Students and Staff Gather for the Heroic Vow Ceremony and Educator of the Year Presentation
November 17, 2021
Seniors each received a medal as part of the Heroic Vow ceremony.
Mr. Gary Hortsch spoke about the importance of the Heroic Vow during the assembly. After the assembly, Mr. Hortsch added that “it really means a lot as we rebuild our school spirit and who we are as a school,” he said.
Ms. Cha Asokan embraced her friend and colleague Mr. Matt Owen.
While Ms. Cha Asokan was giving her speech as the Educator of the Year, pictures of artwork made by students in Ms. Cha’s classes were shown on a projector.
Seniors each received a medal as part of the Heroic Vow ceremony.
Several seniors from Ms. Cha’s art classes spoke at the assembly, acknowledging the impact she has had on their lives.
Several seniors from Ms. Cha’s art classes spoke at the assembly, acknowledging the impact she has had on their lives.
Principal Ms. Alanna O’Brien gave a short introduction prior to Ms. Cha Asokan’s speech.
On Wednesday, Nov. 17, students gathered in the gym to take part in a longstanding Lasallian tradition: the Heroic Vow. At the assembly, students heard a presentation from the Lasallian Educator of the Year, Ms. Cha Asokan.
The ceremony has historically taken place during the fall semester, but due to COVID-19, last year’s Heroic Vow ceremony was held in an abbreviated form during Baccalaureate Mass.
“Certainly just tons of gratitude that we were able to pull it off this year,” said Mr. Gary Hortsch, the Director of Faith at La Salle. “It really means a lot as we rebuild our school spirit and who we are as a school, [and] as the seniors establish themselves as leaders.”
At the assembly, speeches were delivered by three of Ms. Cha’s senior students, as well as by counselor and friend to Ms. Cha, Ms. Maritza Mendez.
Following these speeches, Ms. Cha was welcomed to the stage to give a speech of her own, where she shared about her relationship with each of her family members, and reflected on how their guidance has shaped her as a teacher and member of the La Salle community.
After the recognition of Ms. Cha had concluded, seniors were asked to rise and participate in a call and response recitation, which was led by Mr. Hortsch.
The Heroic Vow ceremony is a tradition that is unique to La Salle Prep, although it celebrates many of the values that are followed by Lasallian institutions worldwide.
“I hope that it really is an infusion of living the mission, that we’re still coming out of the pandemic and figuring out ways that we can interact, but that we can see each other for the gifts that we have, and really connect, not just with our friends, but beyond our own little friend groups and to further reaches of the school,” Mr. Hortsch said.
To La Salle senior and student body president Amanda Rivera, taking the Heroic Vow is the first step towards graduation, as it is the first school-wide event that recognizes that year’s graduating class.
“When we first applied to go to La Salle, being big brothers and big sisters within even just our smaller community is exactly what we signed up to do,” Rivera said. “Heroic Vow, being a promise to continue being big brothers and sisters in the world, definitely shows seniors how close we are to living out our hopes and dreams in our lives, and demonstrates just how much of an impact we get to make post high school in the bigger community.”
