What a September for La Salle!
September was a busy month for La Salle Academy! We started the month by kicking off the 2017-18 academic year and welcoming 352 students to our halls and additional third floor of our building.
To celebrate this expansion of La Salle to the third floor of our school building, we held a ribbon cutting ceremony on Monday, September 18th. Members of the Board of Trustees and other special guests graced our halls, taking in the new improvements integrated at our 6th Street campus.
Chairman of the Board, Salvatore LaRocca ’82 (left), and La Salle Academy students
cut the ceremonial ribbon to celebrate the third floor expansion.
One of these special guests was Dr. Timothy McNiff, the Superintendent of Schools for the Archdiocese of New York.
“The decision makers in education that are closer to the school are the ones to make the best decisions,” McNiff said. “That’s why the governance structure here is not run out of my office. It is run by a board with incredible leadership coming out of administration.”
“Why is this school doing so well?” Dr. McNiff asked. “Why do I think of La Salle as a flagship for Catholic education in New York City? Because of the board, these ladies and gentlemen, and the local leadership here.”
He concluded, “I come to say congratulations to you and your board, and an incredible group of young men that we’re really proud of.”
Dr. Timothy McNiff speaks to students,
alumni and friends at the ribbon cutting ceremony.
Later that week, on Thursday, September 21st, we hosted our 23rd Annual Cardinal Classic Golf Outing at the Village Club of Sands Point. We honored alumni Robert J. Welsh from the class of 1955 and Martin J. Cottingham from the class of 1988 for their commitment to La Salle Academy over the years. We also posthumously paid tribute to James W. Prendergast for his passion and dedication to La Salle and the outing itself.
Nikko Olvera ’18 presents Robert J. Welsh ’55 and Martin J. Cottingham ’88 their 2017 Brother Bruno Cajetan Awards at the 23rd Annual Cardinal Classic Golf Outing Reception.
Last but certainly not least, we celebrated our recently elected Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Salvatore LaRocca ’82, President of Global Partnerships at the NBA, with a lovely reception at The Water Club in Manhattan on September 26th. Alumni from a range of years attended, along with a number of close friends of La Salle. “The momentum we have is extraordinary,” LaRocca said of the La Salle Academy community. “Being Chairman of the Board is an honor I place very high on my list; I hope I don’t disappoint.”
Dr. Catherine Guerriero with Vice Co-Chairmen and Chairman, respectively, of La Salle Academy’s Board of Trustees, left to right: Martin J. Cottingham ’88, Carl Gambino ’76 and Salvatore LaRocca ’82.
As you may know, this is only a mere snapshot of the goings-on at La Salle Academy this month. Thanks to alumni and friends like you, we’re able to accomplish these great things and we are thankful. Stay tuned for what’s next!