ST SEBASTIAN’S

SPEAKERS
St. Sebastian’s Welcomes
AlookatthepeoplewhohavespokenatSt.Sebastian’sSchool
eventsoverthepastseveralmonths.
Black History Month
Ron Burton Delivers Keynote Address
The St. Sebastian’s School Men with Positive Attitudes (MPA)
Club hosted a Black History Month Assembly on Monday,
February 7. Picking up on this year’s School theme of Unity, the
theme of the assembly was TogetherasBrothers.
Ron Burton, Jr., Children’s Athletic Manager at the Boston Red
Sox Foundation, in his keynote address commented, “If you’re
serious about unity, you will choose very selectively the words you
use with each other because words can build, and words can destroy.”
He added that we must teach people to love God, love others, and
love themselves.
Marlon Matthews ’14 sang a moving rendition of Ben E. king’s
Stand by Me, and the dana Hall Gospel Choir, under the direction of
david Coleman, provided music for the rest of the event. Between
the songs, members of MPA spoke of Black athletes who have
overcome adversity to succeed in life.
Catholic Relief Services
Thomas Awiapo Discusses Life In
Ghana
Thomas Awiapo, a Ghanaian from Catholic Relief Services,
spoke to the School Community on Tuesday, March 2.
Like many in his native land, Awiapo grew up in poverty. His
father and mother died when he was young, leaving his brothers to
fend for themselves. Two brothers died, one ran away. Awiapo was
all alone and hungry with nowhere to turn.
Catholic Relief Services saved him. ey gave him food and
educated him. With their help he came to America, where he earned
a Master’s in Business Administration from California State
university. He now works for Catholic Relief Services, traveling each
year across the united States during Lent to encourage faith
communities to pray, fast, learn, and give. He teaches American
Catholics about the challenges and issues in Africa and encourages
us to stay informed about the world. n
Above: Ron Burton delivers the keynote address at the Black
History Month Assembly in February.
Below: Headmaster Bill Burke and Ghanaian Thomas Awiapo.
44 | ST. SEBASTIAN’S MAGAZINE Volume VI, Issue II