Summer 2012 Issue - De La Salle Institute

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s Tolton Center Honored BY ILLINOIS SECRETARY OF STATE In the spring of 2012, the Tolton Adult & Family Literacy Center of De La Salle had three members of its community honored by the Illinois Secretary of State as they received 2012 Spotlight Literacy Awards at a ceremony held in Springfield, IL. Lauded were Tolton students Lola Jones (who was profiled in our Winter 2011-12 magazine) and Hilaria Ochoa, and Tolton volunteer Sheela Jeevannandam. Students and tutors are nominated by the local providers who receive literacy grant funding from the Secretary of State/Illinois State Library Literacy Office. Each year, ten students and ten tutors are honored. Students received a $200 check from the Illinois Press Association Foundation, while $200 was donated to the winning tutor's organization. De La Salle Magazine is honored to have stories about both Sheela Jeevannandam and Hilaria Ochoa in this issue. Sheela Jeevannandam has been a volunteer math instructor at Tolton’s Bee Branch on Chicago’s South Side for the last four years. Sheela came to Tolton after working in private industry as a CPA and budget analyst. After volunteering her tutoring talents at other entities prior to her arrival at Tolton, Sheela now feels she is where she is supposed to be. “It wasn’t until I found the Tolton Center that I experienced what it feels like to be truly valued as a volunteer,” Sheela said. “On some level, I really needed to contribute and (the Tolton administration) saw this. The Tolton Center has allowed me that opportunity and I have found it easy to invest in the vision of a very unique adult education program. “As a result, I continue to serve as a full-time volunteer because I absolutely love tutoring. I feel I’m called to do this work, and I feel privileged to work at the Tolton Center.” A primary area of specialization for Sheela is helping prepare her students for the math portion of the GED exam. “Quite often, an insufficient score on the GED math test is the reason for failure,” Sheela said. “I am presently working oneon-one with five different students and I conduct group tutoring twice a week for students to provide math remediation and homework assistance. “I like math and it’s a very rewarding experience working one-onone with our students who are about to take the math exam. This is a stepping stone for them, whether that is going on to college or getting a better job.” And when her students pass the math portion of the GED “It’s beautiful,” Sheela said with a smile. “It’s great. We’re all jumping up and down.” Sheela was nominated for the Illinois Secretary of State’s Literacy Award by Pamela Clemons, who is the Program Coordinator at Tolton’s Bee Branch. “Sheela is a very busy volunteer who devotes herself totally to all her students,” Clemons said. “Any student with whom she works can expect well-planned, varied and intense instruction. “Sheela has the heart for doing this kind of work and she takes it seriously…Tutors such as Sheela are the types of volunteers Tolton continues to attract — those who are caring, dedicated and unwavering in their devotion to not only the students, but the program as well.” Along with helping her students pass the math portion of the GED exam, Sheela said that she gains personal satisfaction through other resources. “My students teach me so much about life,” Sheela said. “It brings me great joy to realize that I am a part of the process that has opened up a new chapter in their lives… “Working at the Tolton Center is gratifying work on so many levels. I am grateful for the opportunity to learn and share the best that I can be and to help our students to reach their GED goals and any career aspirations they desire…I like being a part of an institution that is driven toward this level of excellence. “I feel I have found a home here.” Tolton math instructor Sheela Jeevannandam and Pamela Clemons, who is the Program Coordinator at Tolton’s Bee Branch, celebrate Jeevannandam’s award from the Illinois Secretary of State 12 Faith, Service & Community Academics 9
s FAITH, SERVICE & COMMUNITY TOLTON CENTER HONORED BY ILLINOIS SECRETARY OF STATE Across town from where Sheela helps Tolton’s Bee Branch students achieve their goals in mathematics, student Hilaria Ochoa is one of the success stories in Tolton’s English as a Second Language (ESL) program in the Little Village neighborhood. Here is Hilaria’s story as written by Tolton ESL instructor Marie White: “Hilaria was recently nominated for an achievement award, not only for her four consecutive years of faithful attendance to her ESL classes, but for her love of learning and devotion to her family. As a mother of four, Hilaria always put her children first. Hilaria comes to class no matter what. She comes in extreme heat, walks in the rain and trudges through snow with her youngest son, who is enrolled in Tolton's Early Childhood program. “Hilaria and her son faithfully attend all five components of our program (ESL class, Early Childhood, Parenting, Parent and Child Together Activities and Library Services) in addition to attending almost all of the field trips. Additionally, her husband and four children attend these excursions and are always involved in whatever activities we have planned for the field trips. “Although Hilaria received a minimal education in her native country of Mexico, she does not let this stop her. She has gone up three levels of English over the past four years. Many other students would have been discouraged with this pace but she feels that she is learning English at her pace and is pleased with what she has accomplished and with the English that she has learned. She is now able to communicate with people in retail stores, ask questions at school for her children, and, most of all, help her children with homework. “Hilaria’s family is regularly seen at the local library and her peers depend on her for advice on how to navigate the neighborhood and the school systems. She is often the first student to answer correctly when questions are asked in class. Before, she used to be so shy that one would not even know she was in the class. Now, she is an active participant. Four years ago, she would not venture out of Little Village for fear she would get lost and not be able to find her way home. Now, she ventures out and is not scared. “We are so proud of Hilaria and honored to have her and her son in our Family Literacy program.” Congratulations to everyone in the Tolton community! Tolton English as a Second Language Instructor Marie White and Tolton ESL student Hilaria Ochoa share a moment at the Tolton fundraiser STUDENT ARTWORK HELPS TO RAISE $4,000 On April 19, 2012, the Tolton Center celebrated The Faces of Tolton fundraiser held at Mi Tierra Restaurant in Chicago’s Little Village neighborhood. One of the primary purposes for the fundraiser was to celebrate Tolton’s 21 years of existence. Attendees spent the evening enjoying Mexican hors d’oeuvres, listening to the inspirational words of The Interrupters’ Eddie Bocanegra, a CeaseFire violence interrupter, and learning more about Tolton Center. One of the most popular items in the silent auction at the Tolton fundraiser was some beautiful artwork created by Tolton’s students. In addition, students from Tolton’s Early Childhood and Adult ESL programs created amazingly beautiful artwork that was raffled off at the event with approximately $4,000 raised to benefit the Tolton Center’s programs. The staff and students would like to thank everyone who came out to support the Tolton Center on that memorable evening. The staff and students hope everyone enjoyed the event and they look forward to enjoying an evening with everyone again in the fall. Faith, Service & Community 13
Page 1 and 2: METEOR SPORTS UPDATE! (See p.18) ma
Page 3 and 4: TABLE OF CONTENTS ACADEMICS Reflect
Page 5 and 6: ACADEMICS Valedictorian & Salutator
Page 7 and 8: CAMPUS SCRAPBOOK 2. 3. 1. 4. 5. 8.
Page 9 and 10: ACADEMICS 17 ILLINOIS STATE SCHOLAR
Page 11 and 12: ACADEMICS Alexis Ochoa ‘14 PERFOR
Page 13: FEATURE STORY De La Salle Aquatics:
Page 17 and 18: PARENT PLACE Welcome to the Institu
Page 19 and 20: Celebrating 10 years of educating w
Page 21 and 22: ATHLETICS SPRING SPORTS UPDATE Boys
Page 23 and 24: DEVELOPMENT 1. Daniel F. and Ada L.
Page 25 and 26: DEVELOPMENT 2. 3. 5. 4. 6. 1: Sr. D
Page 27 and 28: ALUMNI CONNECTION Alumni Updates Do
Page 29 and 30: ALUMNI CONNECTION Alumni Updates 19
Page 31 and 32: ALUMNI CONNECTION Alumni Profile ER

Summer 2012 Issue - De La Salle Institute

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