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FALL<br />
SPORTS<br />
RECAP<br />
(See p. 18–19)<br />
<strong>magazine</strong><br />
A publication for alumni and<br />
friends of <strong>De</strong> <strong>La</strong> <strong>Salle</strong> <strong>Institute</strong><br />
EMBRACING OUR GLOBAL FUTURE<br />
<strong>De</strong> <strong>La</strong> <strong>Salle</strong> <strong>Institute</strong> Adds Mandarin Chinese to Its Curriculum<br />
Fall 2011
<strong>De</strong> <strong>La</strong> <strong>Salle</strong> Magazine<br />
Fall 2011<br />
Editor<br />
Michael K. Walsh<br />
Photography<br />
Tom Lyons ’43<br />
Root Studios<br />
Michael K. Walsh<br />
Contributing Authors<br />
Iris Gist Cochran<br />
Margaret Grabowski ‘06<br />
Tom Lyons ‘43<br />
Kate Rhodes<br />
Michael K. Walsh<br />
<strong>De</strong>signer<br />
JB Chicago<br />
Printer<br />
M&G Graphics<br />
<strong>De</strong> <strong>La</strong> <strong>Salle</strong> Magazine is published<br />
three times a year by <strong>De</strong> <strong>La</strong> <strong>Salle</strong><br />
<strong>Institute</strong>’s Office for Advancement.<br />
The purpose of this publication<br />
is to unite the Christian Brothers,<br />
alumni, students, parents, faculty,<br />
staff and friends together in<br />
<strong>De</strong> <strong>La</strong> <strong>Salle</strong>’s mission of excellence<br />
in education. All submissions or<br />
comments should be directed to<br />
d<strong>magazine</strong>@dls.org.<br />
To receive this <strong>magazine</strong><br />
electronically, please send an<br />
e-mail to d<strong>magazine</strong>@dls.org.<br />
<strong>De</strong>ar Friends,<br />
I’m pleased to present to you the fall edition of D Magazine and the many accomplishments of our <strong>Institute</strong> in just<br />
three months.<br />
As you have observed from the cover of the <strong>magazine</strong>, <strong>De</strong> <strong>La</strong> <strong>Salle</strong> has expanded our Global <strong>La</strong>nguage Program with<br />
the addition of Mandarin Chinese to the curriculum. Living in a world class<br />
city demands constant growth and appreciation for its many inhabitants and<br />
their culture. What a wonderful opportunity for our students to encounter<br />
the Chinese culture through the mastery of language, sampling the food,<br />
experiencing the customs, celebrating the holidays, learning the political<br />
structure and hopefully, traveling the Asian continent.<br />
I can’t thank you enough for your continued support of the Meteors. Your<br />
investment in our young men and women can only be measured through the<br />
good deeds accomplished over a lifetime. This was evident at our alumni<br />
banquet as I continued to hear and learn of your many accomplishments.<br />
As benefactors, alumni, and friends of <strong>De</strong> <strong>La</strong> <strong>Salle</strong> <strong>Institute</strong>, you can take<br />
pride in the accomplishments of your alma mater. The following pages<br />
outline the dedication of our faculty and staff as we continue our curriculum<br />
review and prepare for our AdvancED accreditation renewal. Our first<br />
accreditation as a four-year high school took place in 1923. Our faculty and<br />
staff continue the commitment to provide a curriculum that is innovative and<br />
challenging for today’s Meteors.<br />
In addition, you’ll learn about the Augustus Tolton Adult Literacy Center’s 20th Anniversary, improvements to our<br />
campus, athletic successes, and accomplishments of our students.<br />
I hope you’ll enjoy the following pages of stories, news, photos, and accolades that have come to life thanks to you,<br />
our alumni, friends, and benefactors. Your continued support, pride, and encouragement resonate through the pages<br />
and our hallways daily.<br />
Thank you for your ongoing support!<br />
非 常 感 谢 你 的 支 持 。<br />
St. John Baptist <strong>De</strong> <strong>La</strong> <strong>Salle</strong> …Pray for us!<br />
Our <strong>La</strong>dy of Lourdes…Pray for us!<br />
Live Jesus in our hearts…Forever!<br />
Fr. Paul Novak, OSM<br />
President<br />
<strong>De</strong> <strong>La</strong> <strong>Salle</strong> President Father Paul Novak<br />
Mission Statement<br />
<strong>De</strong> <strong>La</strong> <strong>Salle</strong> <strong>Institute</strong> is an independent Catholic secondary school rooted in the tradition of Christian education<br />
begun by St. John Baptist de <strong>La</strong> <strong>Salle</strong>. Founded in 1889, its mission has been, and is, to foster a desire for<br />
excellence in education. Young people from a variety of ethnic and economic backgrounds are given the opportunity<br />
to fully develop their abilities so they may be active, contributing members of our complex, changing society.<br />
INSTITUTE CAMPUS For Young men<br />
3455 SOUTH WABASH AVE • CHICAGO, IL 60616-3885<br />
P 312.842.7355 • F 312.842.4142<br />
LOURDES HALL CAMPUS For Young Women<br />
1040 WEST 32ND PL • CHICAGO, IL 60608-6507<br />
P 773.650.6800 • F 773.650.9722<br />
TOLTON Adult LITERACY CENTEr - EAST CAMPUS<br />
3647 South State St • Chicago, Il 60609-1951<br />
P 312.747.3471<br />
TOLTON Adult LITERACY CENTEr - WEST CAMPUS<br />
115 South Pulaski Rd • Chicago, Il 60624-2823<br />
P 312.746.7744<br />
Table of Contents<br />
Academics<br />
<strong>De</strong> <strong>La</strong> <strong>Salle</strong> Adds Mandarin Chinese to Curriculum 4–5<br />
Re-accreditation and Curriculum Review & Renewal 6<br />
<strong>La</strong>sallian Universities Partner with <strong>De</strong> <strong>La</strong> <strong>Salle</strong> 7<br />
Tablet PC Program Update 8<br />
New Faculty Welcomed to <strong>De</strong> <strong>La</strong> <strong>Salle</strong> 9<br />
Faith, service & Community<br />
The Tolton Center at 20 10–13<br />
Preparing for Their Great Futures 14<br />
CAMPUS Scrapbook<br />
Photos of the <strong>De</strong> <strong>La</strong> <strong>Salle</strong> Community 15<br />
parent place<br />
How to Become an Involved Meteor Parent 16<br />
Calendar of Important Dates for the Second Quarter 16<br />
All Roads Lead to <strong>De</strong> <strong>La</strong> <strong>Salle</strong> 17<br />
Athletics<br />
Fall Sports Recap 18<br />
Chicago Catholic League Celebrates 100 Years 18<br />
Five Meteors Enshrined into DLS Sports Hall of Fame 19<br />
Meteors Win IHSA Academic Award 19<br />
DEVELOPMENT<br />
LINK Unlimited Commits to DLS Students 20<br />
Growth and Expansion at <strong>De</strong> <strong>La</strong> <strong>Salle</strong> 21<br />
Planned Giving: Continuing Your Legacy 22<br />
Additions to Advancement Staff 23<br />
Alumni Connection<br />
<strong>De</strong> <strong>La</strong> <strong>Salle</strong> and Lourdes Alumni Updates 24<br />
Remembering William Malone ‘08 25<br />
<strong>De</strong> <strong>La</strong> <strong>Salle</strong> and Lourdes <strong>De</strong>ceased List 25<br />
Alumni Week Recap 26<br />
Career Day & Alumni Banquet Scrapbook 26–27<br />
Feature on Eugene Pontillo ’43 27<br />
<strong>De</strong> <strong>La</strong> <strong>Salle</strong> <strong>Institute</strong><br />
Board of Directors<br />
2011-2012<br />
Chairman<br />
Mr. Paul D. McCoy ‘68<br />
Vice Chairperson<br />
Mr. Prentiss J. Jackson ‘67<br />
Members<br />
Mr. William S. Aldrich<br />
Honorable William J. Aukstik ‘64<br />
Mr. Marshall A. Blake<br />
Mr. George A. Bonomo ‘59<br />
Ms. Mary L. Burke<br />
Mr. Victor M. Chavarria ‘69<br />
Mr. Eugene L. Ferretti<br />
Mr. Michael J. Glennon ‘84<br />
Dr. Robert O. Graham ‘64<br />
Honorable Patrick M. Huels ‘67<br />
Sister Mary Alice Jarosz, SSJ-TOSF<br />
Brother Michael Kadow, FSC<br />
Sister Valerie Kulbacki, SSJ-TOSF<br />
Mr. <strong>La</strong> Rue Martin, Jr. ‘68<br />
Mr. Joseph D. Parente ‘84<br />
Mr. Michael J. Passarelli ‘90<br />
Mr. Thomas J. Sargant ‘62<br />
Mr. Michael A. Tadin ‘69<br />
Mrs. Cathryn P. Taylor<br />
Mr. James A. Vanek ‘64<br />
President’s Council<br />
Mr. Michael G. Bansley ‘53<br />
Mr. Michael F. Hickey ‘56<br />
Mr. James R. Woodrow ‘53<br />
Extollo Educational<br />
Foundation<br />
Board of Directors<br />
President<br />
Brother Michael Quirk, FSC<br />
Vice President<br />
Mr. Michael F. Hickey ‘56<br />
Secretary/Treasurer<br />
Mr. Joseph J. Hartnett ‘73<br />
www.dls.org<br />
<strong>De</strong> <strong>La</strong> <strong>Salle</strong> Magazine 3
Academics<br />
Addition to Curriculum<br />
Mandarin Chinese Offered at <strong>De</strong> <strong>La</strong> <strong>Salle</strong><br />
Mandarin Chinese Added to DLS Curriculum<br />
“During the first class this semester, I asked students why they decided<br />
to take the Mandarin class,” Liang said. “They gave a variety of<br />
reasons, including a love of Chinese food! No matter what the reason,<br />
they have a lot of courage for doing so. Believe it or not, Mandarin<br />
Chinese is the most widely-spoken language in the world. Therefore,<br />
learning to speak Mandarin allows someone to speak with millions of<br />
people worldwide.<br />
“In addition, having thousands of years of history, Chinese culture<br />
is endlessly fascinating. Learning to speak Mandarin allows<br />
someone to enjoy tourist attractions in the country in a richer, more<br />
meaningful way. Most importantly, learning to speak Mandarin<br />
allows someone a huge advantage in participating in the international<br />
Chinese business market, which is the fastest growing in the world.<br />
Whether your interests are language, history, architecture, music, or<br />
cuisine, knowledge of Mandarin will enrich your understanding of<br />
Chinese culture.<br />
At the Lourdes Hall Campus for Young Women, there are seven<br />
freshman students enrolled in Liang’s class, one of whom is Yerania<br />
Venegas. Of the seven students, two are taking Mandarin as an<br />
Honors class.<br />
“I chose to take Mandarin Chinese because it’s an interesting language<br />
and I thought it would be fantastic to learn something new,” Venegas<br />
said. “I definitely do not regret choosing this class.<br />
“Ms. Liang is great and she helps us a lot like when everybody is<br />
having struggles at pronouncing the words or writing them.<br />
“I enjoy learning this new culture and language. It’s awesome. I<br />
really hope to gain and adjust to this new language. I want to be<br />
able to speak it, write it, and read it properly. I am sure that all of my<br />
classmates and I will adapt to this new language and sooner or later,<br />
speak it very well.”<br />
According to the website www.anthro.palomar.edu, the most<br />
common language in the world is Mandarin Chinese. It<br />
is estimated that 874,000,000 people speak Mandarin<br />
Chinese with 16 countries having substantial numbers of<br />
native speakers.<br />
In an effort to provide its students the opportunity to speak and<br />
comprehend Mandarin Chinese, as well as strengthen the world<br />
language portion of <strong>De</strong> <strong>La</strong> <strong>Salle</strong>’s <strong>La</strong>nguage Arts Division, the<br />
administration of the <strong>Institute</strong> added Mandarin Chinese to the<br />
curriculum for the 2011-12 school year.<br />
“Mandarin Chinese was a successful summer program for seventh<br />
and eighth graders,” <strong>De</strong> <strong>La</strong> <strong>Salle</strong> Assistant Principal Nick Colletti<br />
said. “And that experience encouraged us to think about adding the<br />
class to our curriculum.”<br />
<strong>De</strong> <strong>La</strong> <strong>Salle</strong>’s Mandarin class is taught by Simiao Liang, who brings<br />
an impressive resume with her. Liang teaches Mandarin I at the<br />
<strong>Institute</strong> Campus for Young Men in the morning and at the Lourdes<br />
Hall Campus for Young Women in the afternoon.<br />
Before her arrival in the United States, Liang taught English to<br />
Chinese students in Beijing, China. Liang then came to the U.S. where<br />
she completed her Masters in Education (M.Ed) program in TESOL<br />
(Teaching English to Speakers of Other <strong>La</strong>nguages) at The University<br />
of Georgia. While at Georgia, Liang taught first-level Mandarin at<br />
the Athens Chinese School. There she worked collectively with<br />
American-born Chinese students, who were from the ages of four to<br />
seven. Liang then moved to Chicago, where she began her current<br />
position of teaching Mandarin to students in pre-kindergarten<br />
through second grade at St. Therese Catholic Chinese School, located<br />
approximately two miles from <strong>De</strong> <strong>La</strong> <strong>Salle</strong>. In addition, Liang also<br />
teaches Mandarin at the Chinese-American Service League (CASL)<br />
located in Chinatown. The students there – who are not all Chinese –<br />
range in age from four to 14.<br />
“In both China and the U.S., my experience tutoring and teaching both<br />
English and Chinese, along with my M.Ed. in TESOL, has made me<br />
better aware of how native-Chinese speakers learn English, as well as<br />
how native-English speakers learn Chinese,” Liang said. “This twoway<br />
knowledge and experience gained throughout my time in the U.S.<br />
is highly relevant to teaching Chinese to speakers of other languages.”<br />
Liang uses a variety of methods and techniques to enable her<br />
students to expand and strengthen their knowledge of Mandarin. The<br />
students use workbooks and their tablet computers, along with other<br />
tactics such as referring to each other by using their Chinese names<br />
and even playing a game of Jeopardy in which all of the answers<br />
are in Mandarin. In addition, at the beginning and the end of each<br />
class, Liang and her students follow a greeting routine used only in<br />
classrooms in China, which shows mutual respect.<br />
Students also watch a number of Chinese videos and participate in<br />
annual Chinese holidays, such as the Mid-Autumn Festival which<br />
celebrates the harvest and dates back over 3,000 years to moon<br />
worship in China’s Shang Dynasty. Liang also provides students the<br />
opportunity to enjoy mooncakes, which are Chinese pastries offered<br />
to friends and family while celebrating the festival.<br />
“Mandarin is a language that bears little resemblance to English,”<br />
Liang added. “Because it is not the easiest language to learn, it is<br />
important that when students begin, it is fun and engaging. However,<br />
there is also a lot of hard work. But as an old Chinese saying goes,<br />
“Sharpening your ax won’t waste time cutting your firewood,” which<br />
means proper preparation will increase the speed of the process.<br />
“In each class, we spend most of our time practicing spoken<br />
Chinese through dialogue. The first several classes involve teaching<br />
students Pinyin (the Chinese phonetic system) and Chinese tones.<br />
(In Mandarin, the same pronunciation spoken in different tones<br />
has different meanings.) These two things form the foundation<br />
for learning Mandarin. While the process proceeds at a relatively<br />
slow pace, I have developed a range of lighter activities to maintain<br />
enthusiasm in learning the language.”<br />
Of the 18 freshman students at the <strong>Institute</strong> Campus for Young Men<br />
enrolled in the Mandarin class, eight are taking it as an Honors class,<br />
including Horace Nowell III, who said there were a variety of reasons<br />
for his wanting to take Mandarin.<br />
“I have traveled to Singapore a few times, and have noticed the<br />
prominent Chinese-speaking culture there,” Nowell III said. “I have<br />
also made a few friends who speak Mandarin in Singapore. I find<br />
Mandarin to be a totally different language and format than Spanish,<br />
which I took as a language in grade school.”<br />
“I also find the Asian culture and history to be very interesting. What<br />
I like about learning Mandarin is learning the many different Chinese<br />
characters because I find them to be like an art form.”<br />
“What I hope most to gain from enrolling in this class is the ability to<br />
properly speak and understand a language that is spoken around the<br />
world, therefore, allowing a whole new world of adventures, people,<br />
and opportunities to unfold for me.”<br />
Taking everything into consideration as for the future of Mandarin at<br />
<strong>De</strong> <strong>La</strong> <strong>Salle</strong>, there will be a Mandarin II class offered in the 2012-13<br />
school year.<br />
“Many students are interested in the business world, and Mandarin<br />
is one of the most useful languages for that field,” <strong>De</strong> <strong>La</strong> <strong>Salle</strong> <strong>De</strong>an<br />
of <strong>La</strong>nguage Arts Carrie Contreras said. “We have confidence in our<br />
new instructor, and we hope the program continues to grow.”<br />
4 Academics Academics 5
Academics<br />
CURRICULUM REVIEW<br />
<strong>La</strong>sallian Universities Partner with <strong>De</strong> <strong>La</strong> <strong>Salle</strong><br />
Partnership<br />
Combined Re-Accreditation, Freshman Curriculum<br />
Renewal, & Sophomore Curriculum Review<br />
<strong>De</strong> <strong>La</strong> <strong>Salle</strong> <strong>Institute</strong> is undergoing<br />
an accreditation renewal process this<br />
academic year called AdvancEd.<br />
Schools and school systems must renew<br />
their accreditation every five years.<br />
Accreditation is a voluntary method of<br />
quality assurance developed more than<br />
100 years ago by American universities<br />
and secondary schools, and is designed<br />
primarily to distinguish schools adhering<br />
to a set of educational standards. Today’s<br />
accreditation process examines the whole<br />
institution—the programs, the cultural<br />
context, the community of stakeholders—<br />
to determine how well the parts work<br />
together to meet the needs of students.<br />
Although this is an intensive process for<br />
much of the faculty and staff at <strong>De</strong> <strong>La</strong> <strong>Salle</strong>,<br />
we find that it challenges us to advance<br />
the mission of the <strong>Institute</strong> and improve<br />
student learning, while making continuous<br />
school improvement a distinctive reality.<br />
In addition to the accreditation process,<br />
the faculty is in the midst of conducting<br />
a thorough review of the academic<br />
curriculum, as a result of the last strategic<br />
plan, which is now in year three.<br />
The previous school year was spent<br />
reviewing the freshman curriculum in its<br />
entirety, while this year brings a study<br />
of the sophomore curriculum. Led by<br />
teacher facilitators, a curriculum map<br />
is developed for all of the core classes,<br />
as well as electives and is linked to the<br />
Illinois state standards.<br />
The end result is a comprehensive<br />
curriculum aiding the faculty and<br />
providing student success. Examples<br />
of class syllabuses, tests, quizzes, and<br />
projects can be shared among the faculty.<br />
The review wraps up each year with a<br />
presentation to the Curriculum Committee,<br />
The Board of Directors and approval by<br />
the administration. It is an incredible<br />
process that has shaped the future of <strong>De</strong><br />
<strong>La</strong> <strong>Salle</strong>’s academic standards. The 2012-<br />
13 school year will examine the junior<br />
curriculum, while year 2013-14 will wrap<br />
up with the examination of the senior<br />
curriculum information.<br />
For several years, <strong>De</strong> <strong>La</strong> <strong>Salle</strong> <strong>Institute</strong> has<br />
had a partnership with Lewis University. The<br />
<strong>Institute</strong> Campus is home to Lewis’ Chicago<br />
Campus, hosting graduate-level classes<br />
most evenings of the week. <strong>De</strong> <strong>La</strong> <strong>Salle</strong><br />
is continuing to develop this relationship<br />
in order to create more innovative and<br />
applicable experiences for our students.<br />
After hosting a successful summer of<br />
Space Camp for grammar school students<br />
at D, we are working with Lewis to share<br />
its aviation coursework – including a flight<br />
simulator! – as part of <strong>De</strong> <strong>La</strong> <strong>Salle</strong>’s high<br />
school curriculum.<br />
Our university affiliations don’t end there!<br />
Saint Mary’s University in Minnesota is<br />
teaming up with D in order to provide<br />
the opportunity for our students to gain<br />
college credit for courses in which they<br />
are currently enrolled (Honors or advanced<br />
level coursework).<br />
A variety of colleges and universities across<br />
the United States will accept these course<br />
credits from Saint Mary’s University.<br />
<strong>De</strong> <strong>La</strong> <strong>Salle</strong> strives to provide outstanding,<br />
challenging, and state-of-the-art academic<br />
opportunities for our students. We are proud to<br />
be in partnership with these two universities,<br />
allowing our students to be exposed to life<br />
beyond the blackboard. Please contact the<br />
Guidance Office at 312-842-7355 for more<br />
<strong>De</strong> <strong>La</strong> <strong>Salle</strong> Classes Include:<br />
• Honors American Literature<br />
• AP English 4<br />
• AP Politics<br />
• Honors US History<br />
• Calculus<br />
• Anatomy and Physiology<br />
In Order To Receive College Credit, Students Must:<br />
• Maintain a B grade in the course<br />
• Be in the top 20th percentile of high school class<br />
• Score 50% on standardized test<br />
• Maintain a 3.0 GPA<br />
• Receive approval by the program coordinator<br />
6 Academics Academics 7
Academics<br />
Tablet pc program update<br />
Lenovo/IBM ThinkPad PC’s<br />
In August 2006, Lenovo/IBM ThinkPad Tablet PCs<br />
made their debut in our classrooms. All students at<br />
<strong>De</strong> <strong>La</strong> <strong>Salle</strong> use a Lenovo ThinkPad Tablet PC or the<br />
NOBI Intel Companion Touch Tablet PC loaded with<br />
the latest Microsoft software to produce scholarly work<br />
in each of their courses.<br />
<strong>De</strong> <strong>La</strong> <strong>Salle</strong> is committed to use learning technologies<br />
that support the different learning styles of our students.<br />
The Tablet PC is integrated into the curriculum, while<br />
our courses continue to become more engaging<br />
with interactive projects as students are continually<br />
challenged to transform information into knowledge<br />
and knowledge into action. Having courses that use<br />
learning technologies prepares our students for life<br />
beyond high school.<br />
By utilizing the Tablet PC in courses, students increase<br />
opportunities for in-depth learning and knowledge<br />
construction that research demonstrates improves<br />
student learning and achievement. Students are engaged<br />
in learning - an important link to student achievement -<br />
when they use e-books, take digital handwriting notes,<br />
research databases and the Internet for information, and<br />
produce professional-looking work.<br />
As we study the effects of <strong>De</strong> <strong>La</strong> <strong>Salle</strong> students’<br />
academic success prior to the implementation of the<br />
Tablet PC Program, as compared with those students<br />
who used this method of learning throughout their<br />
high school years, we find a significant improvement<br />
in standardized test scores. In the areas of English<br />
and reading, students are now scoring one to two<br />
points greater than before the Tablet PC Program was<br />
implemented. We are seeing a trend of improvement in<br />
science and mathematics test scores, as well. The Class<br />
of 2010 used the Tablet PC for all four years. Upon<br />
finishing their first year of college, we asked for their<br />
feedback on the program, their academic experience,<br />
and their college preparedness.<br />
Here is what they had to say when asked how important<br />
the Tablet PC Program was to their success:<br />
“My experience as a high school student enrolled<br />
in the Tablet PC Program unveiled to me a number<br />
of organizational and technological skills that soon<br />
become integral to my developmental progress as a<br />
full-time, college student at the University of Illinois.<br />
My familiarity with various software programs allowed<br />
me to complete assignments efficiently and neatly as<br />
to maintain a good academic standing in each of my<br />
courses. As a dedicated alumni of the <strong>De</strong> <strong>La</strong> <strong>Salle</strong><br />
community, I am definitely satisfied with the academic<br />
preparedness and expertise that was given to me through<br />
the Tablet PC Program.” —Alberto Jimenez<br />
“It was extremely important. I am very familiar with<br />
software that my schoolmates in college know little<br />
about or have no experience with.” —Mercedes Zapata<br />
“It was very important. I understand computers very<br />
well and adapt to maintaining and fixing computers<br />
when I encounter problems.” —Jessica Stevenson<br />
“When I arrived at college, the DLS Tablet PC prepared<br />
me to interact with my university’s technology<br />
resources by preparing me to properly organize my<br />
school documents on the laptop in order to benefit my<br />
study habits.” —Ayla Garcia<br />
By incorporating the tablet pc’s into learning, students are able to:<br />
Write and organize class notes and information<br />
into folders for effective studying<br />
Research the Internet for a particular area<br />
of study<br />
Receive critical feedback from teachers quickly<br />
Create and present multimedia presentations<br />
Research, write, and edit reports and papers<br />
Collaborate with students on projects<br />
Access e-books, works of literature, and historical<br />
documents stored on the hard drive<br />
Submit assignments electronically or as a hard copy<br />
Intuitively use a computer as a tool to produce<br />
intellectual work<br />
Take their tablet PC home every day, over the weekends<br />
and during holidays<br />
Experience what academic life beyond the blackboard looks like!<br />
1<br />
WELCOME TO D!<br />
<strong>De</strong> <strong>La</strong> <strong>Salle</strong> proudly announces that the following<br />
individuals have joined its faculty and staff for the<br />
2011-12 school year.<br />
Teaching at the <strong>Institute</strong> Campus for Young Men are<br />
Blanca Ascencio (<strong>La</strong>nguage Arts) and David Hanke<br />
(Applied Sciences). Kenneth Ramey is working in the<br />
technology department of the <strong>Institute</strong> Campus.<br />
Damian Creazzo (Social Sciences), William Schmidt<br />
(<strong>La</strong>nguage Arts) and Mallory Thelander (Applied<br />
Sciences) are teaching at the Lourdes Hall Campus<br />
for Young Women. Diniah <strong>De</strong>an is working in the<br />
technology department at the Lourdes Hall Campus.<br />
Simiao Liang (<strong>La</strong>nguage Arts) is teaching at<br />
both campuses.<br />
3<br />
Congratulations and welcome to all the new faculty members!<br />
2<br />
1 David Hanke, William<br />
Schmidt, Damian<br />
Creazzo, Simiao<br />
Liang, and Mallory<br />
Thelander<br />
2 Diniah <strong>De</strong>an<br />
3 Kenneth Ramey and<br />
Blanca Ascencio<br />
8 Academics Academics 9
TOLTON AT 20<br />
the Tolton Adult Education Center<br />
In its 20 years<br />
of existence,<br />
Tolton has been<br />
recognized as a<br />
leader in adult<br />
education at<br />
local, state and<br />
national levels.<br />
Since its founding in 1991, the Tolton Adult<br />
Education Center has served residents<br />
of Chicago’s South, Southwest and<br />
West Sides as an adult education program that<br />
provides employability skills, family literacy<br />
and child services in low-income communities<br />
without a fee.<br />
The Tolton strategy is to empower povertylevel<br />
adults through academic achievement. This<br />
strategy recognizes that breaking the illiteracy<br />
cycle must begin with the adult who is the center<br />
of the family and community structure. Tolton’s<br />
mission is to provide excellent alternative adult<br />
education experiences within a caring community<br />
where “everyone teaches and everyone learns.”<br />
Over its two decades of existence, Tolton—which needs $130,000 to reach its goals for<br />
this fiscal year—has had many people from a variety of backgrounds enter its doors as<br />
administrators, teachers, volunteers and students.<br />
faith, service & community<br />
Brock Bolton former instructor<br />
Brock Bolton was an adult basic<br />
education instructor at the Tolton<br />
Center’s Legler and Bee Branches for<br />
nine years. Bolton found the experience<br />
of helping others in the classroom to<br />
be so enriching that he has chosen to<br />
make teaching his fulltime profession. Bolton is currently<br />
student-teaching at Ruggles Elementary School in Chicago.<br />
Bolton recently participated in a brief question-and-answer<br />
session with <strong>De</strong> <strong>La</strong> <strong>Salle</strong> Magazine.<br />
<strong>De</strong> <strong>La</strong> <strong>Salle</strong> Magazine: What made you want to teach at Tolton?<br />
Bolton: “I wanted to teach at Tolton because I liked to help<br />
people. I have worked with all types of students, but the adults<br />
here need the help. Adult education has its own intrinsic<br />
rewards such as helping out your fellow human beings,<br />
becoming a close-knit group, and passing knowledge to those<br />
who can utilize it.”<br />
Harold Richards alumnus<br />
In 1992 at the age of 49, Harold Richards<br />
made a life-impacting decision for<br />
himself: He wanted to go back to school.<br />
<strong>De</strong> <strong>La</strong> <strong>Salle</strong> Magazine: What rewards did you receive as a<br />
result of having taught at Tolton?<br />
Bolton: “I received the most important reward: Satisfaction!<br />
Finding my life’s calling through helping and teaching the<br />
young has been most gratifying. The staff of the Tolton Center<br />
is amazing and works quite hard to get students ready to<br />
pursue greatness beyond the classroom. The students are truly<br />
blessed to have them.”<br />
<strong>De</strong> <strong>La</strong> <strong>Salle</strong> Magazine: How are things progressing for you in<br />
the classroom?<br />
Bolton: “I have been student-teaching for eight weeks and<br />
while tired, I feel that I have found something that I want to do<br />
with my life. I have Tolton and <strong>De</strong> <strong>La</strong> <strong>Salle</strong> <strong>Institute</strong> to thank<br />
for it. They truly gave me the opportunity and ability to get<br />
here. I am eternally grateful!!”<br />
life and about your achieving success. After Tolton, I became<br />
a volunteer with the American Literacy Program and I did that<br />
for a year.<br />
Whether they were in front of the blackboard or seated in a desk and whether they<br />
participated in classes at the Bee Branch of the Chicago Public Library at 37th and State<br />
or Legler Branch of the Chicago Public Library at Pulaski and Monroe or Alain Locke<br />
Charter School at Jackson and Kedzie or the Toman site of the Chicago Public Library<br />
at 27th and Pulaski, everyone who has been involved with Tolton is well aware of the<br />
adult education program’s importance.<br />
As Tolton celebrates its 20 years of excellence, <strong>De</strong> <strong>La</strong> <strong>Salle</strong> Magazine thought it would<br />
be interesting and meaningful to hear from four people who have been affected by<br />
Tolton and to gauge the impact Tolton has had on their lives.<br />
Here are their stories:<br />
10 Faith, Service & Community<br />
So while visiting his local library one day,<br />
Richards asked for information regarding<br />
a General Equivalency <strong>De</strong>gree program. The librarian promptly<br />
referred him to <strong>De</strong> <strong>La</strong> <strong>Salle</strong>’s Tolton Adult Literacy Center.<br />
After enrolling at Tolton’s branch at Corpus Christi Church at<br />
50th and King Drive on Chicago’s South Side, Richards was<br />
taught English, math, history, social studies and science. In fact,<br />
things went so well for Richards while at Tolton that he was<br />
inducted into the Adult National Literacy Honor Society.<br />
While a student at Tolton, the former tradesman learned about<br />
verbs, pronouns, equations and so many more useful things.<br />
Richards also garnered some other very important benefits from<br />
the staff at Tolton that could not be found on a piece of paper or<br />
in a book.<br />
“They gave me a vision of hope,” Richards said. “I worked<br />
with others and found there were others who cared about your<br />
“The people at Tolton gave me self-confidence and they told<br />
me I wasn’t too old to learn. They helped improve my whole<br />
vision of having a fulfilled life. I’m still in touch with them<br />
after all these years.<br />
“Tolton was a family setting. I still feel a part of the Tolton<br />
family.”<br />
After graduating from Tolton in 1995, Richards went on to<br />
receive his certification as an alcohol and drug counselor<br />
through a program – The African-American Communiversal<br />
Project – at the Center for Inner-City Studies at Abraham<br />
Lincoln Center in Chicago. From there, he attended Chicago<br />
State University.<br />
Richards then moved to Memphis where he got his<br />
Associates <strong>De</strong>gree from Remington Technical College.<br />
continued on next page<br />
Faith, Service & Community 11
faith, service & community<br />
Richards, who is 68 years old, worked as an alcohol and drug<br />
rehabilitation counselor for 10 years. He also spent 28 years<br />
as an auto and body repairman, having attended Washburne<br />
Trade School in Chicago.<br />
Richards is currently retired and lives in St. Paul, MN. While<br />
some 400 miles from Chicago, Richards still holds fond<br />
memories from his time as a student at Tolton.<br />
“At Tolton, they have the motto that ‘Everyone teaches and<br />
everyone learns,’” Richards said. “That has helped me my<br />
whole life since my experience at Tolton.<br />
“Ms. (Carmina) Renner and Ms. (Sue) Perez and Pam Clemons<br />
were my most memorable and helpful teachers at Tolton. They<br />
gave me hope and they gave me inspiration. That was the<br />
beginning of a new life for me.”<br />
Pamela Clemons continued<br />
and find it difficult to believe that someone really cares enough<br />
to assist with no strings attached other than bringing them to<br />
their fullest potential.<br />
“These students later tell us that they learned to trust again and<br />
allowed themselves to let their guard down. To me, there is no<br />
greater compliment of what teachers and staff can do collectively<br />
to create a learning environment in which<br />
students can thrive on so many different levels.<br />
“We educate the whole student by exposing them to education<br />
and a real-world approach of how to reach success. In short,<br />
students come and stay at the Tolton Center because they are<br />
celebrated and not just tolerated. There is a difference.”<br />
Pamela Clemons program coordinator<br />
Lourdes Garcia student<br />
Pamela Clemons, who is the Program<br />
Coordinator at Tolton’s Bee Branch<br />
site, as well as a language arts instructor,<br />
holds the distinction of being the first<br />
teacher hired at the Tolton Center<br />
nearly two decades ago.<br />
As she begins another year of dedicated and outstanding<br />
service to the Tolton community, Clemons participated in a<br />
question-and-answer session with <strong>De</strong> <strong>La</strong> <strong>Salle</strong> Magazine.<br />
<strong>De</strong> <strong>La</strong> <strong>Salle</strong> Magazine: How long have you been at Tolton?<br />
Clemons: “I am entering my 19th year at the Tolton Center.<br />
I have been here from almost the very beginning and have<br />
been here to witness many changes and program successes.<br />
<strong>De</strong> <strong>La</strong> <strong>Salle</strong> Magazine: What is your role at Tolton and what<br />
have your past roles been?<br />
Clemons: “My role currently at the Tolton Center is a dual one<br />
as I am Program Coordinator and a language arts instructor<br />
at our south (Bee Branch) campus. In my tenure at Tolton, I<br />
have worked with every instructional level and have taught<br />
practically every subject except math at the upper level.<br />
“I worked as lead teacher for many years at Tolton and I<br />
feel I was instrumental in replicating the highest standards<br />
wherever we have been blessed to satellite our program. For<br />
three years, I worked as Program Coordinator of a satellite<br />
evening adult education program we held at Paul Revere<br />
Elementary School and also as the Program Coordinator of a<br />
family literacy program for three consecutive summers.<br />
<strong>De</strong> <strong>La</strong> <strong>Salle</strong> Magazine: What is the greatest reward about<br />
teaching at Tolton?<br />
Clemons: “I am rewarded because I can without reservation<br />
bring who I am spiritually to our students. I have a<br />
relationship with God and I am very aware that my primary<br />
obligation is to serve my students with the very best that God<br />
has blessed me with. I am a product of the community I serve<br />
and feel even more committed to helping our students know<br />
that they can break out of poverty. I love that I am able to<br />
bring my skills as an artist and a social worker to work with<br />
our students daily. In fact, they complement the work I do.<br />
“Most important, I am so gratified when I am able to assist a<br />
student in getting their high school diploma and getting on a<br />
career or vocational track that leads to securing a satisfying job.<br />
<strong>De</strong> <strong>La</strong> <strong>Salle</strong> Magazine: What is your teaching philosophy?<br />
Clemons: “My personal teaching philosophy is that teaching<br />
is about relationship building and having a genuine desire to<br />
serve. Every adult has a purpose in life and should be assisted<br />
in connecting with this. When they come to Tolton, a mutual<br />
contract is made and my role is to assist in retraining their<br />
mind so that a goal or focus point is achieved.<br />
“In my experience, students will not meet with success unless<br />
there is a goal and having an example of someone to be like<br />
is also significant. I’m clear that I‘m learning along with the<br />
student and this is so ingrained in my philosophy and does<br />
so much for setting the stage to nurture the environment for<br />
learning.<br />
<strong>De</strong> <strong>La</strong> <strong>Salle</strong> Magazine: What kind of feedback do you get<br />
from your students?<br />
Clemons: “Students tell me often that they have never been<br />
in a more caring environment than the Tolton Center. When<br />
they compare adult educational facilities, they frequently<br />
state that our instructors and the instruction far exceed any<br />
educational experience they recall having.<br />
“We have students who have been hurt and wounded by life<br />
As the Tolton Center celebrates its 20th year<br />
of existence, <strong>De</strong> <strong>La</strong> <strong>Salle</strong> Magazine thought<br />
it would be interesting to hear from the<br />
people for whom the Tolton Center exists:<br />
the students.<br />
Lourdes Garcia is enrolled at the Tolton Center’s Toman Branch,<br />
located in the Little Village neighborhood on Chicago’s Southwest<br />
Side.<br />
Garcia came to Tolton as an English as a Second <strong>La</strong>nguage (ESL)<br />
student with her primary points of focus being learning how to<br />
read, speak and understand English.<br />
Here is an interview with Garcia that was conducted with the help<br />
of Tolton’s Toman Branch staff:<br />
<strong>De</strong> <strong>La</strong> <strong>Salle</strong> Magazine: How did you hear about Tolton’s program?<br />
Garcia: “I go frequently to the Toman Library and my friend,<br />
Veronica, told me about these English classes (which were then<br />
located at the Toman Library).<br />
<strong>De</strong> <strong>La</strong> <strong>Salle</strong> Magazine: What do you like best about the Tolton<br />
program?<br />
Garcia: “I like the program because the teachers let me speak<br />
English. The teachers have a lot of patience with me and they<br />
teach us different topics that I need to learn.<br />
“For example, when I go to the hospital, I can understand<br />
the receptionist. Or when I receive papers from the school, I<br />
understand them. Or when I go to the store, (I understand the<br />
signs). The teachers have taught me about these topics, which help<br />
me and my family.<br />
<strong>De</strong> <strong>La</strong> <strong>Salle</strong> Magazine: Has anyone else in your family participated<br />
in the Tolton program?<br />
Garcia: “Yes, my son, Ricardo. He participated for one year<br />
in this program when he was four years old, before he went to<br />
kindergarten. It helped his English fluency greatly and to relate<br />
and socialize with other children. And above all, to love books.<br />
He loves to look at books and now he already knows how to read!<br />
<strong>De</strong> <strong>La</strong> <strong>Salle</strong> Magazine: What are some of the benefits you have<br />
received from the Tolton program?<br />
Garcia: “The benefits are the fieldtrips. We went to the zoo and<br />
my children loved visiting the whole zoo. They are very excited<br />
about the children’s museum. They are very happy there. It is a<br />
great recreational benefit. Because I don’t drive, I appreciate these<br />
fieldtrips.<br />
<strong>De</strong> <strong>La</strong> <strong>Salle</strong> Magazine: What are some of the things you have<br />
learned/are learning at Tolton?<br />
Garcia: “I am learning English grammar and also to listen. That is<br />
the most difficult for me because it is hard to capture what people<br />
are saying. And I am learning to read and write. I want to learn and<br />
I need to learn to be able to help my children with their homework<br />
and to help my family when I need to read the mail or when I take<br />
my children to the hospital.<br />
“I need to be able to understand directions to know where to go.<br />
Or when I go to the store where they speak English, I need to be<br />
able to ask for the things I need. My oldest son is already speaking<br />
English and I want to be able to understand him. These are things<br />
that I have learned and am learning in my classes.<br />
“I am thankful for the people in this program who have taken an<br />
interest in people who need this help.”<br />
12 Faith, Service & Community<br />
Faith, Service & Community 13
campus scrapbook<br />
Preparing for their<br />
Great Futures<br />
2<br />
6.<br />
Dolores Duran ‘12<br />
For the young women of the Lourdes Hall<br />
Campus, passion and dedication for learning<br />
and inspiring others not only applies to their<br />
work in the classroom but to their experiences<br />
outside of academics. Juniors Jennifer Sansone<br />
and Natali Natera and senior Dolores Duran<br />
are just a few students from Lourdes Hall who<br />
are enthusiastically working to make the world<br />
and their lives better.<br />
4.<br />
Natali Natera ‘13<br />
That same enthusiasm and desire can also be<br />
found in <strong>Institute</strong> Campus for Young Men<br />
students like senior Dominic Varela.<br />
To expose the evils of tobacco and enlighten<br />
people on the consequences of lighting up,<br />
Sansone took part in the “Share the Truth”<br />
commercial contest as sponsored by the<br />
Respiratory Health Association of Metropolitan<br />
Chicago as part of its Chicago Tobacco<br />
Prevention Project and won the grand prize.<br />
Sansone was impacted personally by the<br />
harmful effects of smoking. Her grandmother<br />
passed away from a tobacco-related illness,<br />
and the 30-second radio commercial she<br />
produced expressed her feelings.<br />
Out of over 150 entries, eight commercials<br />
were chosen and voted on in the TV and radio<br />
categories. Sansone’s radio commercial beat<br />
out all the other applicants and started airing<br />
in late June.<br />
Jennifer Sansone ‘13<br />
Dominic Varela ‘12<br />
The grand prize included a $5,000 scholarship<br />
from Tribune Media Group, a VIP concert<br />
experience from Clear Channel Radio Chicago<br />
and a MacBook Pro from Comcast Spotlight.<br />
The words of Sansone’s commercial united<br />
people and brought awareness about a very<br />
important topic. Natera traveled to Europe for<br />
that similar sense of solidarity.<br />
Natera attended the World Youth Day in<br />
Madrid, Spain from August 16th-21st. World<br />
Youth Day is an encounter with the Pope<br />
and a celebration of the Catholic faith that<br />
specifically focuses on how many youths want<br />
to commit themselves to Christ.<br />
“Everyone came together for this reason,”<br />
Natera said. “I stopped being selfish for a day.”<br />
The opportunity to attend World Youth Day<br />
was given to Natera through her father’s<br />
church group at Immaculate Conception.<br />
She and her cousins spent 18 days in Europe,<br />
meeting young people from all over the globe,<br />
and celebrating their faith.<br />
Among her favorite parts of the trip were the<br />
Mass with the Pope and the actual Youth Day,<br />
where everyone walked around and traded<br />
things with people from other countries.<br />
Natera has t-shirts and hats from many<br />
countries, including Argentina and Ecuador.<br />
Natera was not the only person who traveled<br />
over the summer. Duran and Varela both<br />
traveled to the University of Illinois in<br />
Urbana-Champaign to participate in the<br />
Leadership Education and <strong>De</strong>velopment<br />
(LEAD) program.<br />
LEAD is a way for minority students to get<br />
a chance to network with companies through<br />
different universities throughout the country.<br />
Duran and Varela were two of the 2,000<br />
students who applied to this program and were<br />
chosen to be in a group of 30 people from all<br />
over the country and Puerto Rico to spend<br />
three weeks in July at the University of Illinois<br />
in the LEAD program.<br />
Duran went to visit many Fortune 500<br />
corporations during the three-week program,<br />
including John <strong>De</strong>ere and Whirlpool, a visit<br />
that really sticks out for Duran. She learned<br />
that no guests are allowed in the Whirlpool<br />
headquarters unless they are personally invited.<br />
Along with the honor of being invited, Duran<br />
had fun cooking in the seven kitchens the<br />
Whirlpool company had displaying its products.<br />
As part of the LEAD program, the students<br />
had to participate in a case competition every<br />
week. The students were placed in 10 groups<br />
of three and asked to work on a case study.<br />
Duran’s team earned 3rd place for its case<br />
study on artists who bring in the most revenue.<br />
Duran had such a memorable experience<br />
and is so happy that she was able to have the<br />
opportunity to participate in LEAD. Besides<br />
making a bunch of new friends who have<br />
become like family to her, Duran became<br />
acquainted with students from the University<br />
of Illinois, her first choice for college.<br />
“I’m so glad I did it,” Duran said.<br />
4<br />
1<br />
6<br />
6.<br />
7<br />
5<br />
3<br />
1. Members of the <strong>De</strong> <strong>La</strong> <strong>Salle</strong> community raise<br />
their voices in song during the school-opening<br />
Mass held in the Parmer Activity Center.<br />
2. The <strong>De</strong> <strong>La</strong> <strong>Salle</strong> varsity football team gathers<br />
for a prayer before the first game of the season<br />
against <strong>La</strong>ne Tech.<br />
3. The Meteor cheerleaders show their<br />
school spirit.<br />
4. The <strong>De</strong> <strong>La</strong> <strong>Salle</strong> band participated in the annual<br />
St. Jerome’s parade this summer.<br />
5. A view of the <strong>De</strong> <strong>La</strong> <strong>Salle</strong> Homecoming football<br />
game from 1,200 feet from a plane flown by student<br />
Tim Quigley ’13.<br />
6. Approximately 200 <strong>De</strong> <strong>La</strong> <strong>Salle</strong> students,<br />
faculty and staff volunteered for the 2011 Bank<br />
of America Chicago Marathon.<br />
7. Senior Jhabri Hughes ’12 offers a petition<br />
during the school-opening Mass.<br />
8. Freshmen Kent Eng ’15 and John Zlotkowski<br />
’15 learn how to use their Tablet PCs during<br />
orientation.<br />
14 Faith, Service & Community<br />
8<br />
Campus Scrapbook 15
Parent place<br />
BECOME AN INVOLVED<br />
METEOR PARENT<br />
Students aren’t the only ones who should have fun during their four years of high school. The parents<br />
should have fun, too, and participating in special events and parent groups on campus are the best way to<br />
ensure an enjoyable high school experience at <strong>De</strong> <strong>La</strong> <strong>Salle</strong>. Here is a list of some of the things you should<br />
look forward to as a Meteor Mom or Meteor Dad:<br />
Parent Association<br />
The Parent Association is a forum by which parents and<br />
guardians can better communicate and collaborate with<br />
the faculty and administration and become more deeply<br />
involved in the school community. The Parent Association<br />
leadership is comprised of a Board and three Committees<br />
that work with the <strong>De</strong> <strong>La</strong> <strong>Salle</strong> faculty and administration<br />
to achieve specific goals benefiting the <strong>De</strong> <strong>La</strong> <strong>Salle</strong><br />
community. The Board and its members meet every third<br />
Thursday of the month at either campus at 6pm. At the<br />
meetings, those in attendance plan for such events as college<br />
forums, dances and fundraising events, and discuss ways in<br />
which the parents, students, and faculty can collaborate to<br />
further enhance the ‘D’ experience.<br />
Sporting Events<br />
If you have a student-athlete, you will probably be watching<br />
most of your student’s games anyway. However, a lot of<br />
parents get involved with the selling of concessions at<br />
our major sporting events such as girls volleyball, boys<br />
basketball and football.<br />
Freshman Parent Dinners<br />
For incoming freshman parents and guardians, <strong>De</strong> <strong>La</strong> <strong>Salle</strong><br />
hosts three dinners for the parents to be welcomed into the<br />
Meteor family. Not only are freshman parents able to hear<br />
from the <strong>De</strong> <strong>La</strong> <strong>Salle</strong> faculty and administration, but current<br />
<strong>De</strong> <strong>La</strong> <strong>Salle</strong> parents act as the wait staff for the event and<br />
share their own experiences with the incoming families.<br />
Mother/Son, Father/Daughter Dances<br />
This is a <strong>De</strong> <strong>La</strong> <strong>Salle</strong> favorite for parents and students alike.<br />
Who makes a better date than your son or daughter, right,<br />
parents? On Valentine’s Day weekend in February, there<br />
are two dances, one specifically for the young men and their<br />
mothers and one for the young women and their fathers.<br />
For more information on the <strong>De</strong> <strong>La</strong> <strong>Salle</strong> Parent Association, please call (773) 650-6800.<br />
important dates FOR THE 2011-12 SCHOOL YEAR<br />
November 14-<strong>De</strong>cember 14<br />
November 16<br />
November 19<br />
November 24-25<br />
<strong>De</strong>cember 3<br />
<strong>De</strong>cember 13<br />
<strong>De</strong>cember 16<br />
<strong>De</strong>cember 19-21<br />
<strong>De</strong>cember 22-January 4<br />
January 5<br />
January 13<br />
January 14<br />
Holiday Giving Drive<br />
Open House - <strong>Institute</strong> Campus for Young Men<br />
Open House - Lourdes Hall Campus for Young Women<br />
Thanksgiving Break<br />
Open House - <strong>Institute</strong> Campus for Young Men<br />
<strong>De</strong> <strong>La</strong> <strong>Salle</strong> Band Christmas Concert<br />
Second Quarter Ends<br />
First Semester Final Exams<br />
Christmas Break<br />
Second Semester / Third Quarter Begin<br />
Staff <strong>De</strong>velopment Day (No Classes)<br />
Entrance Exam<br />
all roads lead<br />
to de la salle<br />
easier than ever to get to the institute<br />
One of the characteristics that makes<br />
<strong>De</strong> <strong>La</strong> <strong>Salle</strong> <strong>Institute</strong> so unique is the<br />
diversity of our student population,<br />
which is a direct result of how easy it<br />
is for students from the entire city of<br />
Chicago and surrounding suburbs to get<br />
to our conveniently-located campuses<br />
by using either the Metra, the CTA’s Red<br />
and Green Lines, and the <strong>De</strong> <strong>La</strong> <strong>Salle</strong><br />
transportation system.<br />
In spring 2011, a new stop on the Rock<br />
Island Metra line opened at 35th and<br />
<strong>La</strong> <strong>Salle</strong>, creating opportunities for<br />
prospective students to travel to <strong>De</strong> <strong>La</strong><br />
<strong>Salle</strong> from Joliet, New Lenox, Mokena,<br />
Tinley Park, Oak Forest, Midlothian,<br />
Blue Island, Morgan Park and Beverly.<br />
The 35th Street/ Lou Jones/ Bronzeville<br />
Metra stop is two blocks from the<br />
<strong>Institute</strong> Campus at 35th and Michigan.<br />
Students who take the Rock Island line<br />
will get off the train at 35th Street and<br />
walk to the <strong>Institute</strong> Campus, and the<br />
young women are taken to the Lourdes<br />
Hall Campus by a <strong>De</strong> <strong>La</strong> <strong>Salle</strong> bus.<br />
In addition to the new Rock Island stop at<br />
35th Street, <strong>De</strong> <strong>La</strong> <strong>Salle</strong> continues to pick<br />
up students from Union Station and the<br />
Illinois Central Station at Randolph and<br />
Michigan every morning so prospective<br />
students can use all the other Metra lines<br />
as well.<br />
A private <strong>De</strong> <strong>La</strong> <strong>Salle</strong> bus picks up<br />
students at 7:30am from Union Station<br />
and 7:45am at the Illinois Central<br />
Station. At the end of the day, students<br />
are dropped off at the Illinois Central<br />
Station at 3pm or 6:10pm and 3:10pm<br />
and 6:20pm at Union Station.<br />
If you live near any Metra Line, there<br />
is no excuse not to attend <strong>De</strong> <strong>La</strong> <strong>Salle</strong><br />
because our transportation system makes<br />
it easy to get to our campuses. It is<br />
definitely a convenient and cost-effective<br />
way to get to the <strong>Institute</strong>.<br />
Sophomore Ryan Rickert lives in<br />
Evergreen Park and takes the Metra train<br />
from 99th and Longwood in Beverly<br />
every day to and from school.<br />
“The Metra train makes it so much easier<br />
to get to school,” Rickert said. “It’s only<br />
20 minutes from 99th Street to 35th<br />
Street. I can read and study on the train<br />
and having the train available helps me<br />
and my family a lot.”<br />
Prospective students who do not live<br />
along the Rock Island line, but still want<br />
to utilize public transportation should<br />
know that many <strong>De</strong> <strong>La</strong> <strong>Salle</strong> students take<br />
the CTA Red and/or Green Lines.<br />
Both the Red and Green Lines have stops<br />
on 35th Street, Sox/35th on the Red<br />
Line and 35th/Bronzeville on the Green<br />
Line, which sits right behind the <strong>De</strong> <strong>La</strong><br />
<strong>Salle</strong> football field. Like the Metra line,<br />
students take the Red or Green Line trains<br />
and walk to the <strong>Institute</strong> Campus, and the<br />
young women are taken to the Lourdes<br />
Hall Campus by a <strong>De</strong> <strong>La</strong> <strong>Salle</strong> bus.<br />
<strong>De</strong> <strong>La</strong> <strong>Salle</strong> students are not limited to<br />
those two particular CTA train lines.<br />
There are ways for students who travel<br />
on the Blue, Brown, Pink and Orange<br />
Line trains to transfer to the Green or<br />
Red Line.<br />
For those families who do not have<br />
the option of using the Metra or CTA<br />
Red or Green Lines, the <strong>De</strong> <strong>La</strong> <strong>Salle</strong><br />
transportation system has eight bus<br />
routes that pick up students as far south<br />
as South Holland, as far north as Wrigley<br />
Field, on Chicago’s East Side and on the<br />
Southwest Side by Midway Airport.<br />
The <strong>De</strong> <strong>La</strong> <strong>Salle</strong> buses pick up students<br />
at major intersections near their homes<br />
and bring them back to a closelylocated—if<br />
not the same intersection—at<br />
the end of the day.<br />
The best part about the <strong>De</strong> <strong>La</strong> <strong>Salle</strong><br />
buses is that you are able to purchase<br />
bus tickets as your student needs without<br />
paying an astronomical transportation<br />
fee upfront like at some other high<br />
schools. Students can purchase a book<br />
of 20 tickets for $50 which is two<br />
weeks’ worth of rides.<br />
No matter what part of Chicago in<br />
which you reside or which suburb you<br />
call home, <strong>De</strong> <strong>La</strong> <strong>Salle</strong>’s convenient<br />
transportation options and centralized<br />
location make it easy for students from<br />
all over Chicagoland to be a Meteor.<br />
16 Parent Place<br />
Parent Place 17
Athletics<br />
2011 FALL Sports RECAP Sports hall of fame<br />
GIRLS TENNIS A cause for optimism for the Meteors was the play of<br />
Khalia Powell ’14, who finished the season with a perfect mark of 9-0 in<br />
Girls Catholic Athletic Conference competition in the regular season. In<br />
the postseason, <strong>De</strong> <strong>La</strong> <strong>Salle</strong> tied for fifth in the GCAC Red Tournament<br />
with Powell garnering second place at No. 1 singles.<br />
As a team, the Meteors defeated Seton Academy, St. Joseph, St.<br />
Scholastica and Maria over the course of the season.<br />
Girls Swimming The primary highlight for the Meteors was a<br />
victory over Maria to begin the season.<br />
Girls Volleyball Four Meteor volleyball players earned All-Girls<br />
Catholic Athletic Conference White Team plaudits for their efforts during<br />
the 2011 season. Bridget White ’12 was chosen the Player of the Year<br />
in the GCAC White, while Arianna Hayden ’12, Natalie Arredia ’15 and<br />
Julianna Townsend ’14 also garnered places on the All-GCAC Team.<br />
In regular season play, the Meteors won the <strong>De</strong> <strong>La</strong> <strong>Salle</strong> Tournament as<br />
Carleigh Barringer ’15 and White ’12 were selected to the All-Tournament<br />
Team with Barringer being named the Most Valuable Player.<br />
In the postseason, <strong>De</strong> <strong>La</strong> <strong>Salle</strong> won the Illinois High School Association’s<br />
Class 3A King Regional, defeating Gage Park and King. The Meteors<br />
then advanced to the Class 3A <strong>De</strong> <strong>La</strong> <strong>Salle</strong> Sectional that took place after<br />
printing deadlines.<br />
Girls Cross Country In girls cross country, the Meteors’ season<br />
was highlighted by a fourth-place finish at the IHSA Class 2A U-High<br />
Regional. Members of the team that advanced to the sectional were<br />
Margaret Rocha ’14, Miranda Elizalde ’13, Diana Trujillo ’13, Kayla Hui<br />
’14, Christine Sanchez ’13, Victoria Alvarez ’13 and Brenda Esparza ’13.<br />
The sectional was held after printing deadlines.<br />
Boys Cross Country In boys cross country, the Meteors’ season<br />
featured a fifth-place finish at the U-High Regional. Representing <strong>De</strong><br />
<strong>La</strong> <strong>Salle</strong> on the sectional-qualifying team were Pat Schiller ’14, Jeremy<br />
O’Brien ’12, Johnny Torres ’13, Kevin Bansley ’12, Brian Bansley ’14,<br />
Daniel Leon ’15 and Joseph Benson ’13.<br />
Boys Soccer Victories over Gordon Tech and St. Francis de Sales<br />
keyed the Meteors’ Catholic League schedule. In nonconference<br />
play, <strong>La</strong>tin and Northside Prep were beaten by <strong>De</strong> <strong>La</strong> <strong>Salle</strong> in <strong>La</strong>sallian<br />
Cup competition as the Meteors earned second place. Simon<br />
Aldama ’14, Luis Calvillo ’12 and Miguel Mercado ’12 were selected<br />
to the All-Chicago Catholic League White Team. Calvillo was chosen<br />
to the Illinois High School Soccer Coaches Association’s All-Sectional<br />
Team, while Mercado achieved honorable mention plaudits.<br />
Boys Golf The Meteors competed in the Illinois High School<br />
Association’s Class 2A St. Ignatius Regional where they finished eighth.<br />
<strong>De</strong> <strong>La</strong> <strong>Salle</strong> was 11th in the Chicago Catholic League Conference meet.<br />
In regular-season play, the Meteors were 8th at the Bishop McNamara<br />
Invitational and 14th at the St. <strong>La</strong>urence Invitational. Another highlight<br />
was the play of four-year starter Jonathan Davis ’12.<br />
Boys Football The Meteor varsity finished the season with an<br />
overall record of 4-5. Attaining All-Chicago Catholic League White<br />
First Team accolades were James Buss ’12, Jordan Fisher ’12,<br />
Chris Lisenby ’12, Jared Philp ’12 and Mikale Wilbon ‘14. Buss<br />
also was chosen the <strong>De</strong>fensive Player of the Year in the CCL<br />
White. Wilbon also was named a Chicago Sun-Times Player<br />
of the Week for the timeframes ending Aug. 28 and Sept. 4.<br />
Named to the All-CCL White Second Team were Ryan Flynn ’13,<br />
Jamarco Jones ’14, Adam Klupchak ’12, Nick Klupchak ’12, Bobby<br />
Popp ’12, Sal Romando ’12, Zack Strock ’12 and Brandon Wright ’12.<br />
On Sept. 30, 2011, five former Meteor athletes were inducted into the <strong>De</strong> <strong>La</strong> <strong>Salle</strong> Sports Hall of Fame.<br />
This prestigious plaudit recognizes this quintet of gentlemen for their accomplishments on the wrestling mat,<br />
the football field, the track, the soccer pitch and the baseball diamond while proudly wearing the royal blue<br />
and gold of <strong>De</strong> <strong>La</strong> <strong>Salle</strong> <strong>Institute</strong>.<br />
These Meteors who comprise the Class of 2011 will have their names forever hanging in the Sports<br />
Hall of Fame display case in the Toth Foyer next to the Parmer Activity Center.<br />
Please join us as we honor:<br />
wrestler Tom Combes ’94<br />
football player Tom Marks ‘94<br />
football player Reggie Pippen ’94<br />
track and field athlete/<br />
football player Jaikevin Thomas ’81<br />
baseball player/<br />
soccer player Tim Ulatowski ’90<br />
<strong>De</strong> <strong>La</strong> <strong>Salle</strong> extends its heartiest congratulations to all of these<br />
men and thanks them for their many contributions to the <strong>Institute</strong><br />
and our athletic program.<br />
A round of applause please for the Class of 2011 as it is enshrined<br />
into the <strong>De</strong> <strong>La</strong> <strong>Salle</strong> Sports Hall of Fame.<br />
GO METEORS!<br />
L to R: Ulatowski, Thomas, Pippen, Marks, Combes<br />
Chicago Catholic League Celebrates 100 Years<br />
METEORS win ihsa academic awards<br />
In the fall of 1912, representatives of eight Catholic high schools in Chicago<br />
gathered to form an athletic league that would provide structure and competition<br />
for its members. One of the eight schools at the meeting – which would serve as<br />
the start of the Chicago Catholic League – was <strong>De</strong> <strong>La</strong> <strong>Salle</strong>.<br />
<strong>De</strong> <strong>La</strong> <strong>Salle</strong> would remain a member of the CCL until the 1960-61 school year.<br />
One decade later, <strong>De</strong> <strong>La</strong> <strong>Salle</strong> would rejoin the CCL and continues to be one of<br />
the key members to this day.<br />
As part of its recognition of the CCL’s 100 years of academic and athletic<br />
excellence, <strong>De</strong> <strong>La</strong> <strong>Salle</strong> would like to honor the former and current Meteors<br />
who have attained membership as athletes, coaches or administrators in the<br />
prestigious Chicago Catholic League Hall of Fame:<br />
Brother I. Austin F.S.C. • Chet Bulger • Al Cech<br />
George Connor • Ron Curl • Hon. Richard J. Daley<br />
Br. Eamon Gavin, F.S.C. • Jim Hoffman<br />
Edward “Moose” Krause • John Niemiera • Stan Patrick<br />
Jim Prunty • Edward Riska • Jerry Tokars • Tom White<br />
Congratulations to these men and best wishes to the members of the Chicago Catholic League for another century of success.<br />
18 Athletics<br />
In the spring of 2011, <strong>De</strong> <strong>La</strong> <strong>Salle</strong>’s student-athletes concluded<br />
the 2010-11 school year in impressive fashion as the girls<br />
soccer team, girls softball team and boys volleyball team all<br />
were recognized by the Illinois High School Association for<br />
their excellence in the classrooms.<br />
As a result of sustaining cumulative grade-point averages of 3.0<br />
or better, these three teams were given IHSA Team Academic<br />
Awards. Over the course of the 2010-11 academic year, 10<br />
Meteor teams attained this impressive accolade.<br />
Members of the girls soccer team were Veronica Alvarez ’11;<br />
Noemi Camargo ’12; Nadia Carmona ’12; Katie Cline ’12;<br />
Dalilah Earley ’14; Maria Gonzalez ’11; Selena Hernandez ‘13;<br />
Anna Nowaczyk ‘13; Zitlaly Perez ’14; Sylvia Reyes ’12;<br />
Maggie Rocha ’14; Christina Sanchez ’12; Herlinda Sanchez<br />
’11; Alyssa Sandoval ’12; Wendy Sotelo ’12; Diana Trujillo ’13;<br />
Nitza Valencia ’13 and Maricruz Zarco ’11.<br />
Coaching the Meteors were Tom Dufficy and Carlos Nunez.<br />
Members of the girls softball team were Jaicie Botica ’11;<br />
Rebecca Brazel ’12; Francesca Castagna ’12; Kayla Castaneda<br />
’13; Kathy Crowley ’12; Kelly Crowley ’12; Jill Duddleston ’12;<br />
Alex Garza ’12; Rebecca Gierut ’14; Natalie Gorman ’12;<br />
Anisa McHugh ’14; Morgan Owens ’12; Carolyn Roberts ’14<br />
and Nicole Roney ’14.<br />
The Meteors were coached by Tom Combes ’94 and<br />
Angelica Espinosa.<br />
Members of the boys volleyball team were Nick Carroll ’12;<br />
Brandon Curry-Tidwell ’11; Pat Galvin ’12; Dan Gorman ’11;<br />
Billy Izzo ’12; Grant <strong>La</strong>pinski ’14; Chris Lisenby ’12; Kelley<br />
McKenzie ’11; Tom Platt ’11; Vince Solis ’12; Karol Szacilowski<br />
’13; Eric Tremore ’14; Josh White ’12 and Mario Vega ’11.<br />
Michael Dieter and Ashley Shinnick were the coaches for<br />
the Meteors.<br />
“Winning three more IHSA awards in the spring and winning<br />
10 during the school year strengthens my belief that we have<br />
some of the best student-athletes in the Chicagoland area,”<br />
<strong>De</strong> <strong>La</strong> <strong>Salle</strong> athletic director Tom White said. “Our studentathletes<br />
are challenged every day in the classroom and in the<br />
athletic arena and they always respond, thrive and succeed.”<br />
Athletics 19
development<br />
LINK Unlimited<br />
Continues its<br />
Commitment to<br />
Students<br />
Founded in 1966 by the late John C. Parmer ’46 and his wife, Carolyn Noonan Parmer, LINK<br />
Unlimited is Chicago’s oldest mentoring and college preparatory organization. LINK Unlimited<br />
has successfully transitioned 1,700 economically disadvantaged African-American youth<br />
to college by providing academic support through their high school years. The success of the LINK<br />
scholars through high school is supported by their Mentoring, Academic 1. Enrichment, Leadership<br />
<strong>De</strong>velopment, and Tutoring and Study Skills programs. LINK students are set on the college<br />
track through College Readiness programming. They have attended many top-tier colleges<br />
and have become successful as bankers, business professionals, engineers, educators,<br />
attorneys, doctors and more. Many former LINK students are now sponsors<br />
and benefactors of current LINK students.<br />
LINK’s programs challenge each student academically and personally,<br />
compelling them to push beyond what they thought were their limits to reach<br />
higher levels of excellence. LINK strives to remain abreast of the needs of<br />
our students, their families and the community. The organization’s history<br />
and long-standing success drive them to continue evolving programming<br />
and outreach, so that these scholars can advance even further.<br />
Since 2001, LINK Unlimited has been a leading partner with <strong>De</strong> <strong>La</strong> <strong>Salle</strong><br />
<strong>Institute</strong> and its students. Currently, there are 25 LINK scholars<br />
attending <strong>De</strong> <strong>La</strong> <strong>Salle</strong>. Because of their commitment, <strong>De</strong> <strong>La</strong> <strong>Salle</strong> is on<br />
track to becoming the premier secondary school of choice for Chicago’s<br />
students, helping to develop not only the minds of today’s young people,<br />
but most important, the <strong>La</strong>sallian values of faith, service and community.<br />
We remain deeply grateful to Link Unlimited for its investment in<br />
the students of <strong>De</strong> <strong>La</strong> <strong>Salle</strong>.<br />
Growth & Expansion<br />
at <strong>De</strong> <strong>La</strong> <strong>Salle</strong><br />
In August 2011, the Chen Medical Building, located on<br />
the northeast corner of 35th and Michigan across from<br />
the <strong>Institute</strong> Campus, was deconstructed with partial<br />
preservation of historical artifacts. <strong>De</strong> <strong>La</strong> <strong>Salle</strong> acquired<br />
this property about five years ago and is looking forward to<br />
enhancing the gentrification of the neighborhood. Currently,<br />
you’ll see a beautiful green space on the corner until the<br />
development plans are finalized.<br />
Over the course of the next four months, <strong>De</strong> <strong>La</strong> <strong>Salle</strong> will<br />
visit with our various constituencies to create a clear strategic<br />
plan and vision for <strong>De</strong> <strong>La</strong> <strong>Salle</strong> for the next five to ten years<br />
and beyond. Through this process we will be reviewing the<br />
following areas:<br />
• Academics<br />
• Athletics<br />
• Buildings and Grounds<br />
• Campus Ministry/Spiritual Life<br />
• Faculty<br />
• Finance and <strong>De</strong>velopment<br />
• Fine Arts<br />
• Student Life<br />
• Student Recruitment/Enrollment<br />
• Technology<br />
• Tolton Centers<br />
Participate in<br />
the strategic<br />
plan & visioning<br />
process!<br />
At the conclusion of this process, we will have a strategic<br />
vision to advance the mission of <strong>La</strong>sallian education in<br />
Chicago and the financial investment. If you would like to<br />
participate in the strategic plan and visioning process, please<br />
contact Kate Rhodes, Vice President of Advancement, at<br />
rhodesk@dls.org or 312-842-7355 x147.<br />
20 <strong>De</strong>velopment <strong>De</strong>velopment 21
development<br />
Planned Giving<br />
Continuing Your Legacy<br />
We greatly appreciate those individuals who<br />
remember <strong>De</strong> <strong>La</strong> <strong>Salle</strong> with a bequest or<br />
other means of deferred giving. You will<br />
not only honor your own memories and experiences,<br />
you will also build a legacy that will help thousands<br />
of students receive the <strong>La</strong>sallian education that is a<br />
longstanding tradition of <strong>De</strong> <strong>La</strong> <strong>Salle</strong> <strong>Institute</strong>.<br />
There are many ways you can give a gift that will<br />
last a lifetime and make a difference for countless<br />
students who hope to follow in your footsteps.<br />
Family members and friends who wish to make a gift<br />
to the <strong>Institute</strong> in memory of a loved one can now<br />
see their name listed on the memorial plaque that<br />
hangs next to the school’s Signum Fidei Chapel at<br />
the <strong>Institute</strong> Campus.<br />
The Legacy Circle recognizes alumni and friends<br />
of <strong>De</strong> <strong>La</strong> <strong>Salle</strong> <strong>Institute</strong> who have provided for the<br />
school in their estate plans.<br />
Additions to Advancement Staff<br />
Kate Rhodes<br />
New vice president of advancement<br />
In July, 2011, <strong>De</strong> <strong>La</strong> <strong>Salle</strong> named<br />
Kate Rhodes its new Vice President<br />
of Advancement.<br />
Rhodes, a graduate of Marquette<br />
University in Milwaukee, WI and Marian<br />
Catholic High School in Chicago Heights,<br />
IL, brings 13 years of experience as a<br />
fundraising professional to the <strong>Institute</strong>,<br />
having worked in a variety of nonprofit<br />
organizations throughout Chicagoland<br />
including Hazelden Chicago, The<br />
University of Chicago, <strong>La</strong>tzBruni<br />
Partners, and most recently, Old St.<br />
Patrick’s Church in the West Loop.<br />
At Old St. Patrick’s Church, Rhodes<br />
led a team of professionals (including<br />
communications, special events, member<br />
relations, and database management, as<br />
well as several volunteer fundraising<br />
committees) responsible for advancing<br />
the mission, while also planning and<br />
executing the capital and operating<br />
fundraising strategies and goals.<br />
Maggie McEldowney<br />
Congratulations,<br />
Kate, & welcome<br />
to <strong>De</strong> <strong>La</strong> <strong>Salle</strong>!<br />
new special events coordinator<br />
As you conduct your year-end planning with your<br />
financial advisor and tax attorney, please remember<br />
<strong>De</strong> <strong>La</strong> <strong>Salle</strong> <strong>Institute</strong>. If you are not listed as a current<br />
member of the Legacy Circle, but have provided<br />
for <strong>De</strong> <strong>La</strong> <strong>Salle</strong> in your estate plans, please contact<br />
Iris Gist Cochran, Director of <strong>De</strong>velopment, at<br />
312.842.7355, ext. 152 or cochrani@dls.org.<br />
Congratulations<br />
& welcome back<br />
to ‘D’, Maggie!<br />
In September, 2011, <strong>De</strong> <strong>La</strong> <strong>Salle</strong><br />
welcomed Maggie McEldowney as<br />
its new Special Events Coordinator.<br />
McEldowney, who is a former intern in <strong>De</strong><br />
<strong>La</strong> <strong>Salle</strong>’s Advancement Office, is a graduate<br />
of the University of Illinois at Urbana-<br />
Champaign with a degree in Media Studies<br />
and Communications. McEldowney is a<br />
graduate of Marist High School.<br />
“During my internship, I had a wonderful<br />
time getting to know the school, and what<br />
we represent as the <strong>De</strong> <strong>La</strong> <strong>Salle</strong> family,”<br />
McEldowney said. “I’ve been able to<br />
meet a variety of members on our faculty<br />
and staff, and see what a wonderful<br />
conglomeration of people we have not<br />
only teaching our students, but also<br />
the dynamic group of students we have<br />
attending <strong>De</strong> <strong>La</strong> <strong>Salle</strong>.<br />
“As the Special Events Coordinator, I plan<br />
to run successful and entertaining events<br />
while proudly representing <strong>De</strong> <strong>La</strong> <strong>Salle</strong><br />
<strong>Institute</strong>. Being a part of the Advancement<br />
office, I hope to assist my colleagues in<br />
promoting fundraising at the school, and<br />
keep in close contact with our alumni.”<br />
22 <strong>De</strong>velopment <strong>De</strong>velopment 23
Does <strong>De</strong> <strong>La</strong> <strong>Salle</strong> have your email address?<br />
Alumni Connection<br />
Alumni Updates<br />
1941<br />
Edward Fietz is retired after working as an<br />
accountant and salesman. Fietz is a resident<br />
of Portage, IN and can be reached via email at<br />
delasalle411@frontier.com.<br />
1951<br />
Patrick <strong>La</strong>ughran resides with his family in<br />
Orland Park, IL and is working in the field of<br />
package delivery for United Parcel Service as<br />
a loss prevention manager. His email address<br />
is packyog@aol.com.<br />
1965<br />
Ron Gaj is a technology consultant and resides<br />
in Hawthorn Woods, IL. Gaj also informed<br />
us that in June 2011, he graduated from Le<br />
Cordon Bleu School of Culinary Arts in<br />
Chicago. Congratulations! His email address is<br />
rong@dls.net.<br />
1967<br />
Alan Rucker is a music consultant and lives<br />
in Chicago, IL. His email address is<br />
aerco5020@att.net.<br />
1968<br />
Earl Coggins is a senior revenue agent for<br />
the state of South Dakota. He calls Rapid<br />
City, SD home and can be contacted at<br />
ecdutch7@gmail.com.<br />
1971<br />
James Geers is a retired police officer and<br />
lives in Princeton, IL. His email address is<br />
jtgeers53@gmail.com.<br />
1978<br />
Alvin M. Lee visited Chicago in September<br />
and stopped by <strong>De</strong> <strong>La</strong> <strong>Salle</strong> for a tour. Lee is<br />
working in the field of law enforcement and<br />
resides in Garland, TX. His email address is<br />
Runningback1978@gmail.com.<br />
1983<br />
Anthony Cater and his wife live in Chicago.<br />
Cater’s email address is acater94@yahoo.com<br />
1990<br />
Danuel Williamson is a special events<br />
logistics manager. Williamson and his family<br />
reside in Chicago and can be contacted at<br />
dwilliamson@cafebonappetit.com.<br />
1993<br />
Jarrett Anderson and his family live in<br />
Springfield, IL. Anderson is working as a<br />
football coach and can be contacted at<br />
dalast3@msn.com.<br />
1997<br />
Thomas Schergen and his family call<br />
Evergreen Park, IL home. Schergen is<br />
working in the field of secondary education<br />
as a teacher and coach. His email address is<br />
tschergen@mchs.org.<br />
1998<br />
Martez Davis is employed in education<br />
as a post-secondary counselor. He resides<br />
in Chicago and can be emailed at davis@<br />
janeaddamshigh.org.<br />
Vincent Pavilionis and his family live in<br />
Downers Grove, IL. Pavilionis, who holds<br />
degrees from Knox College and North<br />
Central College, is teaching in Park Forest, IL.<br />
He and his wife, Shelley, became parents in<br />
April, 2011. Pavilionis’ email address is<br />
vincepavilionis@yahoo.com.<br />
1999<br />
Robert Aguilar is working as a transportation<br />
engineer and lives in Chicago. His email<br />
address is aguilarjr.robert@ymail.com.<br />
2000<br />
Rodolfo Ruiz Jr. lives in Chicago with<br />
his wife and is a student at Northeastern<br />
Illinois University. Ruiz can be reached at<br />
r_ruiz6047@yahoo.com.<br />
2001<br />
Michael Brown is an admissions counselor as<br />
well as the Chicago regional representative<br />
for Illinois College. Brown’s email address is<br />
michael.brown@ic.edu.<br />
2005<br />
Andrew Mack works in the Office of<br />
Undergraduate Admissions as an admissions<br />
counselor for Valparaiso University. Mack can<br />
be contacted at Andrew.mack@valpo.edu.<br />
2006<br />
Vincent Hardy resides in Chicago. His email<br />
address is hardy7124@gmail.com.<br />
2007<br />
Danny Solis has been hired as an assistant<br />
baseball coach at <strong>De</strong> <strong>La</strong> <strong>Salle</strong>. After<br />
graduating from <strong>De</strong> <strong>La</strong> <strong>Salle</strong>, Solis played<br />
collegiately at South Suburban College and<br />
McKendree College. Congratulations and<br />
welcome back to ‘D’!<br />
2009<br />
<strong>La</strong>nce Corporal Christian Mondragon is<br />
serving in the United States Marine Corps<br />
and is currently deployed in the Helmand<br />
Province of Afghanistan. His email address<br />
is cmondragon26@yahoo.com. <strong>De</strong> <strong>La</strong> <strong>Salle</strong><br />
thanks Mondragon for his service to our<br />
country and wishes him a safe return to<br />
Chicago when his tour of duty is completed.<br />
Tom Plaszewski lives in Chicago. His email<br />
address is tompwah13@gmail.com.<br />
Alumnae Updates<br />
1980<br />
Georgann Martinkus lives in Chicago and is<br />
working as an accountant. Her email address<br />
is gmartinkus@yahoo.com.<br />
2001<br />
Maria Gaitan is an office manager and lives in<br />
Chicago. Her email address is sweetmaria24@<br />
yahoo.com.<br />
Evelyn Paredes resides in Chicago with<br />
her family. She can be reached by email at<br />
evelynparedes5@gmail.com.<br />
William Malone<br />
It is with great sadness<br />
that <strong>De</strong> <strong>La</strong> <strong>Salle</strong> wishes<br />
to inform its alumni and<br />
friends that alumnus<br />
William Malone, a<br />
graduate of the Class of<br />
2008 who was serving<br />
in the United States Air<br />
Force, passed away on<br />
Sept. 25, 2011 at the<br />
age of 21 at McChord<br />
Air Force Base in<br />
Washington State.<br />
While a student at <strong>De</strong> <strong>La</strong> <strong>Salle</strong>, Airman Malone was<br />
a four-year member of the chess team, as well as a<br />
member of <strong>La</strong>sallian Youth.<br />
<strong>De</strong> <strong>La</strong> <strong>Salle</strong> extends its deepest sympathies and<br />
prayers to the Malone family and thanks them for<br />
William’s service to our country.<br />
St. John Baptist <strong>De</strong> <strong>La</strong> <strong>Salle</strong>, pray for us.<br />
Our <strong>La</strong>dy of Lourdes, pray for us.<br />
Live Jesus in Our Hearts, Forever!<br />
<strong>De</strong> <strong>La</strong> <strong>Salle</strong> <strong>Institute</strong> extends its<br />
deepest sympathies to the families<br />
of the following <strong>De</strong> <strong>La</strong> <strong>Salle</strong> and<br />
Lourdes alumni and friends who<br />
have recently passed away:<br />
Mr. William J. Buckley ‘46<br />
Mr. Albert R. Cech ‘60<br />
Mr. Thomas F. Dorencz ‘53<br />
Mr. William F. Dwyer ‘45<br />
Mr. Gerald Fitzgerald ‘49<br />
Mr. Donald J. French ‘49<br />
Mr. John Gilbert<br />
Mr. Russell Harvey<br />
Ms. Evonne Hill<br />
Mrs. Anne Kairis<br />
Mr. Bernard Kelly ‘48<br />
Ms. Evelyn Kozlowski ‘L57<br />
Mr. Terrence J. McHugh ‘52<br />
Mr. Robert E. Murphy ‘56<br />
Mr. Arthur Papineau ‘51<br />
Mr. Anthony Passafiume ‘63<br />
Mr. Robert J. Rodzon ‘66<br />
Mr. John J. Rogosich ‘64<br />
Mr. Gus A. Schumann ‘45<br />
Mr. Craig Taylor ‘81<br />
Mr. William E. Vincent ‘49<br />
Mr. Francis J. Weiter ‘33<br />
Mr. Kenneth Wicks ‘61<br />
Mr. John P. Yandel ‘49<br />
Eternal rest grant unto them, O<br />
Lord, and may perpetual light shine<br />
upon them. May their souls and all<br />
the souls of the faithful departed<br />
rest in peace. Amen.<br />
St. John Baptist <strong>De</strong> <strong>La</strong> <strong>Salle</strong>, pray<br />
for us. Our <strong>La</strong>dy of Lourdes,<br />
pray for us. Live Jesus in our<br />
hearts, forever.<br />
24 Alumni Connection<br />
Alumni Connection 25
Alumni Connection<br />
ALUMNI WEEK RECAP<br />
From Sept. 28 through Oct. 1, <strong>De</strong> <strong>La</strong> <strong>Salle</strong> held Alumni<br />
Week in which all the graduates of <strong>De</strong> <strong>La</strong> <strong>Salle</strong> as well<br />
as Lourdes were invited back to the <strong>Institute</strong> to participate<br />
in a variety of informative, fun and memorable events.<br />
Alumni Week began with the inaugural Extollo Golf Outing<br />
held at Gleneagles Golf Course in Lemont. Plans are already<br />
being made for next fall’s Extollo Golf Outing. <strong>De</strong> <strong>La</strong> <strong>Salle</strong><br />
would like to thank the Chavarria family for its leadership in<br />
making the Extollo Golf Outing a success.<br />
Thursday, September 29th was an exciting and energetic<br />
day at <strong>De</strong> <strong>La</strong> <strong>Salle</strong>. Not only was it Spirit Week for the<br />
students in anticipation of Homecoming, but over 20 alumni<br />
returned to both the <strong>Institute</strong> and Lourdes Hall campuses to<br />
share their career paths with the juniors and seniors. The<br />
students enjoyed hearing about “a day in the life” of various<br />
professions. The alumni had the chance to tour the hallways<br />
and spend time in the classroom again, while recalling their<br />
own high school days. Alumni shared how they chose their<br />
career path, how their educational experience helped prepare<br />
and shape their lives, as well as their keys to success. It was<br />
apparent that <strong>De</strong> <strong>La</strong> <strong>Salle</strong> and Lourdes High School had a<br />
positive impact on the lives of our alumni, not to mention the<br />
impression they made on students this day!<br />
If you would like to participate in Alumni Career Day next<br />
year, please contact Maggie McEldowney in the Advancement<br />
Office at mceldowneym@dls.org.<br />
The third event was the Sports Hall of Fame reception and<br />
induction ceremony that took place prior to and at halftime of the<br />
Meteors’ varsity football game against <strong>La</strong>ke Forest Academy.<br />
Not only were Tom Combes ’94, Tom Marks ’94, Reggie<br />
Pippen ’94, Jaikevin Thomas ’81 and Tim Ulatowski ’90<br />
enshrined, but the Meteors also beat the Caxys by a count<br />
of 33-23.<br />
Alumni Week wrapped up with the 116th Annual Alumni<br />
Banquet taking place at Adrianna’s Banquets as Ron<br />
Finlay ’82 and Sam Finlay ’81 were our gracious hosts.<br />
The evening was highlighted by the Honor Keys presented<br />
to Jack Ward ’54 and the late Mike Vitek ’64. The<br />
jubilee classes of 1961 and 1986 also were recognized in<br />
celebration of their 50th and 25th anniversaries.<br />
<strong>De</strong> <strong>La</strong> <strong>Salle</strong> would like to thank everyone who participated<br />
in this year’s Alumni Week and invites everyone to<br />
participate in Alumni Week 2012.<br />
1<br />
1 Shawn Dalcour ’80,<br />
an executive with IBM,<br />
addressed students in<br />
Dale Burke’s mathematics<br />
class on<br />
Career Day.<br />
2 Arthur Solverson ’65,<br />
an accountant for the<br />
Wrigley Company,<br />
joined <strong>De</strong> <strong>La</strong> <strong>Salle</strong><br />
president Fr. Paul<br />
Novak and Ray Garcia<br />
’03, a member of the<br />
Chicago White Sox’<br />
media relations staff,<br />
prior to Career Day.<br />
2<br />
EUGENE PONTILLO ‘43<br />
of Premium Marketing, Inc.<br />
By Tom Lyons ‘43<br />
Eugene (Gene) Pontillo ’43 attended<br />
Haines Elementary School near 23rd<br />
and Wentworth and came to <strong>De</strong> <strong>La</strong><br />
<strong>Salle</strong> on the recommendation of his parish<br />
priest. From the four years Pontillo spent<br />
at the <strong>Institute</strong>, he remembers well the<br />
guidance he received from Brothers Austin,<br />
Ralph and Vincent.<br />
Upon graduation, with the United States<br />
completely committed to its World War<br />
II efforts, Gene, like most of his other<br />
classmates, entered the military. He enlisted<br />
in the Navy Air Corps, and was assigned to<br />
patrol bomber duty, flying missions in the South<br />
Pacific and gathering weather data critical to<br />
the invasions of Guam, Tinian, and Saipan. He<br />
served with distinction from 1943-46.<br />
Using the GI Bill, Gene attended Loyola<br />
University and earned his bachelor of science<br />
in commerce in 1950, and began his marketing<br />
career working for King Korn Marketing. The<br />
Reuben H. Donnelly Corporation wanted to get<br />
into the direct mail business and tapped Gene’s<br />
expertise in that field.<br />
Pontillo later formed his own company,<br />
Premium Marketing, Inc., and for 40 years<br />
worked with J.C. Penney, Montgomery<br />
Ward, Sears, Shell, Mobil, Magnavox,<br />
Panasonic, and others, bringing brochures on<br />
practical, well-accepted houseware products to<br />
consumers via their monthly billing statements.<br />
In 1998, Gene closed down the direct mail<br />
business and formed Genie Fulfillment<br />
Services LTD, a supplier in <strong>La</strong>ke Zurich, IL.<br />
In addition to these endeavors, Gene became<br />
part-owner and managing general partner<br />
in Ditka’s Restaurant in Chicago in the late<br />
1980’s, and later opened Luigi’s of Hong<br />
Kong and Ponti’s Italian Restaurant and<br />
Ocean Ranch in <strong>La</strong>ke Zurich.<br />
Besides all of the above, Gene involves<br />
himself in many charitable organizations.<br />
Helping people is number one on his list of<br />
things to do for the day, and his generosity<br />
has touched many. Through the Food for the<br />
Poor Ministry, Gene has funded six homes and<br />
provided many other items for impoverished<br />
families in <strong>La</strong>tin America and the Caribbean.<br />
In Memphis, he sponsors three children at<br />
St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, and<br />
closer to home, in addition to underwriting the<br />
tuition for four students at St. Malachy’s, an<br />
inner-city parish where he has become known<br />
as one of their “Angels Among Us,” Gene<br />
supplies turkeys to all the parishioners at<br />
Christmas. Christmas turkeys also go to The<br />
Sisters of Mercy and The Sisters of St. Theresa.<br />
Gene and his wife of 63 years, Josephine,<br />
have been blessed with three daughters,<br />
Theresa Anne, Jean Anne, and Rose Anne,<br />
all born on or near St. Anne’s Day, hence<br />
the same middle names. All are married<br />
with families and doing well. With seven<br />
grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren,<br />
Gene and Josephine are very busy grandparents.<br />
Clearly, Gene is surrounded by a multitude of<br />
family and friends, and this helps to keep him<br />
“healthy, wealthy and wise.”<br />
The Pontillo family lives in Mundelein, IL.<br />
scrapbook career day & Alumni Banquet<br />
3<br />
4<br />
5<br />
6<br />
7<br />
8<br />
3 American Bar Association program associate<br />
Shawn Sanford ’04 provided beneficial advice<br />
and insight to students in Justin Costello-<br />
Stebelton’s American Literature class at the<br />
Lourdes Hall Campus for Young Women.<br />
4 Genetic engineer Peter Wilczak ’61 explained<br />
his career field to students in George Dzuricsko’s<br />
Honors Physics class at the Lourdes Hall<br />
Campus for Young Women.<br />
5 Brothers Thomas Ward ’56, Jack Ward<br />
’54, Jim Ward ’48, Bernard Ward ’51 and<br />
Neil Ward ’59 enjoyed their family reunion<br />
at the 116th Annual Alumni Banquet.<br />
6 The family of former <strong>De</strong> <strong>La</strong> <strong>Salle</strong> coach Mike<br />
Vitek ’64 accepted his posthumously-awarded<br />
Honor Key after its presentation by Fr. Paul<br />
Novak, OSM (left) and <strong>De</strong> <strong>La</strong> <strong>Salle</strong> Alumni<br />
Association president Steve Burrows ’91 (right).<br />
7 Members of the Class of 1961 celebrated<br />
their Golden Jubilee at the 116th Annual<br />
Alumni Banquet.<br />
8 Prentiss Jackson ’67, Alan Rucker ’67 and<br />
Dr. James Hunter ’72 shared a moment<br />
during the 116th Annual Alumni Banquet.<br />
Alumni Connection 27
Office for Advancement<br />
3455 S. Wabash Ave.<br />
Chicago, Illinois 60616-3827<br />
312.842.7355<br />
Parents:<br />
If this is addressed to your son or daughter<br />
and he or she no longer resides there, please<br />
contact <strong>De</strong> <strong>La</strong> <strong>Salle</strong>’s Office for Advancement<br />
by phone or with the enclosed envelope so<br />
that we may update our records.<br />
Have you considered a planned gift to <strong>De</strong> <strong>La</strong> <strong>Salle</strong>?<br />
Non-Profit Org.<br />
U.S. Postage<br />
PAID<br />
Permit No. 3092<br />
Chicago, IL<br />
Address Service Requested<br />
Find us on Facebook!<br />
www.facebook.com/delasalleinstitute<br />
Follow us on Twitter!<br />
www.twitter.com/dlsmeteors<br />
Entrance<br />
Exam for the<br />
<strong>De</strong> <strong>La</strong> <strong>Salle</strong><br />
Class of 2016<br />
Saturday, January 14, 2012<br />
8 AM<br />
All students taking the exam will<br />
report to the <strong>Institute</strong> Campus at<br />
3434 S. Michigan Ave. The exam fee<br />
is $25. For more information, please<br />
contact <strong>De</strong> <strong>La</strong> <strong>Salle</strong>’s Director of<br />
Admissions, Chuck Kuhn, at 312-<br />
842-7355 ext. 150 or kuhnc@dls.org.<br />
Fifth Annual<br />
Great Futures Gala<br />
Friday, April 20, 2012<br />
University Club of Chicago<br />
76 E. Monroe St.<br />
Join us for our annual black-tie event<br />
that celebrates <strong>De</strong> <strong>La</strong> <strong>Salle</strong> <strong>Institute</strong> as<br />
“the place where great futures begin”<br />
and raises funds for the school’s student<br />
financial assistance program. At the 2011<br />
Great Futures Gala, more than $240,000<br />
was raised to support the educational<br />
mission of <strong>De</strong> <strong>La</strong> <strong>Salle</strong> <strong>Institute</strong>.<br />
21st Annual D-Final Event<br />
Monday, April 2, 2012 6 pm<br />
Parmer Activity Center<br />
Since 1991, friends, family, classmates, parents, co-workers and neighbors<br />
have been gathering at <strong>De</strong> <strong>La</strong> <strong>Salle</strong> for the D-Final Event. Together, we watch<br />
the NCAA men’s basketball championship game on four 9 X 12 foot screens,<br />
enjoy a buffet dinner and open bar, bid on the silent auction and more.<br />
Go Meteors! All proceeds benefit <strong>De</strong> <strong>La</strong> <strong>Salle</strong>’s athletic program.<br />
<strong>De</strong> <strong>La</strong> <strong>Salle</strong> Golf Classic<br />
<strong>De</strong> <strong>La</strong> <strong>Salle</strong> Golf Classic<br />
Wednesday, June 27, 2012<br />
Gleneagles Golf Course, Lemont, IL<br />
A day on the links is a great day! All proceeds from the Golf Classic<br />
benefit the scholarship program at <strong>De</strong> <strong>La</strong> <strong>Salle</strong> <strong>Institute</strong>. This important<br />
program brings a <strong>De</strong> <strong>La</strong> <strong>Salle</strong> education within reach for every young<br />
man and woman who desires to attend the <strong>Institute</strong>.<br />
To receive an invitation for<br />
these events, please contact<br />
<strong>De</strong> <strong>La</strong> <strong>Salle</strong>’s Director of<br />
<strong>De</strong>velopment, Iris Gist Cochran,<br />
at 312-842-7355 ext. 152 or<br />
cochrani@dls.org.<br />
To become involved or<br />
volunteer for these events,<br />
please contact <strong>De</strong> <strong>La</strong> <strong>Salle</strong>’s<br />
Special Events Coordinator,<br />
Maggie McEldowney, at<br />
312-842-7355 ext. 146 or<br />
mceldowneym@dls.org.<br />
For more information, please<br />
visit our website at www.dls.<br />
org/development/events.