Tag Archives: Tag: Mentorship

Greg Dillon, NDWH ’74 Inducted at 2017 Knights of Honor Dinner

| November 10, 2017

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.

Welcome Notre Dame High School Class of 2021!

| September 11, 2017

Notre Dame HS in West Haven welcomed 5 incoming Shepherds freshmen to the Class of 2021and will hold a Back to School Night on Wednesday, September 13 from 6-8:00PM. We wish all of our students and mentors as well as their families and the staff at NDWH a happy and healthy school year!

Welcome Kolbe Cathedral Class of 2021!

| September 11, 2017

This year Kolbe Cathedral High School welcomed 11 incoming Shepherds freshmen to the Class of 2021. Kick Off Night for mentors, students and families is Thursday, September 28 from 6-8:00PM. Wishing all a successful, healthy and happy new school year!

Shepherds Celebrates Kolbe Cathedral HS Class of 2017

| June 1, 2017

This year, fifteen Shepherds students enrolled at Kolbe Cathedral HS in Bridgeport, received their diplomas. Executive Director, Dan McAuliffe, several Board Members, students, family, mentors and faculty celebrated the accomplishments of the 9 young women and 8 young men at their annual graduation brunch at Brooklawn Country Club in Fairfield. This year’s graduates include:

  • Iyanna Cobb who will attend Central CT State University to study Clinical Sociology.
  • Kay’la Cook who will attend Housatonic Community College to study Business.
  • Christine Davis who will study Nursing at Mt. St. Vincent’s College in NYC.
  • Hassanah Dixon who will attend Southern CT State University to study Physical Therapy.
  • Kirk Fils who will study Computer Science at Gateway Community College.
  • Steve Guaman who will study History at UCONN Stamford.
  • Jastin Machado who will also attend UCONN Stamford to study Biomedical Engineering.
  • Sabrina Miranda who plans to attend Southern CT State University this fall.
  • Danielle Ashley Pearson who will pursue Radiology at Gateway Community College.
  • Abimelett Rodriguez who will attend Norwalk Community College and focus on Business.
  • Ronald Rodriguez who will study Science at Fairfield University.
  • Sheina Rosa who will pursue a degree in Accounting at Barry University in FLA.
  • Kerry Thomas who will study Psychology at Central CT State University.
  • Jonathan Vasquez who will attend Embry Riddle University in FLA to study Aeronautics.
  • Keyira Whittingham who plans to study Biology, and ultimately Medicine, at The University of New Haven.

Angel Chavez ‘17 and Cody Markey ‘17 Honored at Westies Care Dinner

| April 27, 2017
West Haven — Two Notre Dame of West Haven students, Angel Chavez ‘17 and Cody Markey ‘17, were honored recently by the group Westies Cares at their annual banquet on Monday, March 27, 2017, at The Cielo Ballroom.
Both students received scholarships from the group based on their academic success and commitment to volunteering within the city of West Haven. Both will graduate from Notre Dame on Sunday, May 28, 2017, and are awaiting final decisions from the colleges they have applied to before selecting a destination for the fall.
“It is gratifying to see students like Angel and Cody recognized for what they accomplished in the classroom and for their interests and activities outside of Notre Dame,” said President Robert F. Curis. “Both are outstanding young men who have represented themselves and Notre Dame very well. We know they will continue to do great things as they move into the next chapter of their lives.”
Angel Chavez ‘17 has been very active at Notre Dame while also being an excellent student. A member of the National and Spanish Honor Societies, Chavez is also active in the Notre Dame community with his involvement in the Christian Student Mission Club (CSMC), Interact Club, and Literary Magazine for the last three years. He rose to leadership positions of CSMC President and Interact Treasurer. In addition, Chavez has been a key member of the cross country, indoor track, and outdoor track teams for the last three years. Outside of Notre Dame, Chavez has volunteered at WHEAT, his church youth group, USACF, and this past summer volunteering 120 hours as a transporter at the VA Hospital.

Cody Markey ‘17 has an equally impressive resume achieving honor roll status throughout his Notre Dame career. Immersing himself in many Notre Dame activities, he has been a member of the Interact Club (elected Secretary as a junior and President as a senior), AlumKnights, Team ND, BRO, and Ski and Snowboard Club. In addition to being a member of the outdoor track team for three years, Markey is active in the West Haven community at the OLOV Carnival, ECO Camp, being an altar-server, and helping at local food pantries.

Congratulations to both students on this well-deserved honor from Westies Care! The 2017 Westies Care Dinner marked the eighth annual celebration of education & community service where they recognized those who exemplify the core values of service, community, and education.

Westies Care has annually honored Notre Dame students. Past recipients of other awards include former President Br. James Branigan, C.S.C, Director of Campus Ministry Mrs. Gail Bellucci, and Vice-President of Advancement Mrs. Kathy Wielk.

Two Notre Dame Seniors Named SCC Scholar Leaders

| April 17, 2017

West Haven – Notre Dame of West Haven seniors Liam Connell ‘17 (Wallingford) and Jerrell Dorsey ‘17 (New Haven) were Notre Dame’s recipients as the Southern Connecticut Conference held its 23rd annual Scholar Leader Banquet on Monday, March 27, 2017, at Anthony’s Ocean View in New Haven.

The 2017 Southern Connecticut Conference Scholar Leader Banquet recognized forty-six truly impressive young people who have demonstrated outstanding scholarship and leadership in their respective schools and external communities.

Notre Dame President Robert F. Curis spoke glowingly of both students. He said, “Jerrell and Liam bring so much life to our building and are great leaders, who are prepared to succeed on their college campuses and in life. They are excellent students, who embraced what Notre Dame has to offer in and out of the classroom and will be missed next year. They have set a foundation for others to follow to continue their great leadership.”

Liam Connell ‘17

Liam has been an exemplary leader and scholar at Notre Dame. He serves as the Senior Class President, Editor of the Yearbook, President of the Spanish Club, a Peer Counselor, a Peer Tutor, and a member of DECA. He was also the starting goalie for the varsity ice hockey team, which reached the SCC Division I championship game. Liam has volunteered almost 100 hours with the Autism Services and Resources of America.

Jerrell Dorsey ‘17

Jerrell has been an outstanding leader and scholar at Notre Dame. He serves as the Student Council President, tri-captain of the varsity basketball team (which finished the 2016-17 regular-season with a perfect 20-0 record), founder/president of the Culinary Club, an officer in the Minority Student Union, a Peer Counselor, and a member of TEAM ND (the student ambassador program). He is extremely involved at St. Martin de Porres, where he attended middle school, and volunteers numerous hours with his grandmother at the Community Garden.

Founded in 1994, the Southern Connecticut Conference is celebrating its 23rd year in 2016–17 with 23 member schools and nearly 23,000 students. Recognized as one of the premier athletic leagues in the state of Connecticut, SCC member schools have captured more than 400 state championships since the league’s inception. More importantly, the SCC is recognized for its outstanding non-athletic programs and events in student leadership and the arts, which attempt to break down barriers and build bridges of understanding to its students.

Interested in Making a Real Difference in a Student’s Life? Be a Mentor.

| April 4, 2017

Shepherds (www.shepherdsmentors.org) is looking for mentors, sponsors and donors. We help to close the achievement gap in CT’s inner cities by providing at-risk students with a quality preparatory education and pairing them with a mentor.

The Shepherds’ program targets inner-city youth in the greater Bridgeport and New Haven area who need the support of a small class environment in order to succeed. The students who enter our program have a history of struggling academically in the public school system and tend to lack a strong support system at home. They come from families living below the poverty line, often with a single working parent, parents who have not graduated high school themselves and parents who are non-proficient English speakers. These challenges, coupled with residing in neighborhoods with low high school graduation rates, significantly decrease their likelihood of graduating from public schools and going onto college.

Shepherds works! Our graduation rate is 100% with the majority of our students continuing on to higher education. Shepherds…changing lives one student at a time.

 

Fairfield County Giving Day is Thursday, March 9th

| February 28, 2017

Shepherds is participating in Fairfield County’s Giving Day, a powerful 24-hour online fundraising competition that unites our community around local causes close to your heart. Last year, this amazing day of giving had extraordinary results: $1,246,964 donated by 11,000+ individuals for 410 nonprofits. Now in our 4th year, Giving Day is set to break records.

It’s your chance to support the local causes that are closest to your hearts – like Shepherds which supports Education in our at-risk communities. By providing financial support for a college preparatory education at a non-public high school, an adult Mentor, and teaching academic and life skills, Shepherds empowers young people to build a stronger foundation for future success.

Visit https://fcgives.org/designee/shepherds-inc to donate on March 9th!

Shepherds celebrates National Mentorship Month

| January 19, 2017

January is National Mentorship Month – a month dedicated since 2002 to promoting youth mentoring programs in the United States. For 18 years, Connecticut’s Shepherds, with help from a number of New Canaan residents, has partnered with Kolbe Cathedral High School in Bridgeport and Notre Dame High School in West Haven to provide tuition support and mentorship to at-risk youth.
Currently, Shepherds has 71 adult mentors working with 60 young men and women in the greater New Haven and Bridgeport area. Mentors come from all walks of life and all professions; they share a common commitment to serve as role models, confidants and cheerleaders for their students.
For more information about mentoring a student or contributing towards their education, please visit www.shepherdsmentors.com today.