De La Salle Collegiate High School

History of De La Salle Collegiate

The school first opened in 1926 across from a river called Conner Creek, but Detroit City Airport opened soon after the building of the school. The airplanes taking off would often cause the building to shake, later necessitating a change in location. The first class graduated in 1929.

Sports

De La Salle Collegiate is a Class A MHSAA-member school, as well as a member of the Catholic High School League Central Division in all sports with an enrollment of approximately 790 students from nearly 50 Metro Detroit communities and nearly 100 schools. 2014 D-2 Football State Champions

Symbols

The school’s seal is used in relation to academics. It was redesigned in 2002 for the third time.

The school’s DLS logo was designed in the late 1960s by Sam Viviano, Class of 1971, current Art Director for Mad Magazine. It is primarily used by the sports teams.

When the school first opened in 1926, a riverboat pilot (captain) was the school's mascot. In 1937, the school changed its mascot from the riverboat pilot to the present day airplane pilot, designed by Matt Sikora.

Student publications

De La Salle produces an annual yearbook called The Pilot which recounts the year’s events, activities, sports and academic achievements. It is distributed in the fall.

The student newspaper is called The Co-Pilot and is published by the Journalism class.

The alumni newsletter is called The Collegiate and is published three times a year by the Office of Advancement.

Class day

The school day is divided into 16 mods, which are 23 minutes long. Science labs are three mods long (69 minutes), while regular classes are two mods (46 minutes). The school day begins at 8:00 AM and ends at 2:45 PM during most school days.

During the school day, students with open mods are to be in one of the following places:

Digital Resource Center (DRC) for quiet study, use of computers, or research.

Student Commons where students talk quietly, study, and socialize

Cafeteria where students eat and socialize.

Academic and athletic recognition

De La Salle is an authorized International Baccalaureate School. The first cohort will begin the program in Fall 2015.

De La Salle Collegiate continues to receive national recognition for its academics, athletics and fine arts. In the last ten years, 99.8% of its students have enrolled in college after graduation.

In 2001, the concert and jazz bands, as well as the show choir and men's chorus performed in China. De La Salle’s band program was one of only two chosen throughout the United States to perform in China that year.Currently, De La Salle also offers Mandarin Chinese class from level 1 to level 3.

De La Salle Collegiate sports teams have appeared in 16 state finals in various sports since 1982, finishing as finalists in basketball (1982), soccer (1994), and football (2006 & 2008), while winning its first State Championship in 1990 in soccer. The De La Salle baseball team has appeared in five state finals since 1993 winning the championship four times.

In 2011, Brennan Kelly became the first all-state wrestler in DLS history, taking 8th at the state tournament. The achievement was matched by Jacob Van Ittersum, Class of 2014. DLS has won 12 more State Championships (five in soccer, four in baseball, two in bowling and one in lacrosse). The most recent state championship was won during the 2015-2016 school year when the school's baseball team won a state title in Division 1.

Their hockey team has consistently been among the top 10 teams in the state of Michigan for the last five years and has been to the Catholic League Championship game the past four years winning once in 2008 against Brother Rice. The team competes in the most elite league in the state, the MIHL.

In 2009, De La Salle Collegiate had 5 athletic teams win the Catholic League Championship, setting a new school record. The 2009 football team had the best record in school history by going 13-1 losing in the State Championship. They also won a state championship in baseball.

Sam Viviano became De La Salle's first Presidential Scholar in 1971.

In 2010, De La Salle's second Presidential Scholar, Bernard VanBerkum, was named. Only 141 students across the country received the prestigious honor, having demonstrated outstanding academic achievement, artistic excellence, leadership, citizenship, service, and contribution to school and community.

Notable alumni

Alex Avila, Major League Baseball catcher for the Detroit Tigers (attended but did not graduate)

Joseph LoDuca '70, Emmy Award-winning movie and television score composer.

Brian Maisonneuve '91, former Hermann Trophy winner and former professional soccer player with the Columbus Crew

J.P. McCarthy '50, former Detroit radio personality, WJR Radio

Mike Peplowski '88, former Michigan State and professional (NBA) basketball player

Steve Phillips '81, former New York Mets General Manager; former ESPN Baseball Tonight analyst

Robert L. Poxon '65, posthumously awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for his actions on June 2, 1969 in Vietnam. First Lieutenant Poxon courageously aided a fallen soldier, drawing enemy fire as he crossed 20 meters of open ground. Lt. Poxon was seriously and painfully wounded. However, he refused medical aid and evacuation, and instructed the men in his platoon to concentrate their fire on an enemy bunker. In spite of his wounds, Lt. Poxon crawled toward the bunker, and threw a hand grenade, despite continuous enemy assault. Although mortally wounded, his comrades pressed the attack and drove the enemy from their positions.

William Pulte '50, Chairman, Pulte Homes; Ranked #754 on Forbes Magazine list of World's Billionaires.

Bill Sheridan '77, Miami Dolphins' Inside Linebacker Coach, was part of the New York Giants' Super Bowl XLII Champion team as a Linebackers coach. He is currently with the Detroit Lions as the linebackers' coach.

Sam Viviano '71, Art Director, Mad Magazine

Craig Wolanin '85, former National Hockey League player, won the Stanley Cup with the Colorado Avalanche in 1996.

Jerry McCabe '83, former National Football League player for the New England Patriots and Kansas City Chiefs

Keith Karpinski '84, former National Football League player for the Detroit Lions; member of the 1986 National Champion Penn State University football team.

Chris Godfrey '76, former National Football League player for the New York Jets, New York Giants, and Seattle Seahawks who was a starting Offensive Lineman for the Super Bowl XXI winning Giants

Danny DeKeyser '08, former Western Michigan University defenseman, currently a National Hockey League defenseman for the Detroit Red Wings after signing a 2-year contract.

Shane Morris '13, currently a NCAA Football quarterback for the Central Michigan Chippewas and formerly for the Michigan Wolverines.

School song

The "School Song" was written by H. O'Reilly Clint in the late 1920s. It is traditional for each class to compete in singing the School Song at the first pep rally in the fall.

The lyrics are as follows:

"De La Salle, we’re rooting for you, De La Salle, oh can’t you see, Everyone of us is for you, We’ll cheer you on to victory. Rah! Rah! To the Gold and to the Purple, We will pledge our loyalty, And may years add but fame To that grand old name. De La Salle! De La Salle!"

Alma mater

The "Alma Mater" was written, like the "School Song", by H. O'Reilly Clint in the late 1920s.

The lyrics are as follows:

"De La Salle, we pledge to thee Hearts inspired with loyalty Proudly we thy praises sing; Boldly may thy anthems ring. Purple and Gold, To thee we shall be true; Alma Mater ever faithful Sons for you."