The Leonidas Foundation & Don Bosco Prep Celebrate L.E.O. Program Third Cohort Pinning Ceremony

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE ~ Saturday, October 12, 2019
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Contact: Matthew Perricone, President ~ 973-615-3501 ~ leonidasfoundation@gmail.com

Ramsey, NJ ~ The Leonidas Foundation & Don Bosco Preparatory High School were proud to welcome the third cohort of school’s The L.E.O. Program at its annual Pinning Ceremony on Wednesday evening in Savio Hall at the school’s Ramsey New Jersey campus.

Twenty-five junior students were ceremoniously pinned in anticipation of the January 2020 commencement of their L.E.O. Program course. In the presence of current and graduated L.E.O. Program students, family, friends, Leonidas Foundation representatives, and members of the Don Bosco Prep religious and lay communities, the students heard testimony from their peers who have experienced the course along with best wishes from administration. 

Following a welcome blessing by Fr. Jim Heuser, Director of Don Bosco Prep, students were greeted by Prof. John Esposito, Director of the L.E.O Program who recognized Ms. Tayler Falvey, the new Entrepreneurship Aide at Don Bosco Prep, and her contributions to the program. Leonidas Foundation Trustee Teddy Vagias, whose late son is the program’s namesake, offered a powered call to action expressing the Foundation and the school's commitment to investing in the students with the expectation that the students will commit to the coursework and interactive learning experiences.

The inductees were addressed by Don Bosco Prep alumnus and L.E.O. Program supporter Joseph Wexler. Since graduating from Fordham University in 2010, Joe has worked as a financial advisor.  He currently serves on the Alumni Board for both Don Bosco Prep and Fordham University. 

One of the highlights of the evening came when four former and current L.E.O. Program students spoke to those gathered about their experiences in L.E.O.. Owen Doherty, a member of the inaugural L.E.O. cohort, and fellow classmate Joseph Capone conveyed the gravity of the opportunity that L.E.O. offers the students involved.

Two current L.E.O. Program students, Michael Marian and Gregory Brew, then spoke about their time so far in L.E.O. including the mentors they have interacted with, their trip to Washington D.C. this past summer and the upcoming “Shark Tank” type presentation, IronWorks, that will take place in January. At IronWorks the L.E.O. students will pitch the businesses being developed with adult mentors to a real panel of investors, with the event serving as the culmination of their L.E.O. Program coursework.

Prior to the pinning exercise, Leonidas Foundation President Matthew Perricone ‘15 spoke to the attendees about the Foundation’s efforts in conjunction with Don Bosco Prep to formulate and develop the L.E.O. Program.  The new L.E.O. students were then pinned by President Perricone, Vice President Alex Cucciniello ‘15, Prof. Esposito, and Trustee Vagias. Principal Manny Morelli concluded the evening’s festivities with words of encouragement to the new L.E.O. Program students and their families while discussing how the L.E.O. Program is serving as a model for the curriculum pathways programs that are being developed at Don Bosco Prep to enhance its preparation of its young men for their undergraduate studies and beyond

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