OCTOBER 9 -1 0 , 2 0 24 • vol . 6 3 i ss u e 4 8
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Mustang alum to host Marine pinning ceremony at DGS On Thursday, October 10 at 10:55 a.m., First Lieutenant USMC Ramarro Lamar will be promoted to Captain USMC at Downers Grove South High School. Lamar graduated from high school in 2016 and chose to hold the pinning (promotion) ceremony at his alma mater. “I am so excited to get back to where everything started for me and celebrate this moment as I view this milestone as a collective achievement,” said Ramarro Lamar. Lamar also selected Sheldon Davis, a dean at DGS, and Sean Lovelace, a teacher and wrestling coach, to participate in the pinning and promotion ceremony. “This is a remarkable achievement for an incredible young man,” said Lovelace, who was Lamar’s wrestling coach. “It is such an honor to be able to share in Ramarro’s success and achievements. Ramarro has always left an indelible mark on anyone he has crossed paths with and we are so incredibly proud of all he has done and for his future.” “Ramarro was an excellent student leader during his time here at DGS and has always been a person to give back to his community,” said Davis. “He has set the standard for what a DGS alumnus should be. I’m extremely proud of all of his accomplishments and I know he will continue to be a dynamic leader in the United States Marine Corps.” Lamar was involved in wrestling, football, track and field, the African American Student Union as well as numerous leadership events
while in high school. He also was part of the student planning team that raised funds and established the school’s permanent Memorial Peace Garden, a tribute to the 70 young men who attended both DGS and Downers Grove North High School who lost their lives in the line of service to the United States.
After graduating from the University of Nebraska in Lincoln, where he served as a mascot/cheerleader, Lamar served in the elite 1st Marine Division in Pendleton, California. In 2023, Ramarro deployed with the Marine Rotational Force Darwin as the Deputy Director of Communication Strategy and Operations,
participating in a mission aimed at reinforcing U.S. presence in the Indo-Pacific region. During this deployment, he played an integral role at the U.S. Embassy in Australia, where he contributed to the U.S. Force Posture Initiative. “Our school community is thrilled to welcome Ramarro back
to South High,” said Arwen Lyp, principal. “He touched the lives of so many here, and we are honored to serve as the site for his significant achievement in the military.” In addition to the pinning ceremony at DGS, Lamar will speak to students who are interested in learning more about the military.