse is a person whose presence can brighten up a room full of people who really just need somebody to talk to. She has made many people’s struggle with cancer less stressful with the way she moves through life, not only through the chemotherapy, but also because of her every day mentality. She serves as an inspiration to many people around Naperville to be a light in dark places.
Hope was raised in our fine city of Naperville in a family of 6 people. She attended Catholic School for grades 1-5, and then went on to Naperville’s Lincoln Junior High School and Naperville Central High School. While at Naperville Central, Hope was a part of the Chorus and was a Dancer in the school musicals for all four of her years as a Redskin. She met Greg Prasse right here at Central and went on to “tie the knot” in 1977. Hope and Greg now have 3 children. Lisa Prasse graduated from Central in 2000 with NCHS Honors and is now working for Pitney Bowes is sales. Megan Prasse graduated in 2001 with Honors and is in her 2nd year toward achieving her Pharm-D at UIC. Marc Prasse is a sophomore at Central right now who is on the honor roll.
After high school, Mrs. Prasse moved on to college. She first attended the University of Northern Iowa-Lewis University Lockport, working towards BSN. She then decided that nursing was the career for her and attended St. Francis Hospital School of Nursing in Evanston. She had to start at the bottom as a Medical/Surgical staff nurse at Mercy Medical Center in Aurora. After that she became a CICU staff nurse at Loyola. She made her way up through different hospitals until she got a job at Hematology Oncology Consultants, Ltd., located in Edward Hospital, where she started in 1989, and still works there today. Mrs. Prasse is a very hard worker and has two awards to show for it. She received the Roberta Scofield Memorial Certification Award in 2003, and also the ONS Foundation Scholarship Award for Accomplished Oncology Nurses in 2002.
Other than work, Hope Prasse works hard outside the house volunteering. Every year she gives her time to help run Cancer Survivor Day here in Naperville honoring those who are surviving their battle with cancer. She also spent her Sunday nights teaching a religion class through St. Raphael Church for 2 years. Finally, Mrs. Prasse gave talks to the Naperville Central High School students in health occupation classes about the importance of oncology nursing from 1997-2000.
Hope Prasse’s support to others during their hard times is really something that is irreplaceable. She has really made an impact in Naperville and taken the stress off of the shoulders of people when they really need it.HOPE'S MESSAGE TO STUDENTS: “Choose a career that brings you fulfillment and happiness; your reward will be much greater than the riches you strive to achieve.”
