La Salle Academy’s April Recap
As we move from April to May, we also step from the 370th birthday of John Baptist de La Salle on 30 April to the observance of International Religious Brothers Day on 1 May. Both events have great resonance in the history of La Salle Academy. La Salle, the man, is the Patron Saint of Teachers, the Founder of the Brothers of the Christian Schools, and the individual for whom our school is named. As one of the Brothers in the group that traces itself back to that Founder, I am grateful and proud that my confreres have been associated with La Salle Academy since its foundation in 1848 when Brothers Stylien, Andronis, Albian, and Pastoris got off the boat from France and made their way to Canal Street to start teaching.
I imagine those four men would marvel at a concept like remote education and the existence of a La Salle Academy app for one’s phone. (First, they would ask, “What’s a phone?!”) I suspect they would be amazed that almost all graduates would continue their studies at a four-year university. I am confident they would be glad that a quality Catholic education is still being provided to immigrants and the sons of immigrants in Lower Manhattan.
Congratulations to Abiola L. ’22 who was selected as a Questbridge College Prep Scholar! Being a College Prep Scholar is a notable distinction that shows 45 colleges that the student is a competitive candidate for admission. Abiola was selected from a pool of over 15,000 high school juniors for this prestigious honor. We are so proud of you, Abiola!
We were fortunate to have Felipe Galindo (Feggo) virtually visit Ms. O’Mara’s Advanced Art class this week. Feggo is well known for his cartoons and comics. He taught the class the basics of cartooning by having them create a comic strip that told the story of their lives and then critiqued their work. Featured above is one of his cartoons that honors healthcare workers. Learn more about the renowned artist on his website.
The baseball season is back in full swing! With a win last night against Bishop Loughlin, the Cardinals are now 2-2. Although it was belated, our basketball team had the opportunity to play this year, too, in a CHSAA Spring Tournament held at Archbishop Stepinac. They currently have a record of 2-1 and the men take on Nazareth tonight, Friday, 30 April at 6:30 pm. Livestream the game here!
Our seniors have been accepted to 118 colleges and universities to date and 23 men have already made commitments as of press time! They will matriculate to Drexel University, St. John’s University and Villanova University, just to name a few. With National College Decision Day tomorrow, we will have an update on college commitments soon. Keep an eye on our website for more details.
This month we wrapped up our Virtual Alumni Reunions with the 25th and 50th Reunion Celebrations for the Classes of 1996 and 1971, respectively. Pictured here are some of the members of the Class of 1971 who joined the call. This group of alumni came in first place for overall attendance. As always, it is a pleasure to connect with so many La Salle men from across the globe!
On 15 April we announced that our Resilience Campaign doubled its goal. This prompted a generous alumnus to make a $10,000 gift to triple the goal! The campaign officially concluded with a total of $36,071 from 155 donors. These funds will bolster our resilience going forward. The generosity of our community continues to amaze me. Thank you.
Our VP for Advancement, Ismini Scouras, has chosen to continue her career at a new venue. With thanks for her service to La Salle, we wish her well. Our fundraising efforts continue, however, and we anticipate our 29th Annual Scholarship Benefit on Thursday, 24 June at 6:00 pm. We will gather in an outdoor setting with a limited capacity and observe all CDC protocols as we honor Michael Ambrosino ’62, Stephon Barnes ’97, and former faculty member, Stephen Kerrigan. The awards ceremony will be livestreamed and we look forward to welcoming attendees from around the world. Plan to join us!
Sincerely, with prayers and best wishes,
Brother Thomas P. Casey, FSC
President
