Located in Midtown Manhattan, De La Salle Academy, is a private, independent, non-sectarian middle school for grades six through eight. For thirty seven years our mission has been to provide academically talented, economically less advantaged children equal access to a quality education, develop the leaders of today and of tomorrow, and instill in them the importance of serving their community.
When I started at De La Salle Academy (DLSA), we were still in the old building on 97th Street. I’m sure my fellow alums can agree when I say those stairs stand out in my mind – they gave the school charm! Back before I started attending, I remember the day of the entrance exam … Continue reading Alumni Spotlight: Roslyn Rivas ’09
I remember vividly those first days at DLSA. During orientation, the 8th graders looked after 6th graders, and I remember how sweet and caring they were. It was special to see how people outside my grade cared just as much about me as my classmates. I remember standing in Carson Hall looking around. I said … Continue reading Alumni Spotlight: Valentina Lizarazo ’19
I was a member of the first class at De La Salle Academy (DLSA), when it was founded in 1984. Before DLSA, I went to St. Paul’s Catholic School in my native Spanish Harlem. This was a time when people really stayed in their communities, and everyone knew each other. Schools were neighborhood schools. At … Continue reading Alumni Spotlight: Trinee Adams ’87
When I got accepted to DLSA as an upcoming 7th grader, it was at the 11th hour. I remember that, because it was out of the normal admissions cycle, and it was just Brother Brian and myself in the interview. Though it was a last minute change of plans, I was excited. I knew immediately … Continue reading Alumni Spotlight: Alexa Sanchez ’88
I don’t remember the first time I walked up the four flights of stairs to the original home of De La Salle Academy (DLSA) on 96th Street and Amsterdam, but I can still picture those stairs now. It was the daily subway ride from the end of the F train line in eastern Queens that … Continue reading Alumni Spotlight: Carlos Capellán ’92
Now in my seventh year as a commercial litigator in one of the country’s premier law firms, I often find myself reflecting on how I got to where I am today. As a young boy from the South Bronx, I didn’t know any lawyers growing up—in fact, I hardly knew any lawyers until I went … Continue reading Alumni Spotlight: Reyhan Watson ’02
As part of a special series of Alumni Spotlights, we at De La Salle Academy, asked some of our alumni to focus on four words that we believe encapsulate what it means to be part of the De La Salle community. This month, Reade Rossman, ‘12, focused on the word reflective, and shares a compelling … Continue reading Alumni Spotlight: Reade Rossman ’12
Before De La Salle Academy (DLSA), I did not understand the concept of working hard for my academic achievements, because prior to joining DLSA, I attended a school where I wasn’t challenged, and didn’t need to work hard to do well academically. Once I joined the DLSA community, it became clear that achieving academic excellence … Continue reading Alumni Spotlight: Alan Engram ’90
Compassion was not top of mind for me when I was a student at De La Salle. Brother Brian even mentioned it to me when I graduated. I don’t remember the exact words, but they were definitely of the “humble thyself” variety. In the decades since, I often recall his tongue in cheek nudge to … Continue reading Alumni Spotlight: Vladic Ravich ’98
When I first got my acceptance letter from De La Salle Academy (DLSA) in the spring of 2012, I was ecstatic. My parents were thrilled since they have always believed education to be important for getting the opportunities that were not available to them. My mother immigrated from the Dominican Republic as a teenager, while … Continue reading Alumni Spotlight: Jada Badillo ’15
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