Spring/Summer 2016

m a g a z i n eA Publication for Alumni and Friends

of De La Salle Institute

congrats class of 2016!

www.dls.org

The Meteor - a luminescent force hurling through the atmosphere as a memorable encounter of light guiding others along the journey of life!

Congratulations to the 232 young women and men of the Class of 2016 of De La Salle Institute and their families who have sacrificed to provide them with a Catholic and Lasallian education. Great job Meteors! Now illuminate the way for us!

Congratulations and thank you to you, our donors, benefactors, alumni and friends who have invested wisely in the education of the mind and heart of these bright, intelligent, forceful young women and men. They are the Meteors who will light up the way of life with faith, service and community as the basis of their lives’ work.

Usually, this column is dedicated to all of the “good news” of De La Salle and its students and faculty. However, given recent events in the State of Illinois and our City of Chicago, I feel the need to solicit your help on behalf of the Meteors entrusted to our care.

Most recently, several of our graduates have stopped in to see us and in conversation with them, I learned that they were unable to continue their studies because they were dependent upon MAP grants for their education.

Our local elected officials have not been able to find a way to work together to end this budget impasse. This inability to work with each other would not be tolerated in your businesses.

The lack of concern for the future of the next generation of our children is disheartening for our young people and their desire to complete their educations. Please, on behalf of our Meteors and all of our young people, contact your elected officials and tell them to end this impasse and do the right thing for our young people in Illinois.

As the Meteor family, let’s shine some light so that they can begin to see how to work together.

Secondly, I’d like to ask for your help for our City of Chicago and all of the young people entrusted to our care. I believe that every Meteor leaves De La Salle understanding that they are important, valued and that their lives and all lives are sacred.

In our city, too many young people have lost faith in themselves, in life and in opportunity. The violence of our streets is indicative of the disrespect for human life. The lack of educational opportunity combined with the cycle of poverty has led to hopelessness and despair. Chicago is better than what we are currently experiencing. As the Meteor family, let us do our part to transform our city with hope, respect and opportunity.

For 127 years, De La Salle has provided Chicagoans with a Lasallian education based on faith, service and a sense of community. Let’s continue to provide opportunities for the next generation.

May everyone have a safe, restful and enjoyable summer. May God bless us with peace.

Live Jesus in our hearts, Forever!

Mission StatementDe La Salle Institute is an independent Catholic secondary school rooted in the tradition of Christian education begun by St. John Baptist de La Salle. Founded in 1889, its mission has been, and is, to foster a desire for excellence in education. Young people from a variety of ethnic and economic backgrounds are given the opportunity to fully develop their abilities so they may be active, contributing members of our complex, changing society.

INSTITUTE CAMPUS For YoUNg MEN 3434 SOUTH MICHIGAN AVE • CHICAGO, IL 60616-3898 P 312.842.7355 • F 312.842.4142

LoUrDES HALL CAMPUS For YoUNg WoMEN 1040 WEST 32ND PL • CHICAGO, IL 60608-6507 P 773.650.6800 • F 773.650.9722

ToLToN ADULT LITErACY CENTEr 3647 SOUTH STATE ST • CHICAGO, IL 60609-1951 P 312.747.3471

De La Salle Magazine Spring/Summer 2016

Editor Michael K. Walsh

Photography De La Salle Archives Root Studios/HR Imaging Michael K. Walsh Josh Wang

Contributing Authors Christopher Ahearn Emily Arvizu Iris Gist Cochran La Toya Keys Michael K. Walsh

Designer Nichole Flynn

Printer M&G Graphics

De La Salle Magazine is published three times a year by De La Salle Institute’s Office for Advancement. The purpose of this publication is to unite the Christian Brothers, alumni, students, parents, faculty, staff and friends together in De La Salle’s mission of excellence in education. All submissions or comments should be directed to dmagazine@dls.org.

To receive this magazine electronically, please send an email to dmagazine@dls.org.

De La Salle President Fr. Paul Novak

De La Salle Institute Board of Directors 2015–2016

Chairman Mr. Paul D. McCoy ‘68

Vice Chairman Mr. Prentiss J. Jackson ‘67

Members Mr. Marshall A. Blake Mr. George A. Bonomo ‘59 Mr. Victor M. Chavarria ‘69 Mr. Eugene L. Ferretti Dr. Robert O. Graham ‘64 Honorable Patrick M. Huels ‘67 Sister Mary Alice Jarosz, SSJ-TOSF Brother Michael Kadow, FSC Dr. Scott A. Kier Sister Valerie Kulbacki, SSJ-TOSF ‘L64 Mr. La Rue Martin, Jr. ‘68 Ms. Sharon R. O’Brien Mr. Joseph D. Parente ‘84 Mr. Michael J. Passarelli ‘90 Mr. Michael A. Tadin ‘69 Mrs. Cathryn P. Taylor Mr. Thomas L. Taylor Mr. James A. Vanek ‘64

President’s Council Honorable William J. Aukstik ‘64 Mr. Michael G. Bansley ‘53 Mr. Michael F. Hickey ‘56 Mr. James R. Woodrow ‘53

Extollo Educational Foundation Board of DirectorsPresident Mr. Michael G. Bansley ‘53

Vice President Mr. James R. Woodrow ‘53

Secretary/Treasurer Mr. Michael F. Hickey ‘56

Table of ContentSacadeMicsReflections – A Recent Look Back 2-5

Graduation Photo Scrapbook 6-7

Colleges & Universities the Class of 2016 Will Attend 8

Congratulations, Principal Brown! 9

A Picture Is Worth 1,000 Words 10-11

A Commitment to Excellence 12

Faculty Award Winners Are Truly Class Acts 12

Walking across Boyle Courtyard with Norma Ramos 13

Meteors Thriving with Online Offerings 14-15

faiTH, seRVice & coMMUniTYTolton Student Julia Pantoja Named Outstanding Adult Learner 16

St. Baldrick’s Day at ‘D’: A Perfect 10 17

aTHleTicsMeteor Sports Update 18-21

deVeloPMenTGreat Futures Gala – Meteors Shine at No. 9! 22

A Grateful Meteor Gives Back: Steve Burrows ’91 23

Meteor Alumni Success Story: William Andersen ’80 24

De La Salle Alumni News Notes 25

Congratulations, La Rue Martin ’68 – CCL Hall of Famer! 25

Thank You for Answering the Call 26

25th Annual D-Final Event A Great Success! 26

Providing a Strong Foundation for Our Future 27

In Memoriam 27

Lourdes Alumni News Notes 28

Important Dates for 2016-17 School Year 28

Parent Association Calendar Dates 29

Promote Your Business – Advertise in D Magazine 29 de la salle Magazine 1

2 academics

As part of the Graduation issue of D Magazine, we thought it fitting that we have eight of our newest alumni write about the impact De La Salle has had on their respective lives over the past four years.

Not only did these Meteors excel in the classroom, they also participated in a wide variety of activities and athletics that also prepared them for their great futures as they move on to the colleges and universities of their choosing. Please enjoy the thoughtful and insightful reflections of these members of the Class of 2016!

What advice would you give incoming freshmen at De La Salle?“Take risks and get involved right away. There is no point in waiting; you’re just waiting on getting the next stage of your life started. Have a good attitude and no, it isn’t boring or lame staying after school for clubs or ac-tivities. That’s kind of what high school and especially De La Salle are about. Be active and engaged with your education; you are going to be here every day for the next four years, so make the best of it. When you’re on the last day of senior year, you’ll realize that it felt like freshman year was just yesterday.”

Which teacher(s) has/have had the greatest influence on you?“Mr. (Antonio) Maldonado has influenced me to always seek the greatest outcome, no matter what the struggle required is or the disadvan-

tage is. He taught me how to dedicate and self-motivate in the worst of scenarios. At practice or in the classroom, his advice taught me and motivated me to chase my goals. Coach (Mal-donado’s) influence on my high school career will follow me through the rest of my life.”

How have the tenets of faith, service and community impacted you as a student at ‘D’?“Faith, service and community have helped guide me through my high school career. Some of the best memories I can remember were events when we came together to serve the community. Service impacted my ca-reer at ‘D’ by showing me it is important to always give back to the community. When I first started at ‘D’, I thought those three tenets would be meaningless to me for as long as I was here. (Four) years later, I feel the connec-tion to them every day.”

a Recent look back

francisco carreon ‘16 – University of illinois at Urbana-champaign• From George Washington Grade School and Annunciata Parish

• Honors Student; Ranked No. 2 with 4.848 GPA

• Member of National Honor Society, Spanish National Honor Society, Spanish Club, Engineering Club, boxing, soccer and cross country teams

• From Chongquing, China

• College Prep & Honors Student; Ranked No. 12 with 4.402 GPA

• Member of REACH Club, Guitar Club, Lab Club, Math Club, NHS and girls basketball team

What have the last four years at De La Salle meant to you?“I transferred from China during my sopho-more year. The last three years have meant a lot to me. I have better English skills now, and I have made a lot of friends. I used to be very shy, especially in a foreign country. Now, I feel more comfortable and confident talking to others. De La Salle really helped me live in a different country and learn the local culture. Moreover, I feel well prepared for college.”

Yulin deng ’16 – Rose-Hulman institute of Technology

Reflections

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daniel freeman ’16 – University of iowa• From St. Jerome School

• Honors Student; Ranked No. 9 with 4.478 GPA

• Member of NHS, Peer Ministry, Gaming & Gadgets Club, Spanish Club, football and volleyball teams

What are some of your fondest memories of attending De La Salle?“When you go around to places and you have ‘D’ attire on, you get a lot of comments like, “Whoa, De La Salle?” or “De La Salle, Class of 1982.” Mo-ments like these make me happy because I know that ‘D’ is a whole family – no matter what class you are from. You are always respected and the ‘D’ family is bigger than you’d expect.”

How has De La Salle prepared you for your great future?“Thanks to ‘D’, I will be attending the Univer-sity of Iowa in the fall to study astronomy. Of course, I could not do this on my own. The

challenging courses of math and science got me into this strong passion I have for the science field. I hope to continue my studies to either teach or work with a certain space program. Because of De La Salle, I will be attending a very nice university to study with my dreams of being an astrophysicist.”

What advice would you give incoming fresh-men at De La Salle?“Do not slip up. Your college future starts as soon as you take the first seat in your first class. Stay strong in the beginning and finish strong. Make amazing bonds with your teachers; they are there for a reason. Do not be afraid to go

out and try new things. High school is a mo-ment of finding who you are. Try different clubs and sports and see what you like. Noth-ing is stopping you.”

How has De La Salle prepared you for college?“At De La Salle, there are different levels ac-commodating students’ different situations. When I was at ‘D’, I was in the College Prep level. However, during my last two years, al-most all of my classes were Honors and AP. I learned plenty of strategies and techniques learning English. We also have classes teaching the ACT exam. I scored 34 in the end, and I think my education at DLS played an impor-tant part in it.”

What will you miss most about ‘D’?“The thing I will miss the most about “D” is the cohesive community. The atmosphere is vibrant, and the individuals at “D” are ex-tremely accepting. You can be yourself and know that you won’t be judged for it. This school has personality, and it is evident in its students and faculty. People are free to express their own voice and opinion. The community at “D” is extremely supportive and assistance is always available. The faculty is always willing to give a hand and listen to your situation.”

How has De La Salle prepared you for college?“De La Salle has prepared me for college in various ways. I have been challenged both intellectually and psychologically by the cur-riculum. The workload was extensive and the material was rigorous. I’ve become a better writer, problem solver, and analyst through

my experience at De La Salle. The Honors Program helped me push myself to overcome difficult challenges and expand my horizons. De La Salle has brought out my potential, which is essential to success in college.”

What have the last four years at De La Salle meant to you?“The last four years at De La Salle has been an opportunity to grow and develop as an indi-vidual. At De La Salle, I was able to discover hidden passions, make new friends, and step out of my comfort zone. De La Salle showed me that the world is expansive, and that I need to make the most out of the opportunities given to me. During these last four years, I be-came a part of a family; a family that assists me when I need aid and accepts me. De La Salle has forever changed my life, and I am thankful for having the opportunity to grow.”

aaron funes ’16 – northwestern University• From Maternity BVM School and Parish

• Honors Student; Ranked No. 1 with 4.957 GPA

• Member of NHS, Spanish Club, City of De La Salle, Robotics Club, Engineering Club, football and boxing teams

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Guadalupe Godinez ’16 – University of chicago • From San Miguel School and Parish

• Honors Student; Ranked No. 1 with 4.935 GPA

• Sister of Vanessa Godinez ’03 and Alfredo Godinez ‘06

• Member of National Honor Society, French Honor Society, City of De La Salle, Peer Ministry and Science Club

How has De La Salle prepared you for college?“The Honors classes at De La Salle are very dif-ficult, but manageable by working hard. They prepared me because they introduced me to college-level work that I will have for the next four years. The amount of studying I have had to do will be the same in college. I’m very grate-ful for the rigorous work that has prepared me for college.”

What have the last four years at De La Salle meant to you?“De La Salle was a community of support for four years. The students and teachers were like family to me. They helped me grow into who I am. De La Salle shaped me into the person I am

today. These past four years at ‘D’ meant ev-erything to me because of the relationships I made, the preparation it gave me for col-lege, and the great memories I will always have.”

What will you miss most about ‘D’?“I will miss the great discussions done during class every day and the fun clubs I was involved in. I won’t forget the amazing teachers who were there for me all the time. But most of all, I will miss seeing all of my friends I made throughout my four years at ‘D’ every day. They really made my experi-ence so much better.”

How has De La Salle prepared you for your great future?“’D’ has taught me how to be successful in the classroom and at home and I plan to be successful in my future as well. ‘D’ has given me many different opportunities and quali-ties that I can use even after college because ever since being a student at ‘D’, I’ve wanted to be a leader. I don’t know what the future holds, but I know that I will challenge myself with whatever problem I am faced with. I am and will be in the future a successful woman because of ‘D.’”

Which teacher(s) has/have had the greatest influence on you?“My favorite teacher who has influenced me since freshman year has been Mr. (Bob) Klebes. He was my history teacher freshman, junior and senior year. I never really liked his-tory until I entered Mr. Klebes’ classroom. He teaches his students like a professor at a col-

lege would – through lectures. Mr. Klebes is the smartest and kindest man I know. He is able to use his PowerPoints as a skeleton to what he wants to say. He knows everything without any notes written down and I find this amazing. He has influenced me the most because he is so wise and is able to make his students laugh. He has taught me how to push myself as an individual, in the classroom and in the pool.”

What does it mean to you to be a De La Salle graduate?“I am very proud to be able to call myself a part of the De La Salle alumni group. My fa-ther graduated from ‘D’ in 1980 and my sister graduated in 2014. Being a graduate means I am a legacy not only to ‘D’, but also to my family. I am honored to be called a graduate of De La Salle because it has impacted my life so much and has made me into the person I am today.”

erin Hughes ’16 – University of illinois at Urbana-champaign• From Bridgeport Catholic Academy and Nativity of Our Lord Parish

• Honors Student; Ranked No. 5 with 4.668 GPA

• Daughter of Thomas Hughes ’80 and sister of Meghan Hughes ‘14

• Vice President of Senior Class at Lourdes Hall, member of NHS, student newspaper, Robotics Club, Science Club, Peer Ministry and swimming and water polo teams

academics 5

brittany oduro ’16 – st. olaf college • From Abraham Lincoln School

• Honors Student; Ranked No. 4 with 4.690 GPA

• Member of City of De La Salle, REACH Club, Peace and Acceptance Committee, ESTEEM Club and girls basketball team

Which teacher has had the greatest influence on you?“One teacher who has influenced me the most at De La Salle is Ms. (Norma) Ramos. She was my junior-year geometry and senior-year calculus teacher. Before even entering her class, everyone said it was hard. I’ve always been good at math, so I thought it could handle it. Before, I didn’t have to try to maintain a good grade. Ms. Ramos’

class was a rude awakening for me. Her class was my most challenging class yet. I wanted to drop out many times. I had to put 10 times as much effort and time into it. She truly taught me the importance of doing work to comprehend rath-er than because it is due. This is a lesson I am proud to carry for the rest of my life.”

How have the tenets of faith, service and community impacted your life as a student at De La Salle?“The lessons of faith, service and community at De La Salle have taught me the importance of giving back and appreciation. Faith has taught me to know that God is always on my side, through good and bad. Doing service has taught me that the smallest thing may have a huge impact on someone’s life. And lastly, the closeness of the ‘D’ community has allowed me to open up. This community got me out of my

shell. These tenets not only impact me as a stu-dent, but also have impacted me to be a better person as a whole.”

How has De La Salle prepared you for your great future?“My junior year at De La Salle, one of my teachers told me a quote by Richard Carlson: “Don’t sweat the small stuff, it’s all small stuff.” This quote has stuck with me ever since. I take from this that I shouldn’t stress over every little thing in my life. In the future, there are going to be setbacks and successes. I cannot stress over each setback, rather, I should figure out how to turn it into success. De La Salle has taught me not to be discouraged by my fail-ures, but to get back up and keep trying.”

antonio (Tony) scalise – University of Tampa • From Healy Elementary School and Santa Lucia Parish

• Honors Student; Ranked No. 4 with 4.717 GPA

• Son of Vincent Scalise ’86 and brother of Frank Scalise ’13 and Vinnie Scalise ‘14

• Member of National Honor Society, football, baseball, volleyball and hockey teams

How has De La Salle prepared you for your great future?“De La Salle has prepared me for my future be-cause it has taught me responsibility, honesty, accountability, diligence, commitment and so much more. All of the life aspects that I have learned at De La Salle will always stay with me and I will forever be grateful for De La Salle for turning me into a man.”

Which teacher(s) has/have had the greatest influence on you?“The teacher who had the greatest influence on me was Mr. (Francisco) Martinez ‘98. He was the one who taught me all about becoming a man and how to act as a mature gentleman throughout all aspects of life. Mr. Martinez not only taught me Spanish, but he taught me key

life lessons which I will take with me for the rest of my life.”

What have the last four years at De La Salle meant to you?“These last four years at De La Salle have meant the world to me. I made so many friends here at this school that I would have never encountered had I not came to De La Salle. I had so many great memories that I will forever be grateful for. I am a mature young man today because of De La Salle.”

What does it mean to you to be a De La Salle graduate?“Being a De La Salle graduate is one of the best honors anyone could have. All of the tradition that goes with the name of De La Salle speaks

for itself. By being a graduate of De, I get to say that I was a part of one of the best schools in the City of Chicago. This school will always have a high reputation to be proud of.”

acadeMics

Gianna Schaaf ’16, Dominique Arcieri ’16, Jessica Tellez ’16, Antoinette Musco ’16, Erin Hughes ’16, Casey Barringer ’16 and Kaitlin Biondo ’16 remind

Sr. Josita Krzeminski SSJ-TOSF they always will be her angels.6 academics

Esmeralda Gallardo ’16, Brittany Oduro ’16, Chardanae Hamilton ’16, Zoe Korman ’16, Kaitlin Murray ’16, Gianna Arredia ’16, Kelly Lewis ’16,

Alyssa Arredia ’16 and Devin Coachman ’16.

Sean Rickert ’16, Tom Duddleston ’16, Tyler Qualls ‘16, Fabrizio Cirrintano ’16 and David Cook ’16 join faculty member Steve Hopkins for a picture.

Leo Cabral ’16 is a proud De La Salle graduate.

St. John Baptist de La Salle award winner Maribel Munoz ’16 had the distinction of carrying the De La Salle banner into Holy Name Cathedral.

Olivia Garcia ’16 and Esmeralda Melero ’16 use a selfie stick to take one final picture

with faculty member Bob Klebes.

Marcus Brown ’16, Derrick Rayford ’16, Julius Burch ’16, Christopher Jones ’16 and Andre Raiford ’16 are five of

the newest members of the De La Salle Alumni Association.

De La Salle Vice President of Community Affairs Lawrence Blakley ’83 shares a moment

with Martin Doran ’16.

Congratulations Grads!

Kevin Cranston ’16 and Kenneth Koster ’16 share a smile.

Theatre 100 members Quinn Heeter ’16, Michael Houlihan ’16, Jonathan Quigley ’16, Alexander

Henderson ’16 and Jonathan Burden ’16.

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(Front row) Gerald Hayes ’16, (middle row) Adam Arthurs ’16, Alexander Cruz ’16, Daniel Freeman ’16, Tomas Cortez ’16 and (back row) Amiel McBride ’16, Eder Rebollar ’16 and Rogelio Becerra ’16 gather with Associate

Principal of Curriculum & Technology Paul Dirschl on the altar at Holy Name Cathedral.

The members of the National Honor Society at the Lourdes Hall Campus join faculty moderator Norma Ramos for a pre-graduation picture.

Casey Barringer ’16, Destiny Bialczak ’16 and Kaitlin Biondo ’16 are proud Meteor graduates.

Valedictorian Guadalupe Godinez ’16 gave a memorable

and heartfelt address.

Ariel Hall ’16 eloquently reads an intercessory prayer

during the Mass.

Tomas Cortez ‘16 proudly carries the St. John Baptist de La Salle banner.

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The colleges & Universities the Members of the class of 2016 Will attend are impressive!

As is typically the case, the young wom-en and men who have graduated from De La Salle will be attending some of the most prestigious and well-regarded col-leges and universities across the country.

Whether our Meteors from the Class of 2016 will now call themselves Midship-men (United States Naval Academy) or Rattlers (Florida A&M University) or Spartans (Michigan State University) or Bruins (UCLA) or Zips (University of Akron) or Owls (Brandeis University), they do so knowing they have been without a doubt prepared for their great futures by the caring, committed and talented faculty and staff of De La Salle.

Thanks to the combination of their own skillsets with the knowledge they’ve gained in our classrooms and laborato-ries, this year’s graduates have earned a potential $13.2 million dollars in college scholarships over the next four years.

So as they leave De La Salle and begin the next steps in their lives’ journeys, we wish the young women and men of the Class of 2016 the best of health, luck and happiness. We are proud of you. You will do many great things. After all, you’re Meteors!

Here is a list of some of the colleges and universities the Class of 2016 will attend:

Augustana College

Ball State University

Bethune-Cookman University

Brandeis University

Carthage College

Clark Atlanta University

Creighton University

DePaul University

Eastern Illinois University

Florida A&M University

Illinois Institute of Technology

Illinois State University

Indiana State University

Iowa State University

Knox College

Lewis University

Loyola University Chicago

Marquette University

Michigan State University

Northern Illinois University

Northwestern University

St. Mary’s University of Minnesota

St. Norbert College

Saint Xavier University

The School of the Art Institute of Chicago

Southern Illinois University - Carbondale

Southern Illinois University - Edwardsville

Wartburg College

Western Illinois University

Western Michigan University

United States Naval Academy

University of Akron

University of Arizona

University of California - Los Angeles

University of Chicago

University of Illinois at Chicago

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

University of Iowa

University of Kentucky

University of Missouri - Columbia

University of St. Francis

University of Tampa

University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point

The Future Is Looking Bright!

academics 9

congratulations, Principal brown!

De La Salle is proud to announce that Diane Brown has been chosen its principal effective July 1. Brown was the interim principal of both De La Salle campuses this school year.

“We are excited and honored that Diane will continue in her role as our principal,” De La Sal-le president Fr. Paul Novak, OSM, said. “Diane has spent nearly 30 years in a variety of roles at De La Salle and she has excelled in everything she has done. Whether in the classroom or in an administrative capacity, Diane’s strength and leadership have been exemplary and evident and have helped form the foundation of our school’s success. De La Salle is truly very for-tunate and blessed to have someone of Diane’s outstanding character and integrity guiding our school and our students into the future.”

Brown joined De La Salle in 1987 as an English teacher, serving in that role until 1990 when she became the English Department Chairper-son. In 1995, Brown was named Dean of the Language Arts Division, remaining in that ca-pacity until 2002. From 2002-05, she was the Associate Principal for Academics at the newly-opened Lourdes Hall Campus before serving as

the principal at the Lourdes Hall Campus for Young Women until July 1, 2015 when she be-came the interim principal at both campuses.

Brown has been lauded for classroom teaching at De La Salle, being named Teacher of the Year (1990-91), Exemplary Honors Teacher (1992-93), Heart of the School (1993-1994), and Dis-tinguished Lasallian Educator (2011-12). In 2012, Brown – whose son, Michael Gazda, is a 1998 graduate – was named a recipient of the Alumni Association Honor Key Award.

Throughout her tenure at De La Salle, Brown has served as moderator and advisor to various extracurricular clubs and activities, has served on the Chicago Archdiocesan High School Leadership Council, and has served as the Chairperson for the Midwest District Lasallian Mission Council. Brown currently maintains membership on the Girls Catholic Athletic As-sociation Executive Board.

Brown holds a Bachelor’s Degree in English (1976) from Western Illinois University and Master’s Degrees in English Literature (1994) and Educational Leadership: School Leadership

(2002) from Northeastern Illinois University. She is also a graduate of the Lasallian Leadership In-stitute and is currently a candidate for a doctoral degree in Educational Leadership for Teach-ing and Learning through Lewis University. Congratulations, Mrs. Brown!

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The 1924 Dramatic Club was a predecessor to the current Theatre 100 program

During the 2008-09 school year, Michelle Crawford ’09, Jessica Nelson ’09, Jillian Vilimas ’09 and Logan Riesterer ’09 were honored as Illinois State Scholars.

One of the sports that De La Salle offered a while back was gymnastics as the 1968

team gets in a workout.

A Picture is Worth 1,000 Words...

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The nine members of the 1999 Radio Controlled Car Club display their vehicles along with faculty moderator Chris Wood.

A Meteor and his date have a great time while attending the 1984 prom.

These four Meteors were key contributors to the 2009 baseball team. Pictured are Kevin Crowley ’09, Tom Lally ’09,

Gerardo Esquivel ’09 and Mike Spalla ’09.

The junior class officers for the 1946-47 school year were vice president John Keeler; president James Wilt; treasurer Paul Tarman; Sergeant-at-arms John Sloat and secretary Harry Hartnett.

The Rose and Candle Ceremony is always a memorable event as displayed in this 2006 photo.

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As the 2015-16 school year drew to a conclusion, De La Salle was afford-ed the opportunity to honor three longtime educators who are retiring.

On behalf of the students, faculty, staff and alumni of De La Salle, we wish to thank Bob Klebes, Sr. Josita Krzeminski SSJ-TOSF and Susan Perez for their dedication, commitment and excellence over the years.

De La Salle Institute and the Tolton Center have truly been en-riched by the significant contributions of these three extraor-dinary individuals. Congratulations, Bob, Sr. Josita and Susan! Best of luck, thank you and God bless!

a commitment to excellence

Bob Klebes has taught at De La Salle’s Lourdes Hall Campus for the last 12 years. Prior to that, he was at Holy Cross High School for four years, serving as Dean of Students for three years. The St. George High School alum also served for 20 years at Weber High School where he was Dean of Students for six years and assistant prin-cipal for four years. The Evanston native and lifelong White Sox and Northwestern University fan has been married to his wife, Donna, for 46 years.

Sr. Josita has been a Sister of St. Joseph – Third Order of St. Francis for 58 years and has been a teacher for 55 years. The native of Chicago’s Bridgeport neigh-borhood served as the campus minister at the Lourdes Hall Campus since its opening in 2002. She also was the co-principal at the Lourdes Hall Campus from 2002-06 as well as the principal at Lourdes High School from 1998-2002 and St. Mary of Perpetual Help High School from 1973-83.

Susan Perez has been involved with the Tolton Center since its inception in 1990. The native of Chippewa Falls, WI has been the Executive Director of the Tolton Center since May 2009. Among the many accolades she has earned are the Women Who Make a Difference Award (2005), the Illinois Adult Continuing Educators Association’s Admin-istrator of the Year (2007), the Tolton Lifetime Teaching Award from De La Salle (2011) and an honorary Doctor of Humanities from Lewis University (2014). Susan and her hus-band, Joe, have been married nearly 49 years.

faculty award Winners are Truly class acts!

De La Salle congratulates the following faculty members who were lauded at the Annual Year-End Faculty/Staff Luncheon.

Honored with the Distinguished Lasallian Ed-ucator Award were Meghan Senjanin and Br. Chris Oddo, FSC. Earning the Excellence in

Teaching Award were Tim Colletti and Dan Dowling.

Thank you to each of these educators for their exemplary commitment and dedication to the students of De La Salle!

De La Salle principal Diane Brown, Meghan Senjanin, De La Salle president Fr. Paul Novak, OSM

De La Salle principal Diane Brown, Tim Colletti, De La Salle president Fr. Paul Novak, OSM

De La Salle principal Diane Brown, Dan Dowling, De La Salle president Fr. Paul Novak, OSM

De La Salle principal Diane Brown, Br. Chris Oddo, FSC, De La Salle president Fr. Paul Novak, OSM

Teach Your Children Well…

academics 13

In the last issue of D Magazine, we introduced a new feature in which we will literally or figuratively walk across Boyle Courtyard as we interview a member of the De La Salle faculty and staff. In this issue, we would like to introduce Norma Ramos, a member of the faculty at the Lourdes Hall Cam-pus for Young Women. Ramos has spent the last 11 years teaching at ‘D’ while also moderating the National Honor Society and the City of D for the past four years. She also spent five seasons as an assistant volleyball coach. Ramos teaches Honors Geometry, Pre-Calculus and AP Calculus.

Ramos holds a Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education and Social Policy from Northwestern University and a Master’s Degree in Mathematics from DePaul University. She also has spent two years doing doctoral work at the University of Illinois at Chicago in Curriculum Design and Instruction with an emphasis on Urban Education.

Please enjoy reading “Walking across Boyle Courtyard with Norma Ramos.”

Walking across boyle courtyard with norma Ramos

What is/are the greatest reward(s) of teaching?The greatest reward I find in teaching is working with students. It’s fascinating to me how different students think and approach situations in math-ematics, but also in their everyday lives and inter-actions with one another. My greatest reward is when I can positively affect both.

Why should a grammar school student con-sider attending De La Salle?I believe a grammar school student should con-sider attending DLS because DLS offers a safe environment to learn, a diverse student body, a caring staff to support them and a dedicated ad-ministration to work with all types of families and their needs.

What makes De La Salle special/unique? De La Salle has a great student body and faculty. Many teachers and staff are at ‘D’ because teaching and helping young students is their passion, their calling. DLS’ diverse student body and rich Lasal-lian values make this school a wonderful family. I feel very comfortable with my colleagues and my students. I love looking out to my classes and see-ing different faces, each with their unique back-ground and knowing we are all at DLS because we believe in its mission of faith, service and learning.

Why did you want to become a teacher? I was in third grade when I was asked to help one of my classmates in social studies. I thought it was odd that my teacher asked, especially because the other student could only speak Polish & I was not a Polish speaker. We managed to communicate through pictures, actions and even sound effects.

I realized how much I enjoyed helping others. As I grew up, mathematics started to get easier for me than any other subject. Classmates started to ap-proach me for help and appreciated my patience and creative way of explaining topics. As I moved on to college, I continued my passion for math-ematics and felt teaching was the calling I wanted to pursue.

How would you describe your teaching style?I’m pretty strict and no-nonsense in terms of

the work I expect from students. I strongly be-lieve students fear math or say “I’m not good at math” because they don’t get enough practice with a variety of problems ranging in rigor and depth. I like to challenge students and con-stantly keep them moving forward. I encour-age students to ask the “What if…” questions and really appreciate when they ask “Why does that work?” or ask to show all the steps. I focus my class on understanding ideas, being logical and seeing the “whole picture” so that students can face any problem. Math is to be practiced daily and broken down so small details are not overlooked and big ideas can be easily implemented.

Who has influenced you as a teacher?I had some really great math teachers over the years. However, my high school history teacher, Ms. Linda Sieferman, was probably one of the most influential teachers I have had. She always meant business and came prepared to class every day. At first impression, she was not the friendliest teacher and did not waste any class time. However, she was probably the warmest, sincerest and most thoughtful teacher I ever met.

My parents also influence me as a teacher. My mother likes order and has a great eye for detail while my father enjoys a challenge and sees every problem as a new, fun puzzle to figure out. While I may not be as organized as my mother or as adventurous as my father, I like to think I am a healthy mix of both. My parents continue to teach me about the importance of a strong work ethic, solid character and a generous heart.

acadeMics

14 academics

How are the classes online? Working fine.

Meteors Thriving with online offerings

Looking for a desk? Not there. How about a chalkboard or a dry-erase board? The answer is no to both of those options. Even without these popular learning tools, there exists yet another vibrant and vital manner of teaching our Me-teors.

One of the most popular recent additions to the De La Salle curriculum is four online, one-semester classes. During the fall semester of the 2015-16 school year, there were nine students in Eric Crosby’s History of Chicago class. At the same time, eight students were enrolled in Paul Dirschl’s Philosophy grouping.

This spring, nine students from the Lourdes Hall and Institute Campuses participated in John Brogan’s Civil War class while five more Meteors gained knowledge about creative writ-ing from Dawn Aulet. In all, 31 students were

enrolled in the four online courses offered this school year.

“As a college preparatory school, the integra-tion of online courses continues to prepare our students for college,” said Dirschl, who also is De La Salle’s Associate Principal of Curriculum & Technology. “The online classes infuse our curriculum with our current technology and challenge our teachers and students both aca-demically and technologically.”

De La Salle has offered online classes to its stu-dents in each of the last two school years, hav-ing doubled the amount in the 2015-16 school year from two to four.

“Our teachers continue to embrace and en-hance course content with field trips and more in-person meetings,” Dirschl said. “And our

students continue to enroll in online courses with many students taking the online course for additional credit outside of school.”

Using Brogan’s Civil War class as an example from the 2015-16 school year, information was covered in four units: Slavery, Causes of the Civil War, The War and Reconstruction and Healing. The students were assigned a reading from the book, “The American War” by Gary Gallagher and Joan Waugh. There also was a Powerpoint presentation posted weekly in ad-dition to discussion threads that covered a va-riety of Civil War-related topics. Students were required to analyze primary documents and post their findings and opinions to the class discussion board.

“Offering online courses allows students who have a full academic schedule to take a class

academics 15

outside of the traditional school hours,” said Brogan, who also is De La Salle’s Dean of So-cial Sciences. “Students usually have a week to complete readings, assignments and assess-ments. Since most students are going to take online courses when they get to college, this provides them a great opportunity to take one and gain experience. It has been an exciting se-mester teaching an online course.”

One of the students enrolled in Brogan’s Civil War class is Cristina Catezone ’17. The senior-to-be said that she wanted to take an online class because it was something totally different than her normal course of study.

“This was my first online class and I wasn’t sure how I was going to like it,” Catezone said. “But as the class progressed, I fell in love with the

online course. This (class) will prepare me for college work because this is an independent class. Every assignment we have done is inde-pendent and it is our responsibility to not fall behind. It will also teach me how to manage my work properly.

“An online class is completely different from a typical class,” Catezone added. “For example, there is always communication between the teacher and the student by email and not face-to-face. There is a lot of work that is given to us in a week whereas in a typical class, we get our work day-by-day. I have to say I absolutely love this class and I am very lucky I’ve had the op-portunity to work with Mr. Brogan.”

Joining Catezone in the Civil War online class is Morgan Billa ’17. Unlike Catezone, Billa had

taken an online class before. That positive ex-perience helped her make the decision to enroll in another online class this school year.

“I enjoy being independent when it comes to my schoolwork,” Billa said. “Taking these courses has given me the opportunity to do so. Even though it is online, there is still a lot of communication between the class and the teacher, which is nice.

“The classes have helped me stay up-to-date with technology and become more familiar with different computer programs. I will need a lot of these skills for college, so it is very helpful that I get a head start on them now.”

Bryan Bachleda ’17 was enrolled in Dirschl’s online Philosophy class in the fall and was one of the students in Brogan’s Civil War class this spring. He sees his participation in the online classes as yet another way in which De La Salle best prepares its students for the next stage of their academic paths.

“Colleges are moving towards online courses as an alternative for schedule flexibility,” Bachle-da said. “I’ve read where 40 percent of college courses are now online. As De La Salle contin-ues to be a college preparatory high school, of-fering the online courses continues the strategy.

“Online classes offer an alternative form of traditional assessment and teachers still give multiple-choice quizzes. However, teachers also assign more essays now to further evalu-ate a student’s understanding of a topic, which also helps the student grasp the knowledge of the topic.”

With the beginning of the 2016-17 school year arriving soon, De La Salle will be expanding its online course offerings, adding a physics class along with one regarding the history of the Middle East.

“Students enjoy and embrace the ‘learning at your own pace’ aspect of online courses,” Dirschl said. “Students have the option of com-pleting their daily homework assignments or in one day or session, complete multiple days of work. This allows our students more academic flexibility.”

acadeMics

On March 31, the Chicago Citywide Literacy Coalition recognized Tolton Center student Julia Pantoja as this year’s outstanding adult learner. Nominated by Tolton instructor Mary Ellen Lesniak, Julia was honored at the Coali-tion’s Beyond Books event held at the Newberry Library in Chicago.

Julia came to Tolton Center in September 2015. Since then, she has emerged as a leader, contin-ually encouraging her fellow classmates to make learning a priority. Participating in various lead-ership roles in her children’s schools, she keeps her classmates up to date on schoolwide events and opportunities for action.

In the ESL classroom, Julia has improved her English from a High Beginner level to Low In-termediate in just a matter of months. For each field trip, she is among the first to sign up, taking advantage of the opportunity to spend time with her children at some of Chicago’s best cultural

treasures. Julia is a shining example of success in a family literacy program.

During the Beyond Books event, Julia accepted the award and shared a few words on her expe-rience in adult education at Tolton Center. She commented that “in these programs, I have seen people become passionate about studying and overcoming obstacles. I have heard people who are now bilingual and have found better jobs. Students have better self-esteem. They start to believe that they can achieve their goals. And they become great examples for their children.”

Julia also encouraged the educators in the room to continue working hard for their students because “it is making a great difference in our lives.”

Tolton Center is so proud of Julia Pantoja and we congratulate her for earning this prestigious award!

16 faith, service and community

Julia Pantoja named outstanding adult learner

Tolton student Julia Pantoja shares her thoughts on her award and the impact of adult education at the Chicago Citywide Literacy Coalition’s Beyond Books event.

Julia Pantoja and Chicago Public Library Commissioner Brian Bannon display their awards.

Tolton Student Honored by Literacy Coalition

development 25faith, service and community 17

st. baldrick’s day at ‘d’: a Perfect 10

In March 2016, De La Salle held its 10th an-nual St. Baldrick’s Day ceremony in which the Meteors shaved their heads and raised money to benefit children who have pediat-ric cancer.

This year, 51 students and faculty members participated with $14,820 in donations gen-erated. In the last decade at De La Salle, 601 students and faculty have participated with over $191,000 raised.

“St. Baldrick’s doesn’t work without a ton of assistance,” De La Salle faculty organizer Tom Dufficy said. “Ten years strong and the Meteors remain generous people.

“As St. John Baptist de La Salle said, ‘You are visible angels to the children within your care.’”

Congratulations and thank you to everyone who made the 10th annual St. Baldrick’s Day ceremony a huge success!

A great group photo of all the Meteors who participated in the 10th annual St. Baldrick’s Day ceremony.

De La Salle faculty member Danny McGuire smiles for the camera during his haircut. A surprise participant, McGuire delivered a rousing, inspirational speech.

Dakota Biliskov ’18 proudly wears his green St. Baldrick’s Day t-shirt

while getting his haircut.

Faculty member Ron Cunat and his son, Austin ’18, share a moment following the ceremony.

faiTH, seRVice and coMMUniTY

18 athletics

boys basketballThe Meteors finished their season with an overall record of 22-8 and 7-2 in the Catholic League. Guard George Willborn ’16, who averaged 19.2 points and 6.1 rebounds per game, was chosen to the All-Chicago Catholic League North First Team. Chosen to the All-CCL North team were forward Chris-tian Hayes ’16 and center Andre Raiford ’16.

boys bowlingRyan Shew ’17 was the top bowler for the Meteors in the Catholic League championships, placing 17th. De La Salle was second in the consolation bracket of the CCL tournament with the varsity finishing 12th overall. In the Illinois High School Association’s Lindblom Regional, De La Salle placed fifth.

WrestlingThree members of the Meteor wrestling program advanced to the IHSA state tournament at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Aaron Ze-brauskas ’18 (106 pounds) and Sean Rickert ’16 (145) were defeated in the opening rounds, while Solomon Smith ’17 (285) won three of his five matches downstate en route to a fifth-place finish.

boys ice HockeyIn its first season returning to the ice, the Meteor ice hockey program had a successful season playing a junior-varsity schedule in the Chicago Catholic Hockey League. Losing only one athlete to graduation, De La Salle will re-turn 11 skaters and a great deal of optimism for next season.

boys Water PoloThe boys water polo team was 9-10 overall with two victories each over St. Patrick and St. Rita. The Meteors also had wins over St. Viator and Mount Carmel on their resume. Lucas Gawron ’16 was chosen to the All-Metro Catholic Aquatic Conference First Team while Alex Cruz ’16 and Shane Na-gel ’17 garnered All-MCAC Second Team nominations. Nagel was named the Me-teors’ MVP with Rodrigo Gonzalez ’18 and Joshua Macias ’16 sharing the Most Improved Player Award. Gawron was chosen Senior of the Year, Cruz earned the Leadership Award and Gil-berto Moreno ’17 received the Workhorse Award.

Head wrestling coach Dale Burke ’00 gathers with state competitors Sean Rickert ’16, Solomon Smith ’17 and Aaron Zebrauskas ‘18

Lucas Gawron ’16

Sports Update

athletics 19

boys swimmingThe Meteors competed in the IHSA’s St. Ignatius Sectional and placed seventh in the 12-team field with 71 points. De La Salle was fifth in both the 200 medley relay and 200 free relay led by Rodrigo Gonzalez ’18, Gilberto Moreno ’17, Shane Nagel ’17 and Andreas Wolf ’18.

baseballThe Meteors ended their season with an overall record of 18-16, winning 13 of their final 17 games. De La Salle reached the IHSA Class 3A Crestwood Supersec-tional before losing to Lemont 10-4 at Standard Bank Stadium.

De La Salle defeated Lindblom and St. Ig-natius in the Class 3A De La Salle Region-al before beating Jones and Evergreen Park in the Class 3A Brooks Sectional.

The Meteors also shared the Chicago Catholic League White conference cham-pionship as infielder Tom Duddleston ’16, infielder Josh Figueroa ’16 and catcher Justin Jackson ’16 garnered All-CCL ac-colades. Highlighting the regular-season schedule were pairs of victories over CCL rivals Fenwick, Montini and St. Ignatius.

boys VolleyballThe Meteors finished their season with an overall record of 12-18 and advanced to the IHSA De La Salle Regional semifinals. During the regular season, De La Salle defeated Catholic League rivals St. Laurence three times and Montini and St. Joseph twice. Kenneth Koster ’16 and Max Castillo ’17 were chosen to the All-CCL Team.

boys TennisThe Meteors placed 20th in the state tournament behind the perfor-mances of Thomas Harris ’18 and Raymond Richardson ’18. Rich-ardson went 4-2 in singles play and made it to the sixth round of the consolation bracket. Harris was 3-2 in singles play and advanced to the fourth round. In the Chicago Catho-lic League tournament, De La Salle placed fourth with Harris and Pres-ton Smith ’19 placing first at No. 2 and No. 3 singles, respectively. Rich-ardson was third at No. 1 singles.

boys Track & fieldDe La Salle was third in the 14-team field at the IHSA Class 2A St. Rita Sectional with 58 points. Bryce Worthy ’16 finished first in the high jump with an effort of 5 feet, 10 inches while Ryan Curington ’19 won the triple jump with a mark of 40 feet, 1 inch. Bryce Billings ‘16 was first in the 100-meter dash (10.55 seconds) while Walter McBride ’16 was sec-ond in the 400-meter dash (51.66 seconds). Billings also took sec-ond in the 200-meter dash (21.93 seconds). At the Chicago Catholic League outdoor cham-pionships, the Meteors were sixth (40 points).

boys & Girls indoor Track & fieldDe La Salle’s girls team placed ninth with 26 points in the GCAC Indoor Meet while the boys team was sixth, tallying 44 points at the CCL Indoor Meet.

Bryce Billings ‘16

Raymond Richardson ’18

aTHleTics

20 athletics

Sports Update

Girls basketballThe Meteors finished the season with an overall record of 11-19 and lost in the IHSA Class 3A Hyde Park Re-gional championship game. Selected to the All-GCAC Team were center Chardanae Hamilton ’16 and guard/forward India Brazzleton ’16. Hamilton averaged 15 points and 14 rebounds per game, while Brazzleton av-eraged 14 points and six rebounds per game.

Girls bowlingBoth the junior-varsity and varsity girls bowling teams placed seventh in the Girls Catho-lic Athletic Conference tournament. In IHSA competition at the St. Ignatius Regional, the Meteors were fifth in the 11-team field with a pinfall of 3,560. The top individuals for De La Salle were Karina Utreras ’16 (10th place) and Lailah Martinez ’17 (17th place).

Karina Utreras ’16 was one of the top performers for the Meteors’ girls bowling team this season Chardanae Hamilton ’16 and India Brazzleton ’16 represented the Meteors on the All-GCAC basketball team

athletics 21

aTHleTics

Girls soccerWins over St. Viator, St. Jo-seph and Phillips highlighted the Meteors’ schedule this season en route to a 3-13-1 record. Midfielder Stephanie Dominguez ’18 was picked to the All-Girls Catholic Ath-letic Conference Team while Dominguez and midfielder Kayla Cianflone ’18 were named to the IHSA All-Sec-tional Honorable Mention Team.

Girls Water PoloThe girls water polo team concluded its season with an overall mark of 11-12. During the course of the season, the Meteors defeated St. Viator twice while posting single victories over Marian Catholic, Resurrection, Loyola Acad-emy and Fenwick. Earning places on the Metro Catholic Aquatic Conference Sec-ond Team were Jazmin Garcia ’17 and Erin Hughes ’16. Garcia also was named to the All-Sectional Second Team at St. Ignatius while Leticia Bradsfield ’19, Jazmin Hernandez ’16 and Hughes re-ceived honorable mention accolades.

softballThe softball team posted key nonconference wins over Mor-ton and Eisenhower and Girls Catholic Athletic Conference triumphs over Regina Dominican and DePaul Prep over the course of the season in which the Meteors finished with an overall record of 7-20. The Meteors lost to Nazareth Acad-emy in the Class 3A Nazareth Academy Regional champion-ship game. Earning All-GCAC plaudits for De La Salle this season was catcher Ashley Trendle ’16.

Girls Track & fieldAs a team, the Meteors were sixth at the IHSA’s Class 2A North Lawn-dale Sectional with 27 points. Kaitlyn Bright ’16 was first in the 100-meter high hurdles with a time of 15.38 sec-onds. Kaitlyn Thrash ’17 was second in the 800-meter run with a time of 2:31.95. At the GCAC outdoor champi-onships, De La Salle was 11th with 10 points.

Jazmin Garcia ’17

Kaitlyn Bright ’16

Stephanie Dominguez ’18

Ashley Trendle ’16

22 development

Meteor Alumni Success Story

On April 29, 300 friends, family, benefactors and corporate sponsors attended the Ninth Annual Great Futures Gala at the Ritz-Carlton Chicago to promote education and provide educational opportunities for the young men and women en-rolled at De La Salle Institute.

The evening’s festivities were hosted by the Extollo Educational Foundation, which honored the cur-rent vice president of Extollo Educational Founda-tion and Class of 1953 alum, James R. Woodrow, along with his wife, Joan Woodrow, whose father, Austin J. Ayres ’28, and uncle, James Conway ’27, attended De La Salle.

The honorees also included Kevin Hickey ’86, who is a chef and partner of The Bottlefork and The Duck Inn, and Chicago Blackhawks President and CEO John McDonough, a Lasallian colleague and graduate of St. Mary’s University of Minnesota.

Natalie Martinez, NBC 5 Chicago’s Emmy-Award-winning reporter, emceed and helped to raise money for the student scholarship fund at De La Salle. De La Salle is extremely grateful for the generous contributions that made the Ninth An-nual Great Futures Gala a success! We hope to see all of you as we celebrate the Tenth Annual Great Futures Gala in 2017.

Great futures Gala – Meteors shine at no. 9!

Kevin Hickey ’86 is presented a chef ’s coat with his name and class year embroidered on it as he is joined on the dais by his son, Declan, and Fr. Paul Novak, OSM.

Natalie Martinez of NBC 5 Chicago did a masterful job as the emcee for the Ninth Annual Great Futures Gala.

Chicago Blackhawks CEO and Lasallian colleague John McDonough proudly displays

his Meteor hockey jersey.

James Woodrow ’53 receives a football jersey from De La Salle president Fr. Paul Novak, OSM, as a token of our appreciation. Mr. Woodrow was a

quarterback during his days as a Meteor.

Making a Difference for Fellow Meteors

development 23

For nearly two decades, Steve Burrows ‘91 has been involved with De La Salle Institute. He currently serves as the President of the Alumni Association and actively recruits students to attend the school. Steve’s generosity of time and treasure has significantly enhanced De La Salle’s work in fulfilling the Lasallian mission of education for our young women and men.

It is obvious that De La Salle means a great deal to Steve.

“I owe much of my success to the lessons that were taught to me at De La Salle – both inside and outside the classroom. I can honestly say I don’t think I would be where I am today if it weren’t for De La Salle and specifically if it wasn’t for teachers like Br. Kevin Fitzgerald, FSC, Mr. (Dennis) Sheehan, and Mr. (Larry) Wenshutonis, ’60,” he said. This year, Steve cel-ebrates his 25th Jubilee Anniversary.

The benefits of a De La Salle education are im-measurable. Certainly the curriculum and the lessons inside the classroom prepared Steve very well for college and beyond, but when Steve thinks of a “De La Salle education,” he knows it is so much more than just what he learned from the books.

“It was the discipline that was demanded and expected on a daily basis,” Burrows said. “From following the dress code, to being on time, to being respectful to the staff and students, you were expected to behave accordingly and were held accountable for your actions.

“It was the expectation that you were to try your best in everything that you did, and the fact that anything less than your best effort was unaccept-able. Whatever you needed, whether it was a kick

in the behind (figuratively speaking of course) or a pat on the back, the faculty and staff were really there for us whenever we needed them.”

There was an expectation that you should never waste your talents and gifts and to realize your potential. The diversity of the student body, where kids of different colors, different back-grounds, and different beliefs, all came together as Meteors to reach a goal, whether it was in sports, or a club, or a class project.

Twenty-five years later, “I realize it is these things that were taught to us beyond the classroom that benefitted us the most as we went on to college, careers, marriage, and fatherhood,” Burrows said.

After graduating from De La Salle in 1991, Steve attended Illinois Wesleyan University, where he graduated in 1995, earning a double major in Business Administration and Economics. Im-mediately after college, he attended law school at Chicago-Kent College of Law. In 1998, Steve passed the Illinois Bar exam and became a trial lawyer, handling workman’s compensation and personal injury cases. Currently, Steve is a part-ner in the law firm of O’Connor & Nakos, where he continues to represent individuals and their families in all aspects of personal injury cases.

“I give back to De La Salle because I would not be where I am today without ‘D’,” Burrows said. “My mother and grandparents instilled in me from a young age that it was important to get involved in your community and to be gener-ous with your time and treasure whenever pos-sible. Carrying on that tradition was important to me, and it is important that I teach my chil-dren in the same way.”

Realizing how important De La Salle was to shaping who he is, Steve got involved with De La Salle during law school, and has not looked back. Steve remains committed to ensure that kids like he can get the same quality De La Salle education that he received.

“I was raised by a single mother, along with the help from my grandparents and other family members who all lived nearby,” Burrows said. “And as I look back, I understand how much she sacrificed to allow me to attend De La Salle. I want to do all I can so that other kids from similar backgrounds can reap the benefits that I have from a De La Salle education.”

Steve resides in Canaryville with wife, Gina, and their three children, Francesca, Jacalyn and Joey, a member of De La Salle’s Class of 2018!

a Grateful Meteor Gives back: steve burrows ‘91

Steve and his wife, Gina, with their children, Francesca, Jacalyn and Joey ’18.

Steve and his son, Joey, after a Meteor football victory.

deVeloPMenT

24 development

How did De La Salle influence your life?De La Salle helped me to develop my work eth-ic, teamwork, discipline, desire to compete and ability to interact in a diverse environment. It also cultivated the understanding that it is im-portant to believe in something greater than yourself.

What advice would you give parents who are interested in sending their students to ‘D’?My father attended De La Salle and he knew that the level of academic rigor and structure would help his children gain the fundamental knowledge and skills to reach their potential. My brothers, Jim ’81 and Jeff ‘84 and I all graduated from De La Salle. We are all very dif-ferent, but we are all thankful for the opportu-nities that we have had and know in part that being a Meteor was a key part to getting started off on the right track.

What are some of the most important things you learned at De La Salle?There are so many great learnings, but one thing that really sticks out is respect for every-one and embracing diversity of thought and

people from different backgrounds. The lesson of working together and first and foremost be-ing on the same team was clear and not easily forgotten.

What are some of your fondest memories of De La Salle?I loved being a part of the hockey program. I had great teammates! We competed against some elite players and loved every minute of it – both on and off the ice. My involvement in the hockey program led to attending the Air Force Academy and continuing to play hockey. The ability to be a part of a team that is aligned around one goal and fights together to win is applicable beyond playing a sport. I am thank-ful for the experience. Playing hockey and be-ing a part of a team that cared about each other, worked hard and wanted to compete is some-thing that will always foster fond memories.

Who were some of the teachers who influ-enced you and why?Brother Richard was the hockey team guard-ian and he was a fantastic advocate for the program. He was a kind and caring man. I re-

member saying the rosary in Brother Edward’s class. I still say it frequently and with the same cadence. There were so many great teachers and coaches. What I remember was how seri-ously they took their calling to teach and in-fluence young boys to become men. They were outstanding teachers and they led by example.

How did De La Salle prepare you for college and beyond?The academic courses were a big plus. The abil-ity to be held to a higher standard helped us develop discipline and work ethic. (Those are) two characteristics that are fundamental to success in further education or any vocation that you choose.

What made you want to come back for the alumni hockey game last December?I was excited to see old friends and support ‘D’’s quest to resurrect the hockey program. It was a great event and I look forward to attending again this year.

William andersen ‘80

William (Bill) Andersen ’80 provides consulting services to executive teams within the food industry focused on strategic planning, growth and operational effective-ness. Andersen was previously the President/Executive Vice President of the Key-stone Foods USA business. He was responsible for the profitability and growth of approximately $2 billion in sales of beef, poultry, and fish products produced and marketed to foodservice and retail customers.

Andersen has had a broad and diverse career with experience that includes six years in the Air Force followed by 23 years in roles of increasing responsibility with well-recognized companies in the food industry. Andersen has served in key leader-ship roles in Unilever, Wayne Farms, Tyson Foods, JBT Food Tech, Gold Kist, and Southeastern Mills, Inc.

Andersen completed an advanced management program at Duke University, has an MSA degree in Management from Central Michigan University and a Bachelor’s Degree in Business from the United States Air Force Academy. While a student at De La Salle, Andersen – who currently resides in Cartersville, GA – was a four-year member of the Meteor hockey team.

Meteor Alumni Success Story

Keep in touch with ‘D’. Send your updated information to Chris Ahearn at ahearnc@dls.org.

Meteor Alumni Success Story

development 25

1952Edward Moloney is working in management in the construction machinery sales field. He lives in Bay Saint Louis, MS and his email address is moloneyed@yahoo.com.

1965Richard Kalwa is retired from the ac-ademic field. He resides in Chicago. His email address is richard.kalwa@rcn.com.

1966Allan Stec lives in Naperville, IL. His email address is stjohn62@att.net.

1969Dennis Behling works in the sporting goods industry and re-sides in Powhatan, VA. His email address is toolnct1@verizon.net.

1983David Kukulka works as an instru-mentation mechanic in the utilities field. He lives in Chicago and his email address is dkuk@att.net.

1985Michael Zovko resides in Chi-cago and is a senior manager in the service/parking management industry. His email address is mzovko@spplus.com.

1999Danny Chan works in human re-sources in the field of education. He resides in Chicago and his email address is danny.chan001@gmail.com.

2004Danny Nelson stopped by De La Salle for a visit. He is residing in Up-per Marlboro, MD. Nelson’s email address is dnel28@gmail.com

Joe Pletsch is involved in sev-eral volunteer activities including ushering at his church as well as helping at a local soup kitchen. He resides in Chicago and his email address is JoeDLaSalle@aol.com.

2005Francisco Carrillo is a finance manager in the insurance field. He lives in Chicago and his email address is hddbug@hotmail.com.

2006Tatiana Reed is a senior policy specialist in the healthcare field. She resides in Chicago and her email address is tatianareed717@yahoo.com.

Christopher Stirgus is a sales representative in the route sales industry. He lives in Chicago and his email address is chris.stirgus@live.com.

2007Jenae Winters is a paralegal and resides in Chicago. Her email ad-dress is jenae.winters@gmail.com.

2008James Muehleman is a mortgage banker and resides in Milwaukee, WI. His email address is james.muehleman@gmail.com.

2010Jackie Sernek is a graduate assis-tant and pitching coach for East-ern Illinois University’s softball team. She also is working on her master’s degree in sports adminis-tration at EIU. Her email address is jsernek@eiu.edu.

2011Christopher Jordan is a sales operations analyst in the medi-cal waste field. He resides in Lisle, IL and his email address is cjor-dan93@outlook.com.

2015Kyra White was one of four members of the women’s volley-ball team at the College of Coastal Georgia to be honored for main-taining a perfect 4.0 grade-point average. She also was named to the Southern States All-Confer-ence First Team after finishing with 319 kills, 26 solo blocks, 98 block assists and 124 total blocks.

news notes

La Rue Martin ’68, was inducted into the Chicago Catholic League Hall of Fame during the 55th Annual Hall of Fame Induction Banquet. Martin was one of 11 individuals from a variety of Catholic League schools honored. Martin was a four-year varsity basketball player as a Meteor and was chosen to the All-Catholic League Team during that timeframe. He played collegiately at Loyola University in Chicago before being cho-sen by the Portland Trailblazers with the first pick in the 1972 NBA draft. Martin is currently an executive with UPS, as well as a member of De La Salle’s Board of Directors. On behalf of everyone at De La Salle, congratulations, La Rue!

congratulations, la Rue Martin ’68 – chicago catholic league Hall of famer!

La Rue Martin ’68 is joined by his sister Deborah Martin-Hodo (left) and friend Toni Waller (right) at the CCL Hall of Fame Banquet.

deVeloPMenT

26 development

Meteor Alumni Success Story

Each year, De La Salle students participate in the annual Phonathon to stay con-nected with alumni and friends, to share information about the school’s recent accomplishments, to help raise additional funds for student financial aid, and most importantly, to discover what being a Meteor is all about.

In March, a group of 23 enthusiastic De La Salle students made 6,500 phone calls over three weeks and raised more than $42,000 in outright gifts and pledge com-mitments from many who share in our Lasallian mission of education. Alumni and friends from across the country responded generously when asked to support the

school’s student financial assistance program. Thank you to everyone who answered the call and showed their sup-port for our Meteors!

The Meteors who participated in the 2016 Phonathon were: Bryan D. Bachleda ‘17, Leonardo V. Cabral ’16, Matthew P. Carroll ’17, Tomas D. Cortez ’16, Kevin M. Cranston ’16, Martin D. Doran ’16, Daniel L. Freeman ’16, Aaron F. Galka ’18, Brennan H. Harris ’17, Kenneth E. Koster ’16, Thomas M. O’Leary ’17, Eduardo Ramirez ’17, Derrick E. Rayford ’16, Jarod B. Rhymes ’17, Antonio Scalise ’16, Elizabeth Avalos ’17, Emily L. Fritz ’18, Miranda M. Hanes ’17, Margaret P. Jones ’17, Nicole T. Mildner ’17, Devin R. Otero ’17, Madeline R. Vega ’16, and Michelle R. Vega ’18. We congratulate these young women and men for their enthusiasm and hard work during the 2016 Phonathon.

Thank You for answering the call

On April 2, over 350 alumni, friends, faculty and staff of De La Salle attended the 25th Annual D-Final Event in the Parmer Activity Center.

Attendees watched the men’s basketball NCAA national semifinals on four large screens, participated in the raffles and games and enjoyed great food from our sponsors: Punky’s Pizza & Pasta, Fabulous Freddie’s Italian Eatery, Honey’s To Go and Harold’s #88.

Thank you to our sponsors: DT Sports Group, Vergis Eiland - Coldwell Banker, El Milagro Tortillas, Central Officials Association, BSN Sports and M&G Graphics. All proceeds from the D-Final Event benefit the athletic programs at De La Salle Institute. We hope to see you at the 26th Annual D-Final Event on Saturday, April 1, 2017!

The 25th annual d-final event Was a Great success!

Meteors Pay It Forward

Tuition & Fees – 80%

Special Events – 1%

Organization

Support – 5%

Other Incom

e – 5%

Financial Aid – 27%

Instructional – 33%

Operating – 16% Other Expenses – 15%

Fundraising – 6%

Adult Education – 3%

development 27

In MemoriamDe La Salle Institute extends its deepest

sympathies to the families of the following De La Salle and Lourdes alumni and friends

who have recently passed away:

Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and may perpetual light shine upon them. May their souls and all the souls of the

faithful departed rest in peace. Amen.

St. John Baptist De La Salle, pray for us. Our Lady of Lourdes, pray for us. Live Jesus in our hearts, forever.

Mr. Richard W. Balis ‘61Mr. Bernard R. Baranski ‘47Mr. John E. Berkowicz ‘64Mr. Aamon T. Brown ‘02

Mr. Allan L. Campione ‘69Mr. Wayne F. Cebrzynski ‘69

Mr. Robert E. Crowley ‘52Col. Jerry D. Driscoll ‘58Mr. Joseph F. Dvorak ‘62Mr. Dennis T. Dwyer ‘62Mr. James E. Gorman ‘59

Mr. Carroll S. Harrison ‘64Mr. Paul A. Havlicek ‘64Mr. Ronald J. Itson ‘77

Mr. Clyde Martin III ‘04Mr. James P. McKenna ‘60Mr. James E. McLeary ‘66

Dr. William F. McNabola ‘43Mr. William J. Nations ‘60Mr. Richard G. Nestor ‘69Mr. George A. Nolan ‘48

Mr. Joseph R. Okopski ‘85Mr. Thomas E. Osowski ‘73Mr. Fred E. Osysko Jr. ‘74Mr. Lawrence J. Petkus ‘60Mr. William A. Powers ‘60Mr. Alfred S. Rodgers ‘51Mr. Thomas J. Sargant ‘62

Mr. Charles R. Senerius ‘53Mr. Robert J. Stumbra ‘68

Mr. Dominique L. Thomas ‘08Mr. Peter L. Valeo ‘67

Mr. Anthony J. Vari Jr. ‘67Mr. John J. Waters ‘54

Mr. Donald A. Welch ‘72Mr. Michael E. Wiklanski ‘67Mr. Melvin C. Williams ‘73

Mr. Ronald J. Zysko ‘72

Cost to Operate in 2015 Expenses - $16.7 Million

Funds Received in 2015 Revenue - $17.2 Million

Instructional – 33%; Financial Aid – 27%; Operating – 16%; Other Expenses – 15%; Fundraising – 6%; Adult Education – 3%

Tuition & Fees – 80%; Gifts from Alumni & Friends – 9%; Corp., Foundation & Organization Support – 5%; Other Income – 5%; Special Events – 1%

Providing a strong foundation for our futureFor 127 years, De La Salle has been built by conducting capital campaigns, legacy gifts, establishing endowed scholarships and sup-porting the Annual Fund. These philan-thropic investments to the Institute come in all shapes and sizes. This effort has ensured the strength of the institution and created the necessary funds to sustain and help De La Salle thrive.

As De La Salle moves forward with its plans to merge our two campuses and become a co-educational high school in the fall of 2017, our goal is to make our school the best learn-ing environment possible for our Meteors.

This summer, renovations are underway to upgrade nine classrooms at a cost of $25,000 per classroom, add three women’s restrooms

and locker rooms. We must create and main-tain a safe climate, a caring atmosphere, and an environment that is conducive to excellent teaching and learning based on Christian val-ues. Our desire is to strengthen our academic atmosphere and enhance the curriculum.

You can help by taking an influential role in our Lasallian mission of educating the hearts and minds of all our students and make a lasting impact in our world. This is a great vision and De La Salle deserves your gener-ous support and prayers.

The graphs below provide you with informa-tion about what it cost to operate De La Salle and how much revenue was received in 2015. It is important to note that you continue to play a critical role in the success of our Meteors.

deVeloPMenT

28 development

1967 Dona Krug (Boryszewski) is a retired support service manager in the banking in-dustry. She resides in Chicago and her email address is dona.krug@sbcglobal.net.

Patricia Rotunno (Grybas) is a math teacher and resides in Riverside, IL. Her email address is p.rotunno@comcast.net.

1968 Barbara Ann Hoffman (Lamoureaux) is a school teacher with the Blount County schools and resides in Greenback, Tennessee with her husband, Ken, a 1966 De La Salle graduate. They have three children and three grandchildren. Hoffman is a graduate of the University of Tennessee. Her email address is khoff23289@aol.com.

1969 Dr. Darlene Osowiec resides in St. Charles, IL and is a licensed clinical psychologist in independent practice. She is also an author, professional coach, educator and public speaker. Her email address is maximumpotential@comcast.net.

Mary Ellen Terlikowski (Bricker) is a massage therapist and resides in Richardson, TX. Her email address is positivetouchmet@gmail.com.

1974 Anna Dowd is a nurse practitioner and lives in River Forest, IL. Her email address is anna.marie.dowd@gmail.com.

1979 Mary Ann Bernal Potter is retired and lives in Sugar Grove, IL. Her email address is tiyalaka@yahoo.com.

1990 Michele O’Connor (Krawczyk) works in the title insurance field as a claims special-ist. She earned her degree from Saint Xavier University and resides in Carol Stream, IL with her husband, Mike, and their daugh-ter, Erin. Her email address is moconnor@ameritech.net.

1993 Berenice Maldonado (Juarez) is a teacher and resides in Chicago. Her email address is bmaldonado@cps.edu.

lourdian alumnae notes

August 9-10, 2016 Back to School Sales Frosh-Soph 11 am – 2 pm; Jr-Sr 2 pm – 4 pm

August 16, 2016 Freshman First Day

August 17, 2016 Freshman Second Day

August 18, 2016 All Students in Session

August 26, 2016 Mass of the Holy Spirit

August 31, 2016 Back to School Night

September 5, 2016 Labor Day No Classes

September 30, 2016 Student Fundraising Drive Begins

October 3, 2016 Formal Dress Code Begins

October 10, 2016 De La Salle Spirit Week

October 15, 2016 Homecoming Dance

October 17, 2016 Observed Columbus Day No Classes

October 23, 2016 Junior Leadership & Ring Mass

October 26, 2016 Parent-Teacher Night

October 28, 2016 Staff Development Day No Classes

important dates for the 2016-17 school Year

Keeping in Touch with Lourdian Alumnae

development 29

September 8, 2016 Parent Association: Parent Meet and GreetCome and meet your fellow parents, administration, faculty and staff for the first meeting of the school year. Find out what’s new around campus and what the plans are for the school year. We welcome back Detective Alan Krok ‘75, an alumnus of De La Salle Institute, who retired from the Chicago Police Department in 2012 after 27 years. He spent 14 years as a Detective in the Youth Division spe-cializing in crimes against children with nine of those years further spe-cializing in the exploitation of chil-dren. Det. Krok investigated cases involving children and the Internet i.e., Facebook and social media, In-ternet predators and cyberbullying.

September 22, 2016 Parent Association Faculty and Staff Appreciation DayHelp us thank the faculty and staff for all of their hard work and dedi-cation to the students of De La Salle Institute. Parents are asked to bring in snacks, pastries, bagels and fruit to show their appreciation.

October 21 or 22, 2016 Wine and Spirits Tasting EventJoin members of the parent commu-nity for the Wine and Spirits Tasting event featuring a wine tasting with complimentary food pairings, bour-bon, scotch and beer samplings, hors d’oeuvres and a silent auction. Tick-ets are $25 for the event or $30 with a bourbon or wine glass.

November 17, 2016 Parent Association College Readiness MeetingThe Parent Association has partnered with Student Services to present a meeting on getting your student and family ready for college. A speaker will address parents regarding financial aid after high school, how to prepare your

child for college, how many colleges you should visit or apply to and what should you as a family be looking for in a prospective college or university.

February 19, 2017 3rd Annual De La Salle Family DanceStudents are encouraged to attend this dance with a special adult fig-ure in their lives. The De La Salle Family Dance on Sunday, February 19th includes: a buffet dinner with dessert, dancing, and door prizes to celebrate this special night. Adults are welcome to attend with a current student family member or guardian. Please share the event with your De La Salle family. Tickets are $30 each or $60 per couple.

March 30, 2017 Parent Association School Consolidation PlanA staff member will lead discussions and provide an overview of the school consolidation process.

May 11, 2017 Parent Association End of the Year Meeting and Pizza PartyWe show our appreciation for the hardworking parents and guard-ians at De La Salle. Please join us for pizza and soda to wrap up the year.

We also would like to say thank you to our 2015-2016 Parent Association leadership that donated their time, talent

and treasure to support De La Salle Institute.

Their dedication to De La Salle Institute is truly inspiring.

For more information about De La Salle’s Parent Association,

please contact Development Coordinator Chris Ahearn at

(312) 842-7355 ext. 154 or ahearnc@dls.org.

Parent association calendar dates for 2016-2017 Promote Your business

advertise in d Magazine!Are you looking to promote your business? Space is now available for advertisement in the D Magazine at these affordable rates. Your business can gain exposure to thousands of De La Salle alumni, parents and friends.

Winter issue (circulation to ~ 5,000)

Business Card $75.00

¼ - Page Ad $150.00

½ - Page Ad $250.00

Full Page Ad $500.00

spring/summer issue (circulation to ~ 6,500)

Business Card $75.00

¼ - Page Ad $150.00

½ - Page Ad $250.00

Full Page Ad $500.00

fall issue (circulation to ~ 17,000)

Business Card $150.00

¼ - Page Ad $250.00

½ - Page Ad $500.00

Full Page Ad $750.00

all Three issues! advertise in all three magazines and get one ad free!

Business Card $225.00

¼ - Page Ad $400.00

½ - Page Ad $750.00

Full Page Ad $1,250.00

For more information, please contact Iris Gist Cochran, Director of Development,

at 312.842.7355 ext. 152 or email at cochrani@dls.org.

deVeloPMenT

office for Advancement3434 S. Michigan Ave.Chicago, Illinois 60616-3898 312.842.7355

Non-Profit Org.U.S. Postage

PaIDPermit No. 3092

Chicago, IL

Address Service Requested

Parents: If this is addressed to your son or daughter and he or she no longer resides there, please contact De La Salle’s Office for Advancement by phone or with the enclosed envelope so that we may update our records.

Facebook: www.facebook.com/delasalleinstitute

Twitter (School): www.twitter.com/DLSMeteors

Twitter (Athletics): www.twitter.com/MeteorAthletics

Instagram: @delasalleinstitute

YouTube: www.youtube.com/delasalleinstitute

Have You Considered a Planned Gift to De La Salle?

To volunteer for either of these events, please contact La Toya Keys at 312.842.7355 ext. 146 or keysl@dls.org.

October 7, 2016

Beverly Country Club 8700 S. Western Avenue, Chicago, IL 60620

5:30 pm ~ Reception 7:00 pm ~ Dinner

To purchase tickets or for more information, contact La Toya Keys, Special Events Manager,

312-842-7355 ext. 146 or keysl@dls.org

121st ANNUAL ALUMNI BANQUET

Blue-Gold Meteor Golf Invitational

Grab Your Clubs and Join Us!September 10, 2016 at 1:00 pm

Old Oak Country Club 14200 S. Parker Road

Homer Glen, IL 60491

For more information about this event, contact La Toya Keys, Special Events Manager,

312-842-7355 ext. 146 or keysl@dls.org.