News Detail
La Salle Grads Instrumental In San Miguel Success
Many La Salle Academy alumni reflect decades later about the formative education and ground work of values such as character and community service learned at La Salle. They frequently remark how these values have followed them throughout their lives.
This year the San Miguel School is celebratingits 20th anniversary and similarly carries on that same La Salle tradition of rigorous academic standards, a nurturing environment and community service. These at-risk urban middle school students, from low-income families, grow into young men with a positive vision for their future that helps transform their education and their lives.
Many of the boys go on to attend La Salle. In most cases these students have earned academic scholarships to further their education and the majority go on to college or trade school or serve the United States in the military.
Nestled in the working class Wanskuck neighborhood in Providence, the school is home to 64 boys and carries on the tradition begun by St. John Baptist de La Salle in the late 1600s. It is not surprising that much of the school’s success can be attributed to the effort of many La Salle Academy alumni.
“During these past twenty years the school has reached out to the community and has developed a wide network of friends and supporters from across our small state. Because of La Salle’s formidable presence in the Greater Providence area, it makes sense that quite a few La Salle alums have taken to the mission of The San Miguel School,” said Executive Director Bro. Lawrence Goyette, FSC.
One La Salle grad who has made an indelible contribution at San Miguel is Terrence W. Allen ’74, a 2012 inductee into the La Salle Academy Hall of Fame. In addition to being a mentor and benefactor at San Miguel, Terry was Board Chairman from 1999 to 2004. In that role Terry helped put San Miguel on a steady course for growth and success.
Many La Salle Academy alumni reflect decades later about the formative education and ground work of values such as character and community service learned at La Salle. They frequently remark how these values have followed them throughout their lives.
This year the San Miguel School is celebratingits 20th anniversary and similarly carries on that same La Salle tradition of rigorous academic standards, a nurturing environment and community service. These at-risk urban middle school students, from low-income families, grow into young men with a positive vision for their future that helps transform their education and their lives.
Many of the boys go on to attend La Salle. In most cases these students have earned academic scholarships to further their education and the majority go on to college or trade school or serve the United States in the military.
Nestled in the working class Wanskuck neighborhood in Providence, the school is home to 64 boys and carries on the tradition begun by St. John Baptist de La Salle in the late 1600s. It is not surprising that much of the school’s success can be attributed to the effort of many La Salle Academy alumni.
“During these past twenty years the school has reached out to the community and has developed a wide network of friends and supporters from across our small state. Because of La Salle’s formidable presence in the Greater Providence area, it makes sense that quite a few La Salle alums have taken to the mission of The San Miguel School,” said Executive Director Bro. Lawrence Goyette, FSC.
One La Salle grad who has made an indelible contribution at San Miguel is Terrence W. Allen ’74, a 2012 inductee into the La Salle Academy Hall of Fame. In addition to being a mentor and benefactor at San Miguel, Terry was Board Chairman from 1999 to 2004. In that role Terry helped put San Miguel on a steady course for growth and success.
That growth led to expanded financial Student Sponsorships, the beginnings of an endowment fund, formulation of the first 5-Year Strategic Plan and formation of the first Executive Director’s Council. Additionally, Terry was recipient of the Miguel Medal for his service to the school. But these honors pale in comparison to the steady leadership and commitment Terry has brought to San Miguel.
“The ‘San Miguel Miracle’ takes boys from challenging circumstances and transforms their lives by providing high expectations of proper behavior, positive re-enforcement, and character development” said Terry.
Terry’s long-term commitment is shared with his wife Marianne who he met shortly after graduating from Bryant University in 1978. Terry and Marianne recently celebrated their 27th wedding anniversary, more than half of those years they have spent together volunteering, mentoring and shaping the lives of many boys at San Miguel. They also are the proud parents of two daughters who are La Salle grads; Emily ‘07 and Molly B ‘09.
“Our involvement with San Miguel School recognizes the need to provide an education as a way to break the cycle of poverty,” said Terry.
“Terry has always been one of our biggest ‘cheerleaders’ over these past two decades,” said Brother Lawrence. “Whether it’s bringing a guest to a morning assembly or awards luncheon, encouraging a friend or co-worker to make a charitable gift, or dressing up as Santa at our Annual Spring gala to raise the necessary funds for our after school program, Terry is completely dedicated to the school’s mission of changing the lives of urban kids. It’s hard to imagine The San Miguel School without Terry and Marianne.”
San Miguel School is located at 525 Branch Ave. Providence, RI 02908 (401-467-9777). La Salle alumni can learn more about San Miguel School at www.SanMiguelProv.org
La Salle Academy is a high school rich in history and grounded in the person and teachings of Jesus and the Catholic faith, which are core to the school's life and culture. The De La Salle Middle School provides a strong holistic foundation for students to transition into high school. The high school and middle school provide students of diverse ethnic, economic, and religious backgrounds, a community to foster growth in the tradition of St. John Baptist de La Salle’s ideals of faith, service, and community.
