Kolbe Cathedral’s 2018 Commencement Exercises in Bridgeport, Conn., on Thursday, June 7, 2018. To see the slide show provided in the CT Post, click on the link. Photo: Christian Abraham, Hearst Connecticut Media.
https://www.ctpost.com/graduations/slideshow/Kolbe-Cathedral-High-School-graduation-2018-182132/photo-15687987.php
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
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 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.
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.
In 1998, Shepherds started with 7 freshmen at Kolbe Cathedral High School. Over 250 alumni later, we are celebrating 20 years of Changing Lives…One Student at a Time. Mark your calendar for our 20th anniversary dinner on Thursday, October 11, 2018 at the Inn at Longshore in Westport.
Gregory B. Dillon, a proud graduate and loyal alumnus of Notre Dame, has had a successful career in law enforcement and business. Through his support for Notre Dame and dedication to the Shepherds Inc. mentoring program at ND, Greg has made a significant difference in the lives of many young Notre Dame Men.
A 1974 graduate of Notre Dame, Greg was an exemplary student while at ND. He was a member of the National Honor Society, the school newspaper, the Christian Student Mission Club, the Pep Club, and the intramural program.
Greg began a long and distinguished career in law enforcement after graduating magna cum laude from the University of New Haven in 1978 with a BS in Criminal Justice, Law Enforcement Administration. After college Greg was a Special Deputy Sheriff in New Haven and then spent seven years as a patrol officer in Branford which he credits for the foundation of his training in law enforcement. In 1985, Greg joined the FBI as a special agent. While at the FBI, his assignments included positions on the Violent Crime Squad, SWAT team, and the Criminal Reactive Squad. In 1990, Greg accepted a position as an inspector with the office of the CT Chief State’s attorney and was promoted to Supervisory Inspector in 1994. Throughout his almost twenty-year career with the Division of Criminal, he worked on the Gang and Continuing Criminal Activities Bureau, the Firearms Trafficking Task Force, the Connecticut Fugitive Task Force, and the Economic Crime Unit.
After retiring from law enforcement, Greg began a highly successful second career in business. His first venture was as owner of two CrossFit gyms—the first in Cheshire, CT and one currently in Morristown, NJ. He enjoys helping CrossFit enthusiasts reach their fitness goals through a regimen of high-intensity interval training. In 2016 Greg’s entrepreneurial spirit guided him to his latest business partnership as co-founder of Quandary, an Escape Room Experience in Wallingford, CT.
Greg’s involvement and long affiliation with the Shepherds Inc., mentoring program at Notre Dame has had a great impact on the lives of many young Notre Dame Men. Shepherds provides support for underserved students in the New Haven area and pairs them with mentors to guide them through their high school years. Throughout the fifteen-year partnership between ND and Shepherds, Greg has mentored eight students in the program. Currently, he mentors a young man in the junior class, serves as a mentor coach, and is a member of the Shepherds Interview panel.
Certainly Greg’s extensive experience in Law Enforcement was one factor in his decision to become involved with Shepherds, Inc. “There weren’t many bright spots in the (inner city) community for young men. I thought someone has to do something actively to turn this around. Someone has to fill this vacuum.”
Greg lives in North Haven with his wife Vilma.
