Tag Archives: Tag: Appreciation

Congratulations to the Notre Dame West Haven Class of ’18!

| May 31, 2018

One hundred and forty seven young men made up the Notre Dame West Haven Class of 2018. Family, friends, teachers and mentors cheered them on at a celebration in the school gym on Sunday, May 27th. Ernie Santiago was one of seven Shepherds students graduating this year. He was interviewed by the New Haven Register and spoke about the significance of his time at NDWH. ‘“If I can take away one thing from this, it is definitely the brotherhood. Ever since the first day when I walked in I felt welcome, not only by staff and teachers, but by my classmates. We didn’t know each other but we are acting like we were friends from 10 years ago,” said Ernie Santiago, who will study nursing at Quinnipiac University.” We are so proud of each of these students and wish them all the best as they move on to college.’

Rear, Left to Right: Chris Elias ★ DJ Pantry ★ Reuben Clarke ★ Isaiah Kane ★ Front, Left to Right: Ernie Santiago ★ Ryan Haas ★ Alex Rodriguez

Honors Bestowed on Graduating NDWH Shepherds Students

| May 25, 2018

Shepherds students from Notre Dame of West Haven will graduate this Sunday. In advance of the ceremony, an Honors Convocation was held in the Collins Auditorium on Thursday 5/17/18. Several of the graduating Shepherds seniors received honors at the event.

•Reuben Clarke received The Robert T. Scheithe ’95 Award as well as recognition by the National Honor Society. Reuben’s mentors are Celia Pinzi and Mark Healey.
•Ryan Haas received The President’s (Trump) Award for Educational Achievement. Ryan’s mentors are Lucy and Mike Abbott.
•Ernie Santiago was recognized by the National Honor Society, the Spanish Honor Society and the TriM Music Honor Society. Ernie’s mentor is Ruby Melton.

Congratulations to these young men for all of their accomplishments. We wish you all the best as you transition to college.

Eleven Shepherds Students Honored at Kolbe Brunch

| May 14, 2018

Shepherds, in conjunction with Kolbe Cathedral High School, held its annual brunch at Brooklawn Country Club in Fairfield on Saturday, May 12. The event brings together current Shepherds students enrolled at the school, their mentors, family and staff from both organizations.

The accomplishments of graduating seniors are celebrated. Graduates and their mentors are given the chance to speak publicly about their time at Kolbe and how the Shepherds program impacted their high school experience.

Kolbe alumna and current mentor Carolyn Vermont ’78, was the keynote speaker. A recipient of both undergraduate and graduate degrees from Fairfield University, Ms. Vermont is the proud mother of two, a motivational speaker, education and leadership consultant and a tireless community advocate. She volunteers for ten civic organizations including Shepherds and was invited as a Changemaker to the 2016 White House United States of Women Summit in 2016. She has received numerous awards for her service and is currently running for State Senator in the 23rd Senatorial District covering parts of Bridgeport and Stratford.

Ms. Vermont encouraged the students to continue the legacy of community service that they have begun during their time at Kolbe. She reflected on the way her Kolbe Catholic education as well as her Jesuit education at Fairfield University, instilled a lifelong passion for giving back to the community. Her infectious smile, enthusiasm and her pride in mentee Trinity Bravo, warmed the room on that grey Saturday.

Graduates include: Dudjanceslyta Anty, Nina-Simone Barrow, Trinity Bravo, Zavar Graham, Alexander Cole Grant, Cherish Johnson, Shalymar Morales, Ugonna Onyekachiuzoamaka, Alejandro Serrano, Tatiana Thompson and Mayra Vargas. For more pictures, check out our album on our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/ShepherdsMentors/

Getting Ready to Celebrate 20 Years of Changing Lives!

| May 4, 2018

In preparation for our 20th Anniversary celebration in October, Shepherds is working with Westport ad agency wsaa and Greenwich videographer Gus Cantavero to videotape interviews with mentors, students and alumni. The team was on site at both Kolbe Cathedral and Notre Dame this week speaking to a number of people whose lives have been changed through their involvement with Shepherds. Can’t wait to see the finished product at the 20th Anniversary Dinner on October 11th at Longshore in Westport!

Notre Dame Alumni Host Marc T. Little, ND ’83, USC ’87, USC Law ’94

| April 26, 2018

Notre Dame Alumnus Marc T. Little returned to campus last night as a special guest at the school’s annual alumni reception and Shepherds End-of-Year Dinner. A 1983 graduate, Mr. Little was raised in Connecticut by his mother, Antoinette Hart. His father, Pro Football Hall of Famer, Floyd Little, lived out west. Following his graduation, Mr. Little attended USC to study broadcast journalism and get to know his father better – goals he happily achieved.

A near-fatal brush with violence at 22 shaped his future in unexpected ways. He was robbed at gunpoint by an 18 year old gang member, shot and left bleeding on an LA street. He lost his leg as a result and developed complications related to profound blood loss. Following his recovery, he attended USC’s Gould School of Law and received his Juris Doctorate in 1994.

Mr. Little has spent his professional career practicing entertainment law in LA and has continued studying his Christian faith at Fuller Seminary. Since that summer day in 1987 when he nearly lost his life, he has embraced life and become a community builder, church administrator, pastor, blogger and author. He teaches others how to say “yes” to life. He works on various boards and commissions focusing on family preservation and poverty and is a founding board member for Crown Preparatory Academy, a Los Angeles inner city-based charter middle school.

His book, The Prodigal Republican, “chronicles the historic relationship between blacks, Democrats, and Republicans. It is based on three topics: voting your values, family leadership, and Christian faith, all geared toward strengthening the American family”. The book is available on Amazon.

To learn more about Marc. T Little, please visit http://theprodigalrepublican.com/MarcTLittle/About_Marc.html.

Mentors, Students and Families Attend Mentor Appreciation Night at NDWH

| January 29, 2018

January, National Mentor Appreciation Month, is coming to a close. Mentors, students and family members along with NDWH staff, gathered on January 24th in the Maureen and George J. Collins ’58 Auditorium at Notre Dame High School to celebrate the role of mentors in students’ lives. Phoebe Greenfield, mother of NDWH Senior Reuben Clarke, addressed the crowd and talked about the importance of her own Catholic education in her native Liberia and the value she places on Reuben’s education at Notre Dame. A heartfelt thanks to all of our students and mentors and those that came to support them. Thanks also to photographer Gabrielle Bridgewood Watson who volunteered to take photos. Visit us on Facebook @shepherdsmentors to see additional pictures from the evening.