Since the third grade, Sam Bellafiore knew he wanted to be a student at La Salle Institute. When he entered the Institute in sixth grade, he immediately got involved. Writing for the student paper, serving on the student senate, and competing on the drill team for two years, Sam has taken advantage of the many opportuninties to serve La Salle Institute.
Sam has also been a vibrant face out in the community, volunteering with Lasallian Youth at the local nursing home, as welI as representing the Institute at open houses, and speaking about La Salle at other schools to recruit new students.
This Lasallian musician has played in the school’s band, and sung for school Masses and for La Salle’s Living Stations of the Cross. Outside of school, he sings in his parish choir and a regional youth choir.
Currently, Sam is La Salle’s Cadet Colonel, the highest-ranking cadet of about 300 members of the school’s Army Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps. Each year, students in the JROTC program take a Leadership Education Training course taught by one of the JROTC instructors, learning about subjects like civics, military history, and leadership. Within the JROTC program there are several different activities including the drill team, color guard, and Officer Commissioning School.
Even with all he does, Sam remains focused on academics and has earned gold honors with distinction every semester of his high school career. In his Senior year, Sam is looking to study philosophy and music in college. In a wider picture, he is also discerning a call to the priesthood for after college.
Sam strives to adhere to La Salle’s guiding principles of truth, honor, and duty, and is a fine example of the Lasallian spirit.