February 2007 Issue
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DEDE LALA SALLESALLE INSTITUTEINSTITUTE Ccag Students and Scholarships February 2007 President’s Message De La Salle Magazine February 2oo7 De La Salle Magazine is e La Salle Institute is again pleased to present you with published quarterly by this edition of the school’s De La Salle Magazine. We De La Salle Institute’s Offi ce hope you enjoy reading about the latest news from the for Advancement. The purpose D of the publication is to unite school and about our student and alumni community. the Christian Brothers, alumni, students, parents, faculty, staff For those of you in the Chicago area, just before Christmas, an and friends together in De La article appeared in the Chicago Sun-Times writt en by columnist Salle’s mission of excellence in Mary Mitchell. Ms. Mitchell is an award-winning journalist who education. regularly challenges her readers on social and political issues of Send us your thoughts the day. The column related the story of a mother on a quest to Lett ers to the editor are fi nd the fi nancial resources to pay her son’s tuition at a private encouraged and appreciated. Lett ers must be signed and have high school. The article highlighted the diffi cult fi nancial position an address and/or telephone of the family and why it was essential to her son’s future to do number. Lett ers to the editor everything possible to keep him in a private school. That school may be published and edited for length and clarity. Please send was De La Salle. correspondence to: De La Salle Institute The good news is that the article prompted some generous individuals to come forward Attn: De La Salle Magazine to assist both the family and the school and insure that the young man could continue his 3455 S. Wabash Ave. education. De La Salle is very grateful to those alumni and friends who stepped forward to Chicago, IL 60616 help this young man and his family. Phone: (312) 842-7355 Fax: (312) 842-4142 The other part of this story is that this situation is far more typical than you might think. E-Mail: [email protected] Unlike other private institutions, De La Salle has never been fi nancially exclusive or elitist. The Website: http://www.dls.org Christian Brothers’ Lasallian mission, from its earliest roots, was to provide access to education Mission Statement to students—regardless of their fi nancial capability. De La Salle Institute is an independent Catholic secondary While the school, because of generous alumni and friends, works hard to help as many school rooted in the tradition deserving students as possible, the reality is many families still fi nd it very diffi cult to aff ord of Christian education begun Catholic secondary education. Parents – even those with middle or upper incomes – fi nd the by St. John Baptist de La Salle. Founded in 1889, its mission has cost of $7,000 per year a challenge and for many others still, it presents a major sacrifi ce and been, and is, to foster a desire for struggle. The number one reason a student leaves De La Salle is not because of poor academic excellence in education. Young performance or failure to meet the disciplinary code. Rather, the number one reason is inability people from a variety of ethnic and economic backgrounds are to pay tuition. given the opportunity to fully develop their abilities so they De La Salle depends solely on tuition and contributions to meet the school’s annual budget. may be active, contributing Yes, there are many people who support De La Salle, but it is also a fact that only 14% of our members of our complex, graduates choose to make a fi nancial contribution/gift to the school annually, a participation changing society. rate that is below the national average for high schools. There are many alumni who indicate De La Salle Magazine their appreciation for the school and its mission, but there are also a signifi cant number of Photos by graduates who refuse to support the school. Root Studios For De La Salle to continue to exist, it will require the support of those who have benefi ted Marie Walsh White Michael K. Walsh themselves from a De La Salle education. Has it not always been the hallmark of the American Catholic culture to help those in need—especially if you yourself struggled on your way to Stories writt en by success? The school, for our part, must continue to inform and educate our alumni constituency Michael K. Walsh of the importance of this mission and their role to insure its vitality. We are grateful to Mary Layout and design by Mitchell for highlighting the real situation many parents face to keep their daughters and sons Jeff Marienthal in a quality school. Editor-in-chief Michael K. Walsh There is a diff erence between graduate and alumnus: the graduate is one who has completed his/her academic requirements to att ain a diploma; if you want to accept the mantle of being On Cover — De La Salle students, faculty and alumni an alumnus, however, it means actively supporting the school’s educational mission with your contributing in various ways time, your talent, and even your treasure. to bett er society. Sincerely, 2 February 2007 Faculty News Paul Granat’s Lourdes Hall Masterpiece nter through the main doors of the Lourdes EHall Campus and St. John Baptist de La Salle is there to greet you. OK, so maybe our school’s namesake isn’t physically waiting by the stairs. But thanks to the creative vision and talents of De La Salle art teacher Paul Granat ’92, there exists a wonderful tribute to the man for whom the Institute is named. Located on and next to the archway adjacent to the main office is Granat’s outstanding artwork. Painted on the pillars are the dates that De La Salle was founded (1889) and the Lourdes Hall Campus was opened (2002). On the archway, visitors will find the phrase “Live Jesus In Our Hearts… Forever” in attractive script summer,” Granat said. “Over the initial lettering. The De La Salle crest is sketch, I used oil and acrylic paint. I also prominently featured on both finished the figure of St. John Baptist de pillars, as is the school nickname, La Salle in October just before open house. “Meteors”. The primary color of “I still consider it a work in progress and have plans to add the Institute – royal blue – is featured in the piece. background detail in the future.” Finally, there is St. John Baptist de La Salle himself, clad in Granat, who attended the University of Illinois in Urbana- his black robe with his right arm raised and a red textbook Champaign, majored in fine arts with a concentration in his left hand. in painting. He has been teaching at De La Salle since “(De La Salle Lourdes Hall Principal) Mrs. (Diane) Brown August 2005. (Continued on page 4) and I were discussing some sort of beautification project for the Lourdes Hall Campus,” Granat said. “She recommended improving the appearance of the entry area outside the main office. “We further discussed a decorative mural in the hallway, and I suggested incorporating St. John Baptist de La Salle as part of the mural as a welcoming figure to all who entered. “The formal and structured design reflects the formality of education, yet the presence of St. John Baptist de La Salle reflects the personal.” Impressive though his artwork may be and considering how much time and forethought has been put into it, Granat still would like to add some final touches. “The planning started last spring and the sketching and painting started over the February 2007 Faculty News Anna Marassa Enshrined in DePaul’s Hall of Fame he sport of volleyball is something that holds a great Star Conference’s deal of meaning for Anna Marassa. As a result of her Coach of the Year in Tdedication and commitment to the sport, Marassa, 1990 and the Great De La Salle’s girls head volleyball coach and assistant Midwest Conference’s athletic director, has been inducted into the DePaul Coach of the Year in University Athletic Hall of Fame. 1991. Marassa, who led the Blue Demons Marassa was enshrined during a ceremony held at halftime to a program-best 32- of the DePaul-Louisville men’s basketball game at Allstate 7 record in 1991, was Arena on January 20, 2007. also chosen as the Marassa, who has guided the De La Salle girls volleyball American Volleyball program since its inception in 2002, enters DePaul’s Hall of Coaches Association’s Fame as both an athlete and a coach. Marassa, who earned Mideast Region Coach of the Year that season. letters as a member of DePaul’s volleyball team from 1982- In addition, Marassa coached DePaul to its first-ever 85, was a three-time All-North Star Conference honoree NCAA Tournament berth in 1993, the initial non-basketball as a setter and is ranked fifth in Blue Demons history in NCAA Tournament appearance in the school’s history. career assists with 1,673. Marassa guided De La Salle’s varsity girls volleyball team Marassa also ranks fourth in DePaul’s annals for service to a 26-8 record in 2006 and first place in the Girls Catholic aces in a season, recording 76 in the 1984 campaign. Athletic Conference White Tournament. Under Marassa’s Marassa was the Blue Demons’ co-MVP for three years and tutelage, the Meteors have won 20 or more matches in each served as team captain in each of the four seasons in which of the last four seasons.