Issuu

SPRING 2020

St. John Baptist, pray for us! Live, Jesus, in our hearts, forever!

On the cover:

Alumni Kevin Southway and Nasir Rasheed are among the many Pilots working on the front lines at hospitals throughout the country, as we battle the COVID-19 pandemic. Kevin’s story, and others, are part of this issue, as well as how the DLS faculty and students have adjusted to distance learning.

In this issue:

Around De La Salle................................................................ 4 Distance Learning................................................................ 14 Making a Difference............................................................ 26 Academic News.................................................................... 29 Alumni News....................................................................... 35

Why are we printing some Collegiates but not every issue?

Like everything else in 2020, it’s been unpredictable whether you will see an issue of the Collegiate in your mailbox or your inbox. This, unfortunately, is due to the high price of printing and postage, and the fact that funds currently raised are all needed for students. Some issues are specifically funded by a generous donor; so we can print and mail copies to all our supporters. If you would like to see more issues printed, please call the Advancement Office at 586-778-3356 to discuss how you can help.

In Memoriam........................................................................ 40

IDENTIFICATION STATEMENT • THE COLLEGIATE • SPRING 2020 Statement of Frequency: Four Times Per Year Published by De La Salle Collegiate Advancement Office 14600 Common Road, Warren, MI 48088 Phone: 586-778-3356 Web: www.delasallehs.com Photos provided by Bill Roose and Kevin Fitzhenry Executive Administrator..........................................................................................................................Brother Joseph Jozwiak FSC ‘65 President Emeritus...........................................................................................................................Brother Robert Carnaghi FSC, SJ ‘48 Principal............................................................................................................................................................................ Nathan Maus ‘99 Vice President Marketing and Communications........................................................................................................................ Bill Roose Major Gift Officer....................................................................................................................................................................... Greg Esler Director of Alumni Relations............................................................................................................................................Dennis Koch ‘94 Director of Alumni Relations Emeritus.........................................................................................................John C. Monigold BFSC, ‘66 Director of St. Joe’s Alumni Activities............................................................................................ Brother Patrick McNally FSC, SJ ‘55 Director of Annual Fund......................................................................................................................................................Amy Seiferlein Managing Editor The Collegiate........................................................................................................................................... Vicki Granger Director of Digital Marketing......................................................................................................................................Kevin Fitzhenry ‘03 Director of Admissions................................................................................................................................................ Steve Laudicina ‘10 Executive Assistant to Advancement.................................................................................................................................Linda Fraschetti

De La Salle Collegiate Letter from the Editor While watching the Super Bowl in early February, we first saw the Jeep commercial, featuring Bill Murray and updated scenes from his classic 1993 movie “Groundhog Day.” Who would have known then that we would have our own groundhog days - minus waking up to Sonny and Cher singing “I Got You Babe.” We’re adjusting to Groundhog Day 2020. Over and over. Students were last at De La Salle Collegiate on March 12. Originally hoping for just a short two-week hiatus from their classrooms - which has turned into two months - teachers spent a few days in the building quickly planning lessons and learning technology to teach virtually via distance learning. Teachers are delivering content in ways they have never had to - including making homemade videos on an iPhone. This issue has stories on many of our faculty and how they have stepped up to ensure that a De La Salle Collegiate education is still our #1 priority. Many alumni in the “outside world’ are on the front lines, and we are featuring stories about them as well, and how they are helping to save lives during this unprecedented time. In this issue, we also feature stories about the academic achievements of our students, as well as how so many were “Making a Difference” before service activities had to be suspended. This pandemic also upended our ability to hold our major fundraisers, such as the CBA Fashion Show, the Christian Brothers Dinner, and the Alumni Association Golf Outing. These fundraisers, along with the raffle and the Lasallian Fund, and generous donations from the Christian Brothers Auxiliary and some local foundations, normally provide the tuition assistance that so many families need. And more families than ever will need some form of tuition assistance for their sons to attend, so we need your help. Please consider making a gift to our Bridge the Gap online fundraising event June 8 - 12. We recognize that not everyone is in a position to give at this time. Every gift, no matter the size, is greatly appreciated, and 100% of this fundraising effort will go directly to our students. For now, stay home, stay safe, and stay in touch with us. You alumni are the foundation of what De La Salle Collegiate has been since 1926: “Builders of Boys. Makers of Men.”

Around De La Salle De La Salle brings in executive administrator During this challenging transitional time, the De La Salle Collegiate’s Board of Trustees has decided to bring in an executive administrator to work with and provide additional support to our leadership team. Brother Joseph Jozwiak, FSC will be returning to the school in this new role for the foreseeable future.

School officials emphasized their commitment to remaining student-centered in decision-making, implementing academic best practices and working toward continuous improvement. De La Salle strives to pursue excellence in all that it does—in academics, athletics, and the arts.

Brusewitz also noted that in the coming weeks, the board will begin a national Brother Joe, an alumnus from search for a new president who is able the Class of 1965, has previously to begin in August 2020. He noted that served as a guidance counselor, while the search process will be differTheology teacher, vice principal, Brother Joseph Jozwiak FSC ‘65 ent due to the pandemic – using online dean, principal, and president at De surveys and other technology platforms La Salle. He is currently serving as – the board and search committee plan to gather compresident of the Christian Brothers Academy in Syracuse, munity feedback to help shape the direction of the school New York. going forward. “Brother Joe will enhance our already strong leadership team not only with his prior knowledge of De La Salle, but also with his international experiences and leadership work in New York,” Board Chair Jack Brusewitz said. “Together with our current team composed of the board, teachers and staff we will continue to focus on and encourage each student to develop our Lasallian values: faith, character, intellect and morality.”

With the uncertainty that comes with a pandemic, De La Salle officials offered special thanks to the community for their continued commitment to the school. “As academic work shifts in the short term to distance learning with teachers and staff increasing their communication via telephone and video,” Brusewitz said, “we have really appreciated the cooperation and support that has been shown by our parents and students.”

Presidential search committee named The De La Salle Collegiate Board of Trustees announced the members of the presidential search committee who will lead the process to identify the fifth president in school history. The Board also announced the hiring of Trion Solutions, a Troy-based human resources firm that will assist the search committee in identifying candidates. The search committee includes representatives from former faculty, alumni, and parents, along with five current

members of the Board of Trustees. “Individuals were selected to represent a cross-section of De La Salle’s various constituencies,” Board Chair Jack Brusewitz said. “Individually and collectively, they bring a broad and inclusive array of education, backgrounds, skills, abilities, personal and professional qualities, experiences, and frames of reference to our search process.” Committee, Continued on page 6

Around De La Salle De La Salle cancels marquee fundraisers Out of concerns regarding the coronavirus outbreak, the De La Salle Collegiate Alumni Association canceled upcoming fundraising and alumni events. De La Salle has been diligently monitoring all national, state, and local updates surrounding the global pandemic. In light of recent developments, this year’s Christian Brothers Dinner and the Christian Brother Classic were canceled. The 39th annual Christian Brothers Dinner, originally scheduled for April 30 at Penna’s of Sterling in Sterling Heights, Mich., was to celebrate honoree Gary Buslepp, who served the all-boys school over a 22-year career as a teacher, coach, and administrator. “We were excited to honor Gary Buslepp. He is a tremendous man and very deserving of this award,” said Matt Loria, dinner chairman, and a 1995 alumnus. “But we are concerned with keeping everyone safe. This is the first time in 39 years that the spring dinner did not take place, as we remain committed to doing our part to help protect our staff, attendees, and fellow Pilots.”

The Christian Brothers Classic was to be the second annual alumni golf outing held at the historic Detroit Golf Club, home of the PGA’s Rocket Mortgage Classic. It was scheduled for June 22. “This was a tough call to make because last year’s outing was a tremendous success,” said Doug McKay, committee chairman, and varsity golf coach. “The Christian Brother Classic at Detroit Golf Club is an incredibly important event for De La Salle and it’s one of our favorite ways to celebrate the school, its students, and alumni.” Current ticket holders and sponsors of these two great events have been contacted by a member of De La Salle’s Advancement Department to address donation or refund options. Additional questions can be directed to Alumni Relations Director Dennis Koch at 586-541-6221. In place of these in-person events, De La Salle will celebrate its community through a combo of locally hosted events, videos, and live-streamed content the week of June 8-12. In the meantime, thank you for your patience and understanding – and we look forward to seeing everyone in-person at our events in 2021.

Join us online for our Virtual Gala and Fundraiser event June 8-12 Follow the links at delasallehs.com

Around De La Salle Maybe God wanted us to take a timeout Greetings from the Brothers Residence! The kindness of so many parents and students sending emails or calls to ask how the Brothers are has been overwhelming? Do we need anything? How kind is that? No. The Brothers are fine and in chapel each day with the intentions of so many. After reading four sections of freshmen Theology journals - a common theme is the joy that the freshmen have seen in being able to spend quality family time during this difficult time in our lives.

Brother Ken Kalinowski FSC ‘84

Many have written about families playing cards and board games, or doing projects around the house, and having family meals without the interruption of work, sports practices, and always being on the run. One freshman wrote that “maybe God wanted us to take a timeout and realize that our families are the most important thing in our lives.” Prayers for all of us during this time! Live Jesus In Our Hearts! Forever! Brother Ken Kalinowski, FSC ‘84

Commitee, continued from page 4

Members of the De La Salle Collegiate presidential search committee are:

Other representatives

Board of Trustees representatives

Brother Robert Deary, De La Salle class of 1961, a former teacher

Jack Brusewitz, De La Salle class of 1977, board chair

Gary Buslepp, former teacher, coach, and administrator

Brother Richard Galvin, trustee, former De La Salle teacher

Steve Brillati, De La Salle class of 1993, parent of current student

Greg DeMars, trustee, past board chair, parent of a De La Salle alumnus

John Paul Hunt, parent of current student

Roma Heaney, trustee, parent of a De La Salle alumnus Mike Khoury, trustee

Jane Fisher, parent of two De La Salle graduates

Around De La Salle This year’s raffle surpasses 2020 goal The 46th annual De La Salle Collegiate raffle is officially complete and was a great success. De La Salle raised over $163,000 during the 2020 raffle season, surpassing the fundraising goal of $155,000. In mid-March, president emeritus, Brother Robert Carnaghi, drew the three winning tickets for $10,000, $5,000, and $2,500. De La Salle would like to thank everyone who participated in this year’s raffle. This fundraiser is critical to the well-being of the school and the tuition assistance program. The support of students, parents, alumni and the community is greatly appreciated and made the 2020 raffle a tremendous success. Brother Bob Carnaghi SJ ‘48 pulls Raffle winners from the bin, while Director of Alumni Relations Dennis Koch ‘94 assists.

Honoring Veterans

De La Salle Collegiate is creating a new Veterans’ Wall to honor all of its alumni who have served in the armed forces. All active and retired military alumni are asked to contact the De La Salle Alumni Office at 586-541-6221 or dkoch@delasallehs.com

Around De La Salle Alumnus on the COVID frontlines Kevin Southway is on the frontlines. A nurse anesthetist at Ascension Providence Hospital in Southfield, the De La Salle Collegiate alumnus has been in close contact with COVID-19 patients in the intensive care unit. “We were asked to volunteer, with compensation, to assist in the ICUs,” said Southway, who graduated in 1995. “Many of us have stepped up to the challenge. It’s a judgment-free zone, so I totally understand some not wanting to get more exposed to the virus.”

Kevin Southway ‘95

have to assume that anyone could be contaminated. The hospital has been providing the proper personal protective equipment, and we wear the N95 mask all day.”

Southway is part of a team intubating patients so that they can go on ventilators.

He says only employees who show symptoms get tested.

“On an eight-hour shift, we helped extubate two patients, yet intubated three more,” he said. “The wins and losses are like a rollercoaster. “Overall, the bravery and courage from the frontlines are immeasurable. Nurses, doctors, aides, housekeeping, dietary, and many others are adapting, working together, and stepping outside of their comfort zones caring for these patients suffering from COVID.”

“I still can’t comprehend that Michigan is the third-highest state with COVID,” Southway said. “But we were one of the first states to get the test with results in 15 minutes.” Nasir Rasheed ‘91

Typically, Southway is assigned to operating rooms and often works with fellow De La Salle alumnus Nasir Rasheed, who graduated in 1991. Rasheed is an anesthesiologist at Providence. The two had previously worked together at McLaren Hospital in Macomb County. Southway does his best to make sure he doesn’t bring the virus home to his wife, Alissa, and their three young children. Alissa is a nurse practitioner; normally she works contingency for urgent care, but is currently focusing on the kids, ages two, five and six. “We’re considered a COVID hospital,” he said. “Even though I’m not around patients 100 percent of the time, we

the basement.

Southway says that when he comes home, he leaves his clothes in the garage and showers with water from a hot bucket. Then he showers again in the bathroom, and lives and sleeps in

“The ultimate minimization would be a hotel room,” he said. “But we made a decision that I would be in the basement, and have limited interaction with Alissa and our kids. “My family is doing great, and we’re trying to keep them busy. No one has been sick. My oldest is in kindergarten, and his school has delivered work.” Southway trained as a nurse, and earned his nurse anesthetist degree in 2008, compares today’s healthcare workers with World War II veterans like his two grandfathers. “God willing, I will grow old and have grandkids,” he said. “I’ll be sure to share with them the public health World War III stories I have experienced with my professional peers in 2020. I am so proud of each and every one of them.”

Around De La Salle Virus hits home for veteran teachers

Laura Rigby

AnnMarie Michol

“I’m just glad it’s over.” That’s what Dr. Laura Rigby, a science teacher at De La Salle Collegiate, had to say about recovering from COVID-19. Now, back leading her science classes through distance learning after a nearly three-week battle with coronavirus, Rigby believes she contracted the virus from her husband who may have had a form of the virus in early March. “He came home and had a bit of a cough,” she said. “He didn’t really feel terrible, and never got really sick. But he did lose his sense of smell and taste and was super tired. He slept for two days.” While her husband got better, she spiked a fever, which is a common symptom of the global virus. “I had a 102 fever on March 27,” Rigby said. “Everything ached. I was too weak to do anything. I was short of breath if I got out of bed.” Rigby was tested and told results would take a week. “I knew I had it,” she said. “I lost my sense of taste and smell. I was sleeping so much. My husband said I was sleeping 20 hours a day.” Rigby used a pulse oximeter to measure her oxygen levels. “I had to stay really still so I wouldn’t have to go on oxygen,” she said. “Any movement affected my oxygen levels. … I had four or five rounds of thinking I was better, and then it would come back. I was the sickest I have ever been.” Finally, the day after Easter, Rigby felt good enough to get out of bed. She tried to work but was still exhausted. “I was so happy when I got the chance to come downstairs,” she said. Colleagues Jackie and Tom VanThomme, both science teachers, handled Rigby’s online classes: biology, honors biology, and anatomy and physiology. “When we first went to distance learning, we all worked in the science department to get all our assignments on Google Classroom right away,” Rigby said. “Everything was ready to go. I am so thankful that Jackie and Tom handled questions with all of my students so that there wasn’t any class time lost.” Rigby is back at the computer now, meeting with her students in their virtual classroom. “I feel good now, and hopefully it’s gone for good,” she said. “As soon as antibody testing is up and running, I want to get tested. It’s pretty scary. I could get sicker later. I am so glad I am better. A lot didn’t get better.” De La Salle English teacher Annmarie Michol experienced coronavirus in her home as Teachers, continued on next page

Around De La Salle

Teachers, continued from previous page

well. Her husband Joe was diagnosed with double pneumonia, hospitalized for 24 hours, and then sent home with oxygen, and stayed isolated in the family basement. A few days after returning home, Michol called EMS when Joe had difficulty breathing. “I had so much anxiety,” Michol said. “He was extremely sick. He didn’t have the strength to feed himself. His oxygen levels were low, and all of a sudden he had a 103 (temperature).” Michol followed the ambulance to Beaumont Hospital in Troy, but couldn’t go in. “Dropping him off was the worst feeling in my life,” she said. “I didn’t know when I would hear from him.” Joe was released a few days later and returned home to Michol and two daughters. A third daughter lives out of state. “It was very difficult for them to see their dad sick for so long,” she said. “Joe had to limit his steps. We used an office chair to roll him to the bathroom once he got up the

stairs. This was a very emotional time.” Michol was putting in long days. She was meeting with classes during the day and lesson planning and checking papers at night, while constantly heading to the basement to check on Joe’s oxygen levels and temperature. “I was doing what was necessary to keep my students going,” said Michol, who teaches freshman and sophomore English classes, as well as a few International Baccalaureate classes. “This is all new to them. I didn’t want them to suffer because of the personal things I was dealing with.” Joe is off of oxygen. A nurse checks in on him once a week, and Michol and her daughters regularly check their temperatures. “We’re quarantining ourselves,” she said. “We don’t want to harm anyone else.” Michol plans to hire a company to sanitize the house. “The main thing is for people to be safe, and to be smart,” she said. “We’ve never fought anything like this.”

Alumni doctors explain the ‘new normal’ During the COVID-19 pandemic, doctors are finding videoconferencing, known as “telemed,” is the best way to “see” their patients.

President at HAP (Health Alliance Plan), and affiliated with Henry Ford Hospital, the “new normal” could include more home care.

Dr. Matteo Valenti, ‘88, is the lead physician with Beaumont’s IT Department, working with the team to get the entire program up and running.

“The Hospital at home movement is not uncommon in Europe,” Watson said. “Some studies have been done in the United States. If someone is not sick enough to be admitted, we can take care of less complex cases at home.”

“In February, Beaumont doctors had 23 video visits, March was 7,000, and April we hit over 15,000,” Valenti said. “The old rules have been thrown out the window. We are trying to meet with patients who need their regular care. When we get back to ‘normal’, I think doctors will see how useful this tool is.” For Dr. Peter Watson, ‘90, a care management Vice

Watson, who kept working for Henry Ford Health Systems one weekend a month as a hospitalist, has stepped that up to every Saturday, relieving doctors who need time off. “That work is really important to me because I can be informed on how we can build benefits on the insurance side,” Watson said.

Around De La Salle Alum and family cautious in ‘new normal’ The Manczyk family has always had dinner together, even if dinner is late in the evening after long 12-hour shifts. For Mike and Jackie, and their two children, Megan and Eric, dinner together during the coronavirus pandemic is even more important. “We need each other more than ever,” Jackie said. Mike, Jackie, and Megan are all nurses on the front lines at local hospitals, while Eric, a De La Salle Collegiate alumnus from 2018, is working as a pharmacy tech at the Shelby Township Meijer’s. He is also studying neuroscience and psychology at Wayne State University.

Megan, with experience in the hospital’s surgical trauma unit, has also been in the COVID ICU at Detroit’s Receiving Hospital. “Since we’re all dealing with medical issues, it’s nice to bounce things off of each other at dinner,” Mike says. “We can get things off our chest, and put things into perspective. This has been a good bonding time. It’s important to share our day.” The dinner time together has been particularly important for Mike and Megan who are keeping vigils at patients’ bedsides, as family visitors have been prohibited during the pandemic.

When they arrive home, all shower immediately, taking precautions, conscious that the danger of infection for each of them is very real. Mike, Megan, and Eric call Jackie “The Enforcer” and laugh.

The Manczyk Family

“We shower, get changed, and are careful not to bring the virus into the house,” says Mike, who works at Henry Ford Macomb in Clinton Township. “I’m usually in the ICU, and now we’ve been almost exclusively dealing with COVID patients.” Jackie, normally assigned to assist in open-heart surgeries at St. John Hospital in Detroit, has also been with COVID patients as elective surgeries have been restricted. “All of us are in direct contact with patients who have this virus. So far, by the grace of God, all of us are COVID free.”

“In normal times, their families would be there,” said Megan, a 2014 graduate of Regina High School in Warren. “Or we’d be facilitating a call with someone out of state. Now we’re the surrogate family members. And we’re holding hands as someone is dying.”

As patients at the hospitals come off ventilators or are discharged, the public address system plays a song. At Receiving, it’s the Motown classic, “I’ll be there.” At St. John Hospital, Motown’s “Ain’t no mountain high enough.” And Journey’s “Don’t stop believing” is on the speakers at Henry Ford Macomb. “When you walk outside every day after work, it puts things in perspective,” Jackie said. “I’m grateful to be on the other side of the glass.”

Around De La Salle Robotics helps alumnus with 3D project For De La Salle Collegiate alumnus Phil Zimny his 3D printer was a way to assist his alma mater’s robotics team. But during these unprecedented times, he is using his printer to help frontline healthcare workers in their fight against COVID-19. A self-employed computer programmer, Zimny consulted with lifelong friend and De La Salle science teacher Rob Black, on his idea to make face shields and donate them to metro Detroit hospitals. Black also serves as a moderator for the AutoPilots, the school’s successful robotics team. “Hospitals have had a huge shortage of personal protective equipment,” Zimny said. “Materials are in short supply, and people around the world are trying to solve the problem, such as using the acetate sheets teachers use to use on overhead projectors. The acetate is thinner, but with some modifications, it can work.” Zimny, who graduated from De La Salle in 2002, is making full-face shields for doctors and nurses. Working alone in his home, he made a template for the clear shields, and then physically bends each shield to fit a plastic headband. Elastic purchased from a craft store is then used to complete the shields. Zimny estimates each completed shield costs about $2.50. “I’m really just donating my time,” Zimny said. “It’s not a lot of money.” So far, completed shields have been donated to area hospitals, including Children’s Hospital of Michigan, in Detroit and Troy. While social distancing and the governor’s stay-home order prohibits AutoPilots team members from participating in the physical process, they did manage to play a small – yet significant role – in helping manufacture the shields. With the surplus budget left from this year’s suspended robotics season, Black asked school Principal Nate Maus if the funds could be used to purchase materials to build the face shields.

“The Robotics team leaders had a great idea to create face shields and Full-face shields all ready to help donate to our frontline medical workers. frontline medical personnel,” Maus said. “It was a great way to use the resources they had to help those who needed it most. They are truly a reflection of the Lasallian character we try to instill in our students every day.” A robotics team mentor, Zimny enjoyed work with De La Salle students and his 3D printer. “I got involved with the robotics team because it was a way to pay back to the kids,” he said. “I saw how useful 3D renderings were. It’s been a tool for me to learn a skill I don’t have.” With De La Salle’s donation, Zimny purchased specialized filament and clear plastic and is printing out the headband portion on his printer. He has produced 70 headbands used on the shields. “It took a little time to get the right speed and temperature,” he said. “You don’t want the finished product to look like a spaghetti monster.” Zimny’s said his love for computer programming began in high school with classes taught by teachers Richard Dobryzinski and Tony DeSantis. Learning basic programming in DeSantis’ class and general-purpose programming from Dobryzinski led him to college at Loyola of Chicago. “I didn’t appreciate how good those courses were until I got into college,” Zimny said. The De La Salle Dads Club donated many of the tools that AutoPilots members use to build out the robots that are used in local and state competitions. But Black, who has now ordered his own 3D printer, said the school could use more assistance from alumni for things like 3D printers, metal, and wiring

Around De La Salle A Letter of Gratitude

Distance Learning Figuring out distance learning When schools across the country went to distance learning last month, veteran math teacher Joe Novak was ready to help his students work through formulas with visual diagrams – the same way he does in a classroom at De La Salle Collegiate. But instead of the usual whiteboard, Novak created an oldschool blackboard to use during his online classes.

In addition to the chalkboard, Novak and other De La Salle teachers are working hard to keep track of attendance, by reviewing each student’s daily exit ticket and checking homework. “It’s a little tough sitting in front of a computer all day, and not moving around,” Novak said. “It’s tough for the kids, too. You can see their heads starting to droop in the afternoon.”

“When this all happened, my wife Stacie and I were actually thinking we would paint one of the basement walls with chalkboard paint for our two boys,” Novak said. “Then I thought, if I paint the door to the furnace room, I can use that to duplicate the classroom experience of seeing problems worked out.”

During the school day, as he works in the basement, Novak is available during each class for students to drop into his classroom virtually.

The chalkboard is in the background as Novak meets during the day with his various classes from advanced algebra to Advanced Placement calculus. The chalkboard is part of regular videos Novak prepares each night for classes the next day.

Novak is particularly working with his AP students to make sure they are prepared for AP tests.

“I can’t imagine how difficult this is for the seniors,” he said. “I have about 10 seniors who come to the meeting every time, and look forward to this.”

“The test has been shortened to 45 minutes,” he said. “There is no multiple choice. This will be all free-response questions.” While Novak teaches from the basement, his wife is homeschooling their kindergartener Brady, and entertaining threeyear old Joey. Occasionally, the boys head downstairs to see their dad. “It’s kind of good that my students see my family,” he said. “And it gives Stacie a break for a few minutes. She’s working from home, too, although her hours have been cut back.” As math department chair, Novak also video conferences with colleagues once a week. “We regularly talk so we’re on the same page, going over what’s working and what’s not,” he said. “In school, we regularly talked with each other, so communication among us is not a big deal. Originally we thought this wouldn’t be too bad, but it is a lot of work.” Novak said that not all students are self-motivated, but a good number are looking ahead, trying to be prepared for 2020-21.

Joe Novak ‘03

“Even the smartest kids don’t prefer this,” he said. “But they appreciate what we’re doing.”

Distance Learning Faith leads to foster care, adoption These are challenging times, especially for educators trying to teach classes from home.

Soon afterward, the Smiths pursued permanent adoption possibilities for Tyler. In mid-January, the family began meeting with the boy, who had been with a foster mother. Their time together increased over the next two months, including overnight stays, until the adoption agency determined that the Smiths and Tyler would be a good fit.

But the opportunity to teach from home has been welcomed by Traci Smith, an English teacher at De La Salle Collegiate. The veteran educator and her husband are spending quality time with their eight-yearold daughter, Savannah, and the newest member of their family. Tyler is a two-year-old boy in foster care since birth. He moved in with the Smiths in March.

Traci Smith

“We are thrilled,” Smith said. “We have been so blessed to have loving, God-fearing parents to rear and encourage us that we wanted to do the same for other children.” Last year, the Smiths fostered three siblings, including a child who came to them when he was three weeks old. Over several months, two of the three returned to their birth mother, while the youngest stayed with the Smiths until last January.

“It’s been a smooth transition,” Smith said. “Tyler had already started calling us mommy and daddy during the weeks before he moved in with us. My husband Keith is his first male caregiver. My husband is the best man I know, and I wanted a child who would grow up to be like my husband.”

Smith said the adoption process should be complete in December. “We’ve been able to bond as a family for weeks now,” she said. “We are together all day long; we wouldn’t have been able to do that during the school year. Smith, continued on next page

Campbell puts miles between distance learning For De La Salle Collegiate school psychologist Andrew Campbell, distance learning is truly distant.

schedule is oftentimes difficult with three toddlers who don’t always nap at the same time.

Because of the coronavirus pandemic, Campbell and his family, including three children under the age of four, decided to head to Campbell’s North Carolina hometown of Hickory, located between Charlotte and Asheville.

“It’s really challenging,” he said. “I have three toddlers who understandably can’t stay on task for very long. I try to do things on the computer when they are asleep, but it’s hard to get into a routine to commit a gap of time to be on the computer.”

Campbell notes that the coronavirus pandemic hasn’t been prevalent in North Carolina until recently. The Campbells are staying with his parents for now, in an effort to provide their children with family support and outdoor playing time, though trying to maintain a normal

Campbell says that he has reached out to De La Salle students, along with the other counselors, making information about community resources available. He is also reaching Campbell, continued on next page

Distance Learning Smith, continued from previous page

Campbell, continued from previous page

“We do this because we want to give a family to a child who needs one. God has been looking out for us even in tough times to have the time that we need with children. God has placed these children in our care. We are growing our family permanently.”

out to students he has met with individually during the year.

Smith said that once school returns, they will slowly transition Tyler to daycare.

Though often, that means talking with students while outside watching his own kids.

“We have been praying for another child for seven years,” she said. “We hosted an international student at De La Salle, a boy from China, from the middle of his freshman year to his graduation in 2018. Then we had the three children who are still in touch with us.” While Smith relishes the time at home, she is also cognizant of the COVID-19 virus, and her family’s location in Detroit’s 48235, one of the nation’s hardest-hit zip codes by the pandemic. “It is scary living in the epicenter of Detroit,” Smith said. Smith says she finds herself waking up in the middle of the night. “I read a book to calm myself down. And pray,” she said. “Thankfully, my family and close friends are healthy. “Tyler is super energetic. But he sleeps through the night.” As for the adjustment to distance learning, Smith, who has been at De La Salle since 2013, the transition hasn’t been too tough. “We planned in advance,” said Smith, who has degrees from the University of Michigan and Harvard University. “Most of us have taught our curriculum for a while, so we know what is necessary.” While most of her English students are doing well, Smith misses the daily interaction with them. “I could look over their shoulders,” she said. “Now I’m reading journal entries, and getting a sense of how they’re doing. I respond to each one.” As many families have found out during the pandemic, multiple family members trying to get on the internet at the same time can present problems. While Smith meets online with her classes, her husband – a Detroit Public Schools teacher – is also online teaching math and science to his fourth graders. Their daughter, a second-grader, also has school work online. “We try to balance our time,” Smith said, “so one of us is always available to supervise the children, and homeschool our daughter.”

“I’m doing it piecemeal with my phone, instead of a block of time,” he said.

Campbell has set up Google Classroom for the two groups he normally meets with on Tuesdays and Thursdays. One group is for students who struggle with organizing and staying on task. Campbell reviews their work, and works with students to create a digital day planner. The other group is for students who are less social; Campbell is reaching out to them to share thoughts, again through Google Classroom. “Much of what I do is supportive, and reaching students via technology is challenging,” Campbell said. “But it’s what we have to work with for now, and I’m committed to making this work.” While a member of the counseling department and the school psychologist, he also works with the International Baccalaureate Program, organizing the groups annual learning and service trips to Montana and New Orleans, as well as coordinating local service projects in the Detroit area. Campbell, who earned his bachelor’s in psychology and biology at Clemson University, headed to Michigan a few years ago. He met his wife shortly after moving to Michigan He earned his psychology specialist degree at the University of Detroit Mercy, and joined the De La Salle staff in October 2018, shortly after completing his degree.

Andrew Campbell

Distance Learning Vidican is no stranger to adaptation With the school building closed and teaching moved from the classroom to virtual reality, De La Salle Collegiate teachers and students are learning to use technologies in a whole new way. Foreign language teacher Adriana Vidican is no stranger to adaptation – or wearing a mask, which is the new normal during this coronavirus pandemic sweeping the world. Trained as a teacher in Romania, she and her husband John fled to the United States in 1992, seeking political asylum. “We were living in fear,” Vidican said. “You didn’t know if your school colleagues were informants to the dictatorship’s secret service. I had to be careful when talking to students because they were prodded at home to tell what they heard from teachers. You had to wear a ‘mask’ in public to hide what you really felt about the oppressive regime. The only wish you had was to survive and to protect your family. You could not trust anyone, not even your friends. There were horrible feelings of mistrust and fear.” She said the decision to flee came down to life or death. “We believed our lives were in danger,” Vidican said. When the couple escaped, their daughters, then ages 13 and 6, stayed behind with Vidican’s parents. “Only my father knew we were leaving,” she said. They kept in touch with letters in those pre-tech nology days. John Vidican, an engineer, found employment right away. But for Adriana, the job market was much harder. While working on certification for teaching, she worked service jobs in restaurants, on a factory assembly line, and did data entry at a business. In 1997, the family was reunited in America. The Vidicans had not seen their children for five years.

Each summer Vidican enjoys returning to Europe to spend time with her mom, who still lives in Romania’s Transylvanian region. Vidican became a long-term substitute in Warren public schools in the late 1990s and joined De La Salle’s staff in 2001.

Adriana Vidican

“I love teaching,” Vidican said. “When I started in 2001, I didn’t think I’d stay more than a year. I wasn’t sure if I could connect. But I am in love with the school.” Now, distance learning has Vidican working with two computers each school day. She uses one for messages from students, and the other for lesson plans, classwork, and homework. “In class, I gave directions verbally, and checked homework informally,” she said. “Now I can highlight, make suggestions, and make all kinds of notes.” Since speaking is integral to foreign language teaching, she is also listening to student recordings, as well as checking homework. Vidican said that the textbook does have an online program with videos. “I am doing more than I would in class,” she said, “but the videos help students hear the correct pronunciation.” She is also adding videos of herself to the teaching menu. “I tried it with a colleague, and now I have more confidence,” she said. “Gradually, I’m getting there. It is a lot of work to prepare.” During the pandemic, John Vidican is also working from home. She worries about their daughters, both in the healthcare industry. One is a dentist, and the other a pharmacist. “She was working at a pharmacy, and they had no masks,” Vidican said. “It is scary.”

Distance Learning Couples are up for the challenge While De La Salle Collegiate teachers have transitioned from in-person classrooms to distance-learning environments, the Slussers and VanThommes are adjusting to other COVID-19 pandemic challenges.

The VanThommes take turns on the computer, trading off throughout the day with most of their class planning taking place late in the evening and into the early morning hours when the girls are sleeping.

The Slussers and VanThommes, who teach theology and science, respectively, have experienced their own set of issues while adjusting to online learning, at the all-boys’ Lasallian Catholic high school.

The transition has been relatively smooth, Jackie said, with one exception: when she ran out of loose-leaf paper. She’s now writing math notes on large stickers to display to students during video calls.

Dave and Shelley Slusser had their daily routines upended when a pipe burst in their kitchen in mid-March. Water caused significant damage to the floor as well as the laundry room in the basement. The kitchen floor has been removed. But the Slussers, along with their two children, are washing dishes in the bathroom.

“Sometimes the kids get freaked out about the math,” Jackie said, out her students. But for the most part, distance learning has been seamless, continued on next page

“It’s been a challenge,” Dave said. For the time being, the Slussers are sharing their online classroom space with kitchen appliances in the dining room. The damage is covered under homeowners’ insurance, which is also providing a laundry service that comes once each week. Luckily, no such catastrophes for Jackie and Tom VanThomme. They’re just happy to find enough time in the day to get through their classes and lesson plans while trying to entertain daughters, Sarah, 6, and Madison, 2. Shelley and Dave Slusser teaching at home

Distance Learning

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though the VanThommes miss seeing their students in the classrooms and hallways.

head. We don’t need to remind him or pressure him. He loves De La Salle.”

“I miss greeting the kids as they walk into school,” Tom said. “I miss those interactions, seeing what kind of day they are having. It’s difficult to understand emotion and feeling in emails.”

Jackie VanThomme chairs the Science Department and is now conducting regular video conferences online with her colleagues. She’s also an International Baccalaureate teacher and involved in scheduling those online meets at least three times a week.

Jackie added, “I miss (the students) asking questions that eventually get to another aspect of science. Right now it is more structured. I like to see them reach these conclusions without leading them there.” Jackie said she particularly missed hosting her annual March Mammal Madness, a virtual battle between organisms in a tournament-like bracket. “We never got to continue,” she said. “We have 200 kids between the two of us, and we are trying to think of a way to incorporate it.” The Slussers said they also miss their students. “I’m sad. I teach a lot of seniors, and I won’t have a chance to say goodbye,” said Dave, a De La Salle alumnus, who graduated in 1993. “This has been really hard, and I can’t imagine how tough it must be for them.” Shelly added, “sometimes it’s difficult to get a good picture (of the students) on Google Meets. I use Snapchat a lot. I get to see the students. They are more relaxed with the one on one.” Connectivity presents another set of potential problems for families like the Slussers, who are oftentimes on the Internet. They are learning firsthand how demands on bandwidth can cause issues for two working teachers and their school-aged children. Son Michael, a freshman at De La Salle, and daughter Angelina, a sixth-grader at Our Lady Star of the Sea in Grosse Pointe Woods, are online throughout the day, too. “Michael is usually up early, and gets his work done by 10 a.m.,” Shelley said. “He doesn’t like it hanging over his

The VanThommes note that teaching biology and chemistry presents unique challenges for teachers trying to cover a curriculum virtually. But both are also learning different ways of teaching and may incorporate more of the flipped-classroom concept when schools return to inperson instruction. Like other IB teachers, Jackie is working with her IB seniors on their cumulative assessments, essentially a project. “All IB tests have been canceled for the 2020 seniors,” she said, “so the assessments are really important.” The change in routine has also allowed the VanThommes to spend valuable time with their girls. Sarah, the oldest, recently learned to ride a bicycle without training wheels and is adapting well to her online school work. “She enjoys learning on ABC Mouse which was opened to school districts for free,” Jackie said. “They earn tickets playing games, and can earn a virtual pet, just like at Chuckie Cheese.” The Slussers are trying to stick to a routine. Eating breakfast together in the morning, working online during more traditional school hours, and reaching out and answering emails until 8 p.m. Dave and Shelley work at the same table together all day, with the noise of construction tools a few feet away, and constant dust. “We remind each other to take attendance, to call students,” Shelly said, “but also to take a break.”

Distance Learning IB students face different online challenges During the COVID-19 pandemic, while all of De La Salle Collegiate’s classes are being taught online, juniors and seniors in the International Baccalaureate Program have a unique challenge. Eric Wynn is De La Salle’s director of the worldwide education program. He says that all of the IB tests, traditionally given in May, are canceled for this academic year. “What’s important is that students do really well on their course work,” Wynn said. “That is what will count for their certificate and IB diploma.” Wynn regularly video conferences with the entire IB team at least twice a week, and they agree on due dates. “We don’t want to overload the calendar, and burn out the kids,” he said. Wynn is excited about how the course work is going and is pleased that most students have completed the CAS portion of the curriculum (Creativity, Activity, and Service), the purview of school psychologist Andrew Campbell. “Just because there is social distancing, students can still engage in individual creativity and service,” said Wynn, who is in his first year at De La Salle. “Students are trying new things. One student is doing a video diary of his quarantine. They can engage in service by raising awareness, such as creating a FAQ (frequently asked questions) for something like National Autism Day and sharing with their class.” Wynn also sits in various virtual classrooms throughout the day and encourages teachers to be physically present. “It’s more interactive and personable,” he said. “Kids want to see their teacher’s face and hear their voice. It’s been a smooth transition. We’re lucky to have all this technology.” Recently, foreign language teachers Adriana Vidican and Katarzyna Griffith have begun oral assessments in their French and Spanish classes.

Eric Wynn

“This is nerve-wracking in normal times,” Wynn said. “Teachers work with students one-on-one. They begin with the student showing the teacher the room, and ensuring no dictionaries or posters are present, no phone opened to a translation app. The teachers literally hold a visual stimulus up to the screen. The student then has to describe the image in the target language, followed by a 15-minute conversation. It is challenging, but we’ve managed to transplant the environment.” Wynn notes that the two math teachers, Catherine Leix and Shaun Legato, are using school cameras to enhance their math teaching. “They can write on a piece of paper, under the camera,” he said, “which is connected to the computer and the video conference.” Most of the students had completed lab work in science classes before the mid-March shutdown, and are now working on self-directed labs. “They are tasked with coming up with an issue in chemisIB Students, continued on next page

Distance Learning Teacher offers student workouts IB Students, continued from previous page

try or biology,” Wynn said. “They have to attempt to solve using their own hypothesis. There is some amazing critical thinking at work.” Wynn also cites the book circles in the IB English classes of Annmarie Michol and Jenna Page. “They are having lively discussions about the assigned reading, at 8:30 in the morning,” he said. “I am really excited about that.” For the May assessments, essentially a long-term project, it’s just not viable to do traditional testing. “We have to find out what they know and how they know it, without a paper and pencil test,” Wynn said. “Teachers are coming up with creative ways to assess, such as having students present a video to explain a chemical reaction or biological process.” Another area of the IB curriculum is Art that traditionally students have an exhibition on risers, and make it look professional. “Now, students will have to stage an exhibition at home, and photograph the whole thing and send it to the art teacher,” Wynn said. With school coming to a close next month, Wynn is looking at ways to send off the senior class with a virtual celebration. “We want to recognize their hard work,” he said. “IB students have chosen a challenging road, and gone above and beyond this year.”

\Veteran physical education teacher Scott Grimmer hopes students will spend some time each day with his WOW – With Out Weights workout. When the spread of COVID-19 closed schools across the country, and De La Salle Collegiate went to distance learning, some parents approached Christopher Dean, assistant principal for academics, asking for something for the kids to do at home. Dean spoke with Grimmer, who quickly created the program. Grimmer put the 35-40 minute full-body workout together with the assumption that most students have no strength-training equipment available. The workout is explained on the De La Salle website’s Distance Learning page. “As is typical, Scott approached this initiative with enthusiasm and a can-do attitude to provide another layer to our distance-learning plans,” Dean said. “Scott, and many of our teachers, are just incredible examples of why De La Salle stands out as an innovative and creative learning environment while continuing to maintain and grow student engagement.” Grimmer says the workout includes a cardiovascular component, with no breaks between sets, depending on the individual, or some rest/pause when necessary. The workout includes a five-minute warmup that can be used on a treadmill or stationary bike, or a short jog. He also provided suggested repetitions for each of the 11 activities. “Anything to get your heart rate elevated and moving,” he said. “I tried this myself, and it took about eight minutes.” For a 30-40 minute workout, including warm-up and cool down, students can repeat the cycle of activities three times. Grimmer and his four health classes usually spent about 75 percent of their time in the weight room, and the rest in the classroom, using the online program Dynamic Health. “It’s not the same as resistance training with weights,” he said, “but it may be the best you can do right now to keep fit.”

Distance Learning NASA inspires art assignment Art teacher John Hicks regularly spends class time working with individual students, giving in-person critiques of works in progress, and inviting peer comments. That same approach continues during the current COVID-19 pandemic that now has students distance learning at De La Salle Collegiate. Hicks has been posting assignments and video tutorials, and is available to answer questions during the day for his students in computer graphics, studio art, portfolio art, video production, and International Baccalaureate art.

students don’t have their tools with them. “Art I students were about to start painting,” Hicks said. “They were all excited, and now it seems like they’re regressed. So we are back to pen and paper, and I’m teaching them new techniques.” For Computer Graphics students, without access to Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator on school computers, Hicks is creating assignments using Adobe Spark, a simple online program that can create a variety of graphics, webpages, and even videos.

Recently, he added an assignment requiring most of his students to design and create a personal protective equipment, using NASA’s in-situ resource utilization.

He is working with his IB students who are preparing art exhibits in their homes, and then sending photographs. During the pandemic, Hicks is “Mr. Mom” to his three-year-old daughter and two-year-old son. His wife Jessy runs her family’s grocery store in Sterling Heights. Pre-pandemic, Jessy would have taken the children to her parents’ home during the day.

“Think of the movie Apollo 13, when an oxygen tank explodes, and the crew has to figure out what to do, using what they have on hand,” Hicks said. The assignment included instructions to make an inventory of what could be used, such as plastic or glass, as well as fabric, and what items could be used to attach pieces, such as staples or tape. Then students had to create a sketch or drawing, and send in their photos. Hicks is also adjusting his classwork, recognizing that his Art 1 and computer graphics

For advanced art students, Hicks said, “It’s business as usual.”

“I’m really proud of her for working so hard, 10 to 12 hours a day, to keep people fed and happy,” Hicks said. “She really takes her work seriously, especially now as people try to shop small and avoid the big grocery stores.

Andrew Fergan tests his NASA design

“This has been tough for everyone. But I’ve gotten to know my neighbor better. Instead of a quick hello, I find myself having 20-minute conversations.”

Distance Learning Nielsen keeps busy through quarantine Junior Austin Nielsen played Senator Max Evergreen in the recent De La Salle Collegiate stage production of “Nice Work If You Can Get It.” Before the COVID-19 pandemic closed schools, he was ready to appear in Regina High School’s March production of “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee,” a musical comedy. He was to play Leaf Coneybear, a boy home-schooled by hippie parents. “I practice my lines when I have a chance,” Nielsen said in a Zoom call last week. “Leaf is a young kid who really doesn’t belong at the spelling bee and only got there because the winners of the previous spelling bee couldn’t make it. He has severe (attention deficit disorder) and is a really fun and goofy character whose hobby is making his own clothes.” Academically, Nielsen is enrolled in De La Salle’s prestigious International Baccalaureate classes, and praises

his teachers who, as he says, “are in sync and know who is doing what and when.” He is used to submitting homework during class, but now uploads assignments to his folder in Google Classroom. Currently, Nielsen is taking IB courses in literature, biology, the theory of knowledge, Spanish, history, business, and math. His math teacher, Catherine Leix, provides video explanations of complex problems. Nielsen does the homework in a notebook, and then scans the work and converts the documents before submitting it. Nielsen explained that his teachers have assigned times for Google Meets, a video conferencing application, and thus far, no two classes are meeting concurrently. “There has definitely been a distance-learning curve,” he said. “But, if we are confused, teachers are right there in Google Classroom and can add a comment.” Nielsen and his brother Nicholas, a freshman, have developed a routine of waking by 10 a.m., and working until 3-4 p.m. Both boys attended St. Germaine Grade School in Saint Clair Shores. “I have projects to work on for IB, and I go back to that task after dinner,” Nielsen said. He is working on a Spanish video, as well as a math project video. “I think the faculty, staff, and students are doing an amazing job during this extremely odd experience,” Nielsen said. “I feel this has made everyone figure out that things do happen, and we have to be able to come together.”

Austin Nielsen plays Sen. Evergreen

distance learning Brothers adapt to new order

Joe and Jon Opolski

Until the coronavirus pandemic closed schools statewide, and De La Salle Collegiate students began distance learning in mid-March, brothers Joe and Jon Opolski normally studied in their own rooms. But the advent of distance learning has changed that. In the midst of social distancing, the two are working at the same table in the family basement, each with his own computer. “It’s nice to have another person around,” said Joe, a senior. “It keeps you focused.” The two have established a routine during the stay-athome orders imposed by Michigan’s Governor Gretchen Whitmer during the coronavirus pandemic. They wake up by 9 a.m., and begin checking their respective Google Classroom accounts for assignments. Both say their work takes approximately three hours to complete, including the time to upload assignments via PDF or photo to their accounts. Each day, teachers have established times for classes to

meet for instruction and questions in Google Meet, and the Opolskis say most of their classmates are there. “I’d rather be in school,” said Jon, a freshman. “But you have to adapt to the circumstances. So far, it’s going really well for me.” Both boys praise their teachers. “Teachers have adapted,” Joe said. “Students are keeping up with schoolwork and learning from home. The teachers are doing a good job of giving help, adding videos, and tailoring lessons to the individual person.” He says that he often calls friends while working on homework, and the conversations help make things feel normal. The boys both say that it can feel cramped at home at times. A younger brother in the seventh grade at Immaculate Conception, in Ira Township, is also distance learning. Mrs. Opolski is online doing paperwork for her job at a hospital. Mr. Opolski works at an auto dealer, and is the only family member not at a computer each day.

Distance Learning Olejniczak sticks to a routine What is the scientific suffix for every enzyme? De La Salle Collegiate junior Ed Olejniczak knows. The answer was required as he finished a lesson on enzymes and proteins for his International Baccalaureate biology class for teacher Jackie VanThomme. The global coronavirus pandemic has created a new world of distance learning, and teachers are using questions like this to ensure students are completing assignments. The questions are called exit tickets. “We don’t submit all assignments to Google Classroom,” Olejniczak said. “The only way the teacher knows you are there is with that question.” For Olejniczak, who carries a 4.2 grade-point average, his day at home is similar to a regular school day. He and his younger brother, Joe, an eighth-grader at Our Lady Star of the Sea in Grosse Pointe Woods, are sticking to a routine each day, waking up by 9 a.m., and eating lunch at a normal time. The brothers work on computers in a common area, or at the dining room table. As much as possible, Olejniczak tries to complete work by 2-2:30 p.m. The exit tickets are due each day by 3 p.m.

Ed Olejniczak

“It’s been good learning on your own at your own pace with the support of teachers and classmates,” Olejniczak said.

His other IB classes include English, math, business, and history.

During the day, he tries to get outside and hit golf balls in the backyard. He is a member of the school’s golf team, and that season, like all spring sports in Michigan, were canceled during the pandemic.

With De La Salle’s Purple and Gold Days schedule -- three 80-minute classes one day, and four the next -- students are able to concentrate on just three or four classes on any given day. Many of their high school counterparts, also in distance-learning situations, are trying to meet the demands of seven classes each day.

In addition to keeping up his golf game, Olejniczak and his brother have kept busy playing some basketball, playing with the dog, and working on puzzles. Olejniczak also was on the bowling team, serves as a student ambassador, and is active in both the school’s student environmental group and the sportsmen’s club.

While Olejniczak would prefer to be in school and misses the interaction with his classmates, he thinks the transition has been pretty smooth, with the amount of work similar to what he would have during an in-person school day.

Olejniczak parents, Edmond and Linda, are both working from home; Edmond is a De La Salle alumnus from 1991.

“Biology and Spanish are at a higher level, and that’s been pretty intense,” Olejniczak said. “But it evens out.”

“We’re making it work,” Olejniczak said. What is the scientific suffix for every enzyme? It’s -ase.

Making a Difference Students help young learners with reading skills

Student groups continue Sweetheart tradition

In a unique partnership, students from De La Salle began working during the second semester with second and third graders at Rainbow Elementary School in the Clintondale Community School District. Seniors Gianluca Cavataio and Cristian Adragna and sophomores Thomas Smith and Andrew Jasukaitis worked with students on their reading skills. Christian Service Director Jo Marie Ragona arranged for the service opportunity.

Since 2013, students from De La Salle Collegiate have helped residents of the Sanctuary at Fraser Villa – a senior living community – enjoy a Valentine’s Day celebration. In February, nearly a dozen members of De La Salle’s Student Council and National Honor Society volunteered at the annual Sweetheart Dance, which has become a great opportunity for students and residents to socialize, have fun, and enjoy some music. It’s the fourth year that the two student leadership organizations have collaborated on this remarkable evening chaperoned by English teachers Annmarie Michol and Traci Smith. De La Salle students who participated in the dance were seniors Jarod Amparo, Noah Cole, Jacob Cosart, Justin Desmet, Andrew Newton, and Joey Opolski; juniors Joshua Hoenscheid and Gabriel Lueck; sophomores Nathan Troszak and Josh Weiss; and freshman George Gardey.

Students at Rainbow Elementary

“Service is a huge component of both organizations,” Michol said. “The boys sat and had meaningful conversations with the residents and they danced with them and escorted them onto the dance floor. In addition, they took care of any needs they had.”

Sweetheart Dance at Fraser Villa

Making a Difference Sophomore is a shining example of Christian Service In early February, De La Salle Collegiate sophomore Seth Ray attended Night to Shine, which was a night to remember for the Tim Tebow Foundation. Night to Shine is an unforgettable prom night experience, centered on God’s love for people with special needs. The sixth annual event was celebrated in more than 700 churches around the world with approximately 115,000 honored guests through the support of 215,000 volunteers. “It’s a night for the special needs kids to know that they are loved by all and that they are the kings and queens,” Ray said. “Every attendee was treated like the king and queen of the prom. “My experience doing it for the first time this year was absolutely amazing. Watching these kids smile from ear to ear as they walked down the red carpet and had paparazzi taking pictures of the guests and their dates. Having an impact on these kids’ lives and helping make their night special was an amazing feeling.” Jo Marie Ragona, De La Salle’s director of Christian Services, calls Ray a service rock star. “Seth Ray has such a big heart for children, for disabled, for his friends,” she said. “He really is a generous young man.”

Sophomore Seth Ray at the Night to Shine event

As a freshman last year, Ray graciously volunteered his time at Bovenschen School’s Fun Walk, Run and Roll. Bovenschen provides educational services for students, ages 3-26, with moderate to severe cognitive impairments. Ragona sets up most of the volunteer opportunities for De La Salle students. However, Ray jumped at the Night to Shine chance through his church – Warren Woods Baptist Church. “He’s going to be a service superstar,” Ragona said. “A lot of people, even adults feel awkward, but it’s something that has to come from your heart. You just can’t go through the motions. And he makes real connections with people.”

Making a difference Motowski leads Friday night volunteering effort Typical teenagers commonly prefer to spend Friday nights hanging with friends or attending school activities like football and basketball games. De La Salle Collegiate’s Vince Motowski usually fits that description. But recently, the junior, who has been elected 2021 student council president, bucked the trend. After learning about a volunteer opportunity with Macomb Foster Closet – on a February Friday evening no less – Motowski figured he’d need to be persuasive in wrangling students to help out. “That’s exactly what I thought,” he said. Working with Traci Smith, De La Salle’s National Honor Society moderator, Motowski spearheaded an amazing effort, getting 16 fellow students to help sort and fold clothing for the nonprofit organization, which provides muchneeded essential items for free to all children in foster care and the amazing families that care for them. “I told Ms. Smith when I looked up February 21 and it was a Friday night, ‘We’re going to try,’ ” Motowski said. “But I set the (sign-up) papers down and told the guys they needed to do these events, and it was that easy. I thought they’d never do it, but kids just signed up for it. It was really no problem.” Foster Closet, in Mount Clemens, is a free resource for foster and adoptive families to select new and gently used clothes, toys, bedding, diapers, wipes, and other needed supplies for free. “Many foster families take in children at a moment’s notice and they oftentimes can come with little to no belongings,” Smith said. “Foster Closets like this are a godsend so children can keep their dignity even in very tough situations and foster families have support in doing so. “We separated clothing for their upcoming mom-to-mom sale. Any proceeds are used to purchase more supplies for foster and adoptive families in Macomb County and surrounding areas.”

Motowski and his mates spent 90 minutes sorting and folding. He was joined by seniors Andrew Rusu, Parker Kuchulan, Robby Shiner, Adam Zepp; juniors Suheum Heo, Kihun Kim, Cameron Kessler, Anthony Elias, Brady Johnson, Xavier Omozokpia, Luke Boldman, Aidan Dankanics, Anthony McCollum, Nico Praet; and sophomores Caden Koneval and Charlie Freese. “They had boxes of clothes that they received, and we sorted them between sizes,” Motowski said. “We sorted and folded for about an hour and a half. They get a ton of clothes; they’re not lacking in that department. So they need people going in to help. We had a good 20 people come in and fold and sort. They said it normally takes a week for them to do with their volunteers, so they were happy to have us.” Smith, an English teacher, was impressed by the students’ initiative. “As a foster parent myself – who has personally benefited from Foster Closets – I am overjoyed to support and volunteer at this organization and expose our students to the opportunity to serve children in their own community,” she said. “They can always use more donations.” Motowski, a dual-enrollment student taking business classes at the University of Detroit Mercy, said he plans to volunteer again at Macomb Foster Closet. “That will probably be my service project next year, too,” he said.

Academic News De La Salle names senior honorees Seniors Michael Kafoury and Jarod Amparo have been named Class of 2020 valedictorian and salutatorian, respectively. The pair are the No. 1 and No. 2 academic students in this year’s senior class with virtually identical grade-points of 4.506. Valedictorian Kafoury is headed to Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) in Troy, New York, and plans to pursue engineering studies. He chose RPI because he prefers a smaller, private school, and is impressed with the aerospace program. A scholarship will cover much of his tuition.

Michael Kafoury

“We’re very proud of Michael,” said Chris Dean, academic assistant principal. “He has worked hard over the last four years and been able to balance a wide variety of responsibilities while maintaining academic excellence. He is a fantastic representative of the Class of 2020.” Kafoury is currently enrolled in four Advanced Placement classes (English Literature, Physics, Government, and Calculus BC), as well as the International Baccalaureate Business class. He is active in the De La Salle SAVE (Students Against Vandalizing the Environment) Club, the Link Crew, the Pilot Advisory program, and the National Honor Society. Kafoury, who is this year’s recipient of WXYZ’s Brightest & Best Award, attended Richards Middle School in Fraser, and “chose De La Salle because of the environment.”

Jarod Amparo

Currently secretary of the Student Council, salutatorian Amparo plans to major in accounting and business administration at the University of Notre Dame. Amparo is a four-year participant in the IB Program, and heavily involved with school activities. He is a member of the National Honor Society, the Wig and Mask Society, DECA, and plays clarinet with the concert and marching bands. Amparo has also participated in track and field, and the mock trial program. “I chose to attend De La Salle because of the International Baccalaureate Program, and the variety of clubs and organizations,” Amparo said. He attended Guardian Angels Grade School in Clawson.

He added, “I believe De La Salle offers an excellent place for learning, with minimal distractions and a great teaching staff, particularly Mrs. (Jeana) Page and Mr. (David) Kirck.”

“Jarod is an intelligent and insightful young man,” counselor Jon Hickey said. “He has excellent judgment and the humility not to set himself above others. These are some of the major reasons he has gained my respect and that of the faculty and staff. He is a wonderful example of what it means to be Lasallian.”

Kafoury is the son of Charles and Nicole, and lives in Romeo, Mich.

Amparo lives with his parents Noel and Rhodora, in Madison Heights, Mich.

Academic News De La Salle’s math whiz kid Earlier in the school year, nearly 3,800 students participated in the 63rd annual Michigan Mathematics Prize Competition. The two-part exam – sponsored by the Michigan Section of the Mathematical Association of America – is intended to encourage students to develop their interests and abilities in mathematics. Minseok Bae doesn’t need a boost. The De La Salle Collegiate sophomore has always had a high mathematical acumen.

schools and middle schools. The test consisted of 40 multiplechoice questions involving topics from high school mathematics. The top 1,000 were invited to take the second exam in December with a chance for the top 100 finishers to win scholarships. The second exam was five challenging problems, and students had to write their solutions providing full justification and proof of their claims. Aside from his love of math, Bae’s time at De La Salle has been anything but one dimensional. He has been involved in extracurricular teams and clubs at De La Salle.

“He’s just very interested in learning,” De La Salle “He has part of the soccer math teacher Joe Novak said. Minseok Bae program in the past and plays “Anybody who passes Calculus badminton with Mr. (Kyle) Kopy 1 as a freshman is surprising. all of the time,” Novak said. “He He just has a great attitude. He’s a happy kid who wants to study. He’s not satisfied with just joined the robotics team and basically learned how to code through the whole programming. He had never done it being in school. I think he just wants to continue to learn. before. But they had a certified engineer come here once a He’s very gifted and very much focused.” week and teach him.” Calculus helps to understand changes between values that are related by a function. It is used in many different areas such as physics, astronomy, biology, engineering, economics, medicine, and sociology.

Bae came to De La Salle last year without knowing English. That alone makes his overall academic success extremely impressive.

An exchange student from Gyeonggi Province, South Korea, Bae was among 37 De La Salle students who took the first exam last October. He recorded the second-best score among 350 students in Macomb County. He finished with the 152nd best overall test score in the state, 29th among sophomores.

“Coming here and not knowing a thing, it’s fascinating how he picked up on English so fast,” Novak said. “This kid is at least one of the smartest math students I’ve ever taught. But as a sophomore, there’s never been a sophomore that’s in his spot right now. He loves it. He studies. I only see those (math scores) going up in the next two years.”

The first exam was taken by 3,798 students from 117 high

Academic News

Desmet receives Sunrise honor By the looks of his resume, Justin Desmet keeps pretty busy for a high school student. Ranked No. 4 in his class, the senior cocaptain on the football team and National Honor Society member has a strong academic standing, composed of honors and Advanced Placement courses, while also volunteering in the community and staying active in leadership programs at De La Salle Collegiate. In late February, Desmet was recognized for some of his many community service projects, receiving the William H. Lacey Community Service Award from the Grosse Pointe Sunrise Rotary Club. The presentation, which included a $500 gift, took place at The Neighborhood Club in Grosse Pointe. “I was excited and happy,” said Desmet, who plans to attend the University of Michigan in the fall. “I felt like I was getting recognized.” As far as his volunteering goes, Desmet works with MCREST, a local youth football camp, and Summer in the City, which is a youth camp in Detroit. He’s a student organizer for the Out of the Darkness Suicide Prevention Walk, as well as a math tutor at Margaret Black Elementary and Graebner Elementary in Sterling Heights. He also provides tutoring to some classmates for standardized tests like the ACT and SAT. Also honored by the Sunrise Rotary were Maria Fields (University Liggett), Kaitlyn Mack (Regina), and Mackenna Cherry. Mack is the younger sister of De La Salle alumnus Kyle Mack ’15. She’s also a four-year member of De La Salle’s Wig and Mask Society. The Rotary award is not the first for Desmet this year. He received a $300 gift from the Daughters of the American

Justin Desmet ‘20

Revolution, and the Italian American Club of Livonia plans to recognize him with a $1,000 scholarship in late March. While the recognition for his work throughout the community is great, ideally, Desmet, who carries a 4.4 gradepoint average, said he will study biomedical engineering in college with the hopes of one day becoming an orthopedic surgeon. De La Salle counselor John Hickey applauds Desmet’s continued commitment to his community. “Justin is an outstanding young man,” Hickey said, “and I couldn’t be more proud of his accomplishments.” Past De La Salle winners of Grosse Pointe Sunrise Rotary Club awards are Stephen Hart (2013), Matthew Burns (2015), Matthew Held (2016), Matt Orsi (2018), Semaj Shelton (2018), Christian Dean (2019), Joe Pierce (2019), Robert Cornwell (2019), Damian Anonick (2019), Jack Lietzow (2019), and Catino Cammarata (2019).

Academic News Pilots trio receives county academic honors

AutoPilots come to life with strong finish

Seniors Justin Desmet, Zack Jarski, and Michael Kafoury have been named to the Macomb County All-Academic Team, sponsored by the Macomb Daily.

De La Salle Collegiate’s robotics team, the AutoPilots, had to overcome a few setbacks during the Michigan districts at the FIRST Robotics Competition at Macomb Community College the last weekend in February.

The award identifies the top students in Macomb County. Schools submit information about their top seniors, including grade point averages and standardized test scores. All three students have 4.00 GPAs, based on the formula which does not include weighted grades for honors or Advanced Placement classes. Each has a high SAT score: Desmet (1540), Jarski (1480), and Kafoury (1470). A perfect SAT score is 1600. According to the College Board, two million students take the test each year, and only about 500 achieve a perfect score. “Justin Zack and Michael are emblematic of what it means to be a De La Salle Pilot,” said Chris Dean, De La Salle’s assistant principal for academics. “Not only are these three young men outstanding in the classroom, they have not hesitated to serve their school and community, and represent us as student-athletes with distinction. De La Salle could find no better recipients worthy of this honor.” Kafoury, who plans to major in engineering at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, has been named the Class of 2020 valedictorian. Desmet has been accepted at the University of Michigan and Jarski’s also plans to attend Michigan. Desmet received the added honor of being among 21 students named to the Macomb County 2020 All-Academic Dream Team. He’s the only student from a Warren school. Students are invited to attend an All-Academic banquet each year. However, due to the global coronavirus pandemic, this year’s banquet has been cancelled. Students will still be recognized with an article in the Macomb Daily, and will have certificates mailed to them

The AutoPilots, in their second year in FIRST – For Inspiration and Recognition of Science of Technology – had a rough start on the first day of competition when the robot’s lifter was torn off. With the lifter fixed, De La Salle and its alliance headed into the second day with a 4-5 record in qualification matches. But more bad luck followed when the AutoPilots lost connection to the robot’s drive controls and a rotation rod snapped. “It was a roller coaster weekend with robot malfunctions, broken parts, and matches won and lost,” AutoPilots moderator Rob Black said. Still, the AutoPilots managed to qualify for Saturday afternoon’s playoff matches with a 6-6 mark. De La Salle’s squad of Nathan Arnold, Ethan Arun, Minseok Bae, Jeremiah Chambers, David Chomicz, Joshua Cichoracki, Ryan Hensley and Suheum Heo finished with an 11-8-0 overall record for the two-day competition, and 5-2-0 in the playoffs. “Our team was picked to be on the top-seated alliance and made it all the way to the finals,” Black said. “Our alliance lost in the last few seconds of the third of the best-of-three match.” The AutoPilots were scheduled to participate in a second competition in mid-March at Center Line High School, March 19-21, before the Covid19 pandemic forced a cancellation.

Academic News Two Pilots earn Bates Scholarships Seniors Derrelle Murray and Bronson O’Kray learned they have earned Ted Bates Memorial Community Scholarship awards. The two college-bound Pilots will receive $1,000 gifts, which are proceeds from the annual Ted Bates Memorial Community Service Scholarship Golf Classic held annually in September.

Derrelle Murray

Two students from nine different high schools, including Bishop Foley, Center Line, Cousino, Fitzgerald, Lincoln, Mott, Regina, and Woods Tower, received awards sponsored by Warren Lions Club, the Sancho Caravan of Alhambra, Warren Kiwanis Club, and Warren Rotary Club. The Bates Scholarships are offered annually to students who have a grade-point average of 3.0 or higher and have completed 40 hours of community service and submitted a community service biography. The scholarship is named for Bates, the former mayor of Warren, who died in 2011.

Bronson O’Kray

“We are so pleased to learn that Bronson and Derrelle have earned this scholarship,” said Chris Dean, De La Salle’s assistant principal for academics. “Both of these young men are very dedicated and hard workers in all that they do and it is fantastic to see them gain this well-deserved recognition. In their time as Pilots, both have done everything they can to make their school and families proud of them.” O’Kray carries a 3.75 cumulative grade-point average and participated in the Michigan Math Prize Competition last October. An Advanced Placement student, he played soccer through his sophomore season.

In the fall, he hopes to attend the University of South Carolina, Michigan State University or Central Michigan University. Murray is an accomplished studentathlete, who participated in football and track and field since his freshman year. He earned his first varsity letter as a freshman throwing shot put and discus on the Pilots’ track team. He received his second varsity letter in his junior year as a member of the Pilots state championship squad. Murray maintains a 3.57 cumulative GPA while taking three Advanced Placement classes amongst his workload this year. He plans to attend Albion College this fall. Murray has always cultivated a sense of gratitude, looking for ways that he can give back to his community. “At De La Salle, it is expected to be active with community service by volunteering as often as possible,” he said. “As a team and individual I did activities within the Warren and Detroit communities to help those that were in need. I also worked with kids in the Warren area in providing them with school supplies and tutorial services.” Along with his mom, Larrita Murray, he continues to volunteer at area soup kitchens too. A golf outing that supports the scholarships is scheduled for Sept. 25. For information on the scholarships or golf outing, contact Karen Joyce at 586-759-6500.

Academic News De La Salle is named a Green School For many years, De La Salle Collegiate has been recognized as a Green School by the Macomb County Board of Commissioners. This year is no exception. In April, De La Salle science teacher Nina Jacks received the official notification with an emailed certificate noting the school’s significant contributions to the conservation and preservation of the environment. “It’s great that the De La Salle community has been able to keep up all these years with recycling efforts,” said Jacks, who is the moderator of the school’s Students Against Vandalizing the Environment Club (SAVE). Seniors Matthew Nguyen, Michael Kafoury, and Justin Desmet were active in the organization – otherwise known as the SAVE Club – and completed an eight-page application that they submitted in February. “They were pretty motivated, and led the effort to complete the application and continue getting this recognition,” Jacks

said. “We did things we typically do, such as recycling bins in each classroom and office. We also have a cell phone recycling bin, and the cafeteria uses biodegradable plates.” Along with recycling bins, SAVE maintains a website and bulletin board about their efforts, and alerts families to recycling events via the weekly parent newsletter. Jacks encourages all of her students to be creative in their green efforts. “It all depends on the students and their interests,” she said. “The SAVE Club gives them an opportunity to practice leadership skills.” Other teachers in the Science Department also include green lessons, such as Jackie Van Thomme’s annual field trip for students to learn about the impact of invasive species. Though,Jacks said the group wasn’t able to schedule the annual electronics recycling event in January, but hopes the students will organize one again during the 2020-21 academic year. “Typical Christmas presents now include some new electronics, so January has been a good time to recycle those old devices,” Jacks said.

Nina Jacks in the classroom

Alumni News News Briefs

Alumni Golf Leagues Make Anticipated Return

Lido Aldini ‘10 has worked in the emergency room at Troy Beaumont for the last five years. In recent weeks, he has also been in the hospital’s ICU, working with COVID-19 patients.

Once the COVID-19 restrictions were lifted for golfers in Michigan, the 2020 alumni golf leagues filled quickly.

During the crisis, Aldini has moved in with a friend, who also works at the hospital, to reduce his family’s exposure to the coronavirus.

The Monday and Tuesday night leagues teed off in early May at the Orchards Golf Club in Washington Township.

“Normally, I would bring a backpack to work,” Aldini said. “But now, I just bring my phone and wallet, and use alcohol wipes.”

Golfers are adhering to social-distancing guidelines, and walking the course as carts are prohibited. Although this generates a different feel, the golfers are happy to be playing.

The Adrian College graduate has a degree in Biology, and is currently studying nursing; he is on track to graduate in December 2021. Drew Beesley ‘16 finished his senior year at Michigan State University. With another year of athletic eligibility, he will remain with the Spartans’ football program. He hopes to see significant playing time in 2020 as a defensive end. His younger brother, Will, is currently a sophomore at De La Salle.

Since 2018, Jeff Spicuzzi ‘08 has participated in the leagues while helping run the league website with updated pairings and tee times. “The start of the De La Salle golf leagues is an exciting time that I now look forward to each year,” he said. “It is a great opportunity to connect with De La Salle alumni and friends in a fun environment.”

Nico Ciavaglia ‘16 attends St. Edward’s University in Austin, Texas, where he plays Division II golf. When the university announced sweeping changes to the athletic program on April 15, Ciavaglia began an online petition in an attempt to save the program. His efforts generated nearly 20,000 signatures. The university has not made a decision, but is considering ways to save the program. Ciavaglia was a two-time AllCatholic golfer, who began his college career at Oakland University. He is on an academic scholarship. Following a 12-hour shift, Dominic Ricci ‘19 was recently featured on Fox 2 Detroit for playing piano in the lobby of Troy Beaumont Hospital for fellow employees. It was the first time he ever played in public. Ricci has worked as a technical aide since August 2019 and is a full-time student at Oakland University, majoring in Biology. Tru Wilson ‘16 graduated this spring from the University of Michigan. He has signed with Northern Colorado as a fifthyear graduate transfer for the upcoming college season.

Alumni News Alumnus heads new basilica in Detroit us continue our mission in the future,” Kosanke said. “I feel really humbled and happy that Ste. Anne has been recognized.” Kosanke hopes the basilica designation will help with fundraising efforts for a new roof, a new HVAC system, and furnace, and work on the exterior walls. He says the $25 million restoration project is organized into three phases, with interior work in Phase 2, and redoing the plaza in front of the church in Phase 3.

Ste. Anne de Detroit

For Monsignor Chuck Kosanke the news that his parish, Ste. Anne de Detroit, was named a minor basilica, was both thrilling and humbling. “This designation is very rare,” said Kosanke, a De La Salle Collegiate alumnus from 1977. “There are 17,000 churches in the United States, and we are now No. 86.” However, the global COVID-19 pandemic has suspended the planned dedication. Currently, there are plans to schedule a September date. Worldwide, approximately 1,700 churches hold the basilica designation. Ste. Anne’s is the second parish in the Archdiocese of Detroit to be named a basilica; the Shrine of the Little Flower in Royal Oak received the designation in 2015. St. Adalbert in Grand Rapids was named a basilica in 1980. “This is a great affirmation of our mission, and will help

The basilica designation was a lengthy process, sparked by a visit to the parish three years ago by the Sistine Chapel Choir. When Pope Francis reviewed the choir’s itinerary, he noted the concert would be free. The choir director told Kosanke how touched the Pope was. Kosanke then decided to start the process to become a basilica. Requisite materials included historical documentation, photographs, and information about the parish’s ministries, all norms established in a 1989 Vatican document. Kosanke presented the materials to Detroit Archbishop Allen Vigneron, who forwarded the application to the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops in July 2018. From there, the conference sent the materials to the Vatican. Vigneron received a favorable reply last January. Originally a church that served the French-speaking Catholic population of Detroit, Ste. Anne now serves the Hispanic population in southwest Detroit and has nearly 600 families in its congregation. Ste. Anne hosts more weddings than any parish in the city and has become a stop on bicycle tours through Detroit’s historic districts.

Ste. Anne, continued on next page

Alumni News

Monsignor Kosanke recovers from COVID-19 Monsignor Chuck Kosanke, De La Salle Collegiate Class of 1977, was one of those infected by the COVID-19 virus, but he is now recovered and back to work. While visiting friends in western Michigan, he first experienced COVID-19 symptoms on March 22. Three days later, he was admitted to Muskegon’s Mercy Hospital; he was released March 30. “I had a mild case, and was never in any danger,” Kosanke said. “Compared to other people, I was very fortunate.” Monsignor and his parishioners Ste. Anne, continued from previous page

Kosanke says Mass in English and Spanish; during the coronavirus crisis, Masses are streamed from the parish website. He also serves as the pastor of adjacent Holy Trinity parish, founded in 1834, in the adjacent Corktown neighborhood, which also sponsors a K-8 grade school as well as a medical clinic, legal office, and food pantry. Founded in 1701, the same year as the City of Detroit, Ste. Anne was the only place of worship in the city for the first 100 years of its existence. In addition to being the oldest parish in Detroit, Ste. Anne is the second oldest continually operating church in the United States; the Cathedral Basilica of St. Augustine, in St. Augustine Florida, is the oldest, founded in 1565. The current Ste. Anne’s structure, built in 1886 in a Gothic style, features side altars, stained glass windows and statues, and a starred ceiling. It is the eighth building used as a church; the original church was built in downtown Detroit in 1818. Artifacts from the 1818 church, including the cornerstone, the communion rail, and statues, were installed in 1886. Father Gabriel Richard, who led the parish in the early 1800s, was buried in the 1818 church, and his remains are also located at Ste. Anne, in a crypt below the main altar.

Kosanke did feel tired and slept a lot for about a week, but says he now feels “as good as new.” When he returned to the Detroit area on April 5, he moved into his parents’ vacant home in Grosse Pointe Woods to continue self-quarantine. His parents moved to a ranch home in Clinton Township earlier this year, and Kosanke’s presence in the home lasted until May 6. “Once the realtors were able to show houses again, I moved back to the rectory at Ste. Anne’s,” Kosanke said. Both of Kosanke’s parishes, Ste. Anne and Holy Trinity, sponsor a lot of outreach programs, particularly a food pantry. “We’ve gone from 30 families a week to 150,” Kosanke said. “Many of our parishioners haven’t worked in two months.” He cites the increase in donations of both food and money to keep the pantry stocked. “We don’t want anyone to go hungry,” Kosanke said. “That would be criminal.” Kosanke plans to donate plasma to the Red Cross after May 15. “Hopefully, that will help people in need,” he said.

Alumni News Danna is selected in NFL Draft De La Salle Collegiate alumnus Michael Danna, who helped lead the Pilots to a Division 2 state football championship in 2014, was selected by the Kansas City Chiefs in the fifth round of the NFL Draft. As a high school senior, Danna was an all-state special mention from the Associated Press, ranked No. 15 on the Detroit Free Press Fab 50, named to the Free Press, Detroit News, and MLive Dream teams. He was also part of the Detroit News Blue Chip list and All-Metro East first team. During his senior season, Danna tallied 52 tackles in just nine games. As a junior, he set single-season school records for tackles for loss (20) and sacks (10). He also holds the career sacks mark with 17.5. He will be inducted into the Detroit Catholic League Hall of Fame later this year. “He was athletic, coachable, a team guy, a great student and he was a leader,” former Pilots coach Paul Verska said. “He was among the youngest seniors on the team. I knew he would continue to get bigger, better, stronger, and develop.” After being redshirted as a freshman at Central Michigan University, Danna played three seasons for the Chippewas. During that time, he compiled 151 total tackles, 27.5 tackles for loss, and 15 sacks. He was named First Team All-MAC and team MVP, in 2018. After graduating from CMU with a degree in entrepreneurship, Danna transferred to the University of Michigan. Last fall, he finished with 38 total tackles and three sacks in 13 games. At Michigan, Danna was reunited with former De La Salle teammate, Tru Wilson, who will play this fall as a graduate transfer at Northern Colorado. Also, Danna played against former prep teammate Drew Besley, who is a defensive lineman at Michigan State.

Mike Danna ‘15 while a player at De La Salle

“We played against each other two years at Central and being able to play against him again when he was at Michigan was a fun experience,” Beesley said. “One thing I learned from Mike was just no matter what the circumstances, keep grinding, and keep working hard. I’m very happy for him.” Danna is just the second student-athlete in De La Salle history ever selected in the NFL Draft. Keith Karpinski, who starred at Penn State, was taken by the Detroit Lions in the 11th round in 1989.

Alumni News Alumni hoop it up The De La Salle Collegiate alumni basketball tournament was a great success once again. Alumni ranging from the classes of the 1970s to as recent as 2018 joined together for an action-packed day at the Bill Fox Gymnasium filled with competitive basketball, bonding, and a great deal of fun.

“Everyone plays hard and it is really fun. Hopefully, we can keep this tournament going for a long time.” Fischer was a three-year varsity basketball player at De La Salle from 2015-2018 and was one of the leading contributors on the 2018 team that advanced to the Final Four of the MHSAA state tournament.

The winners of the alumni basketball tournament Joseph Novak family trophy was the 2017/2018 combined team, which consisted of the following players: Justin Fischer, Luke Pfromm, Kole Gjonaj, Keith Larson, Ryan Anderson, Brendan Kraiza, and Giovanni Plumaj. They defeated the team put together by the classes of 2010 through 2013 in the championship game.

In a touching tribute to the late John Schmid, a business teacher at De La Salle Collegiate from 1975 to 2005, the 70s/80s game was dedicated to his life and the impact Schmid had on the men when they once roamed the halls of De La Salle. Schmid, unfortunately, passed away on January 24, 2020, after a battle with Lou Gerhig’s Disease.

“I really think the alumni tournament is important and it is a fun way to reconnect with your past teammates and past alumni,” said Justin Fischer ‘18, the current starting point guard at Lake Superior State University.

The two teams held a moment of silence for Schmid prior to the tip-off of their game. Classes from the 1970s through the 1980s, 2002, 2003, 2009, also participated in the event. The tournament was sponsored by Joe Thomas, ‘02 Thomas Financial and DJ Hill, ‘89 of Jet’s Pizza.

Mrs. Debbie Schmid, along with members of her family, and the winning Alumni Tournament team.

In Memoriam

1940s Patrick Garvey ‘49. March 16, 2020. Father of Patrick Garvey Jr. ‘78 and Michael Garvey ‘91. Grandfather of Anthony Palazzolo ‘14 and Alex Palazzolo ‘10. Albert Gelineau ‘47. March 19, 2020. Brother of Bill Gelineau ‘57. Edward Higgins ‘42. March 5, 2020. Brother of Wiliam Higgins ‘45. Uncle of Mark Gnaster ‘71. William Higgins, ‘45, March 14, 2020. Brother of Edward Higgins ‘42. Frank Mercadante, SJ ‘47. October 15, 2017.

1950s Patrick Duggan ‘52. March 18, 2020. Father of the Mayor of Detroit, Mike Duggan. Dr. Jeremiah Turcotte ‘50. February 12, 2020. Brother of Dr. Vincent Turcotte ‘48. Anthony J. Viviano ‘51. October 29, 2019. Brother of Peter S. Viviano ‘45. Great-uncle of Peter J. Hunt ‘19. Louis Zoia ‘57. January 5, 2020. Father of Raymond Zoia ‘80.

This list represents notifications received thru May 8, 2020. If you know of an alumnus or extended family member who has passed, please notify Dennis Koch in the Alumni Office at 586-541-6212 or dkoch@delasallehs.com.

1960s Richard Emmet Powers ‘61. April 20, 2020, of Covid-19. Dan Scenga ‘63. March 13, 2020. Robert Ziolkowski ‘62. April 3, 2020. Brother of Thomas Ziolkowski ‘65. Robert was a longtime judge in Wayne County. His late mother, Josephine was a CBA President. Robert was inducted into the DLS Athletic Hall of Fame in 2001.

1970s Charles Toms ‘73. April 1, 2020.

1980s Daniel Marsh ‘81. March 31, 2020. Uncle of Thomas Marsh ‘21, John Marsh ‘10, and John Ruskus ‘16. Dan was a board member of the Pilot Bar Association.

1990s Matthew Hornung ‘95. April 20, 2020.

2010s Ben Hirschmann ‘14. March 31, 2020. Brother of Jacob Hirschmann ‘12. Ben passed away due to complications from COVID-19.

In Memoriam

Extended Family Marie Allessio. April 19, 2020. Grandmother of Todd Benigni ‘91, Scott Benigni ‘94, Brad Benigni ‘99, and Anthony Ballor ‘08. Marlene Bamford. April 4, 2020. Mother of David Bamford ‘85, and Michael Bamford ‘88. Thomas Hellebuyck. April 15, 2020. Father of Tim Hellebuyck ‘92, Trevor Hellebuyck ‘95, Thayne Hellebuyck, ‘01, and Taylor Hellebuyck ‘04. Rupert Keais. February 1, 2020. Father of Garrett Keals ‘82 and Greg Keals ‘85. Jean Laske. March 14, 2020. Wife of Roger Laske ‘58. Eugene McGinnis. March 16, 2020. Father of Michael McGinniss ‘71, the late Jim McGinniss ‘77, Patrick McGinniss ‘81, and Bob McGinniss ‘82. Fred Millard. February 26, 2020. Father-in-law of Mike Watson, DLS Athletic Director. Mary Odoerfer. April 18, 2020. Grandmother of Bradley Thomas ‘00, Joe Thomas ‘02, Chris Thomas ‘05, and Nick Thomas ‘08. Mother of Jan Thomas, past president of the Christian Brothers’ Auxiliary, and a past member of the De La Salle Collegiate Board of Trustees. Gerard Peplowski. March 17, 2020. Father of Patrick Peplowski ‘87 and Mike Peplowski ‘88.

Jerry Phillips. April 5, 2020. Father of Terry Phillips ‘80, Steve Phillips ‘81, Dan Phillips ‘83, and Matt Phillips ‘87. Jerry was an active Pilots sports fan for many years. Harvey Puckett. March 30, 2020. Father of Nino Puckett ‘18. Rosemary Roraff. April 23, 2020. Grandmother of Richard Roraff ‘88, David Roraff ‘90, and Daniel Roraff ‘94. Great-grandmother of Richard Roraff ‘19. Mrs. Roraff retired as the De La Salle bookkeeper. Francis “Joan” Seiferlein. May 3, 2020. Wife of late Don Seiferlein. Mother-in-law of Amy Seiferlein, Director of Annual Fund in the Advancement Office. Antoinette Sokolosky. March 18, 2020. Wife of the late John Sokolosky ‘74. Sister-in-law of George Sokolosky ‘81. Aunt of Justin Kraski ‘04, Christian Kraski ‘06, and Karl Sokolowsky ‘15. Betty Lou Wisniewski. April 26, 2020. Mother of James Wisniewski ‘81, Brian Wisniewski ‘81, Chris Wisniewski ‘82, and Mark Wisniewski ‘83. Grandmother of Ryan Wisniewski ‘16 and Michael Wisniewski ‘21.

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