Karla Wiese Receives De La Salle's Saint Benilde Award During School-Wide Mass

De La Salle’s longtime Director of Development was today presented with the school’s Saint Benilde Award. The announcement took place during De La Salle’s Immaculate Conception Liturgy.

Designed to recognize the outstanding contributions of staff members who play a significant role in the successful operations of the school, this year’s recipient was especially deserving. Throughout her fifteen years with De La Salle, Mrs. Wiese has worked tirelessly to ensure that each and every De La Salle student has access to the best education and resources that De La Salle can provide. Her work with De La Salle’s generous community helps ensure that De La Salle’s Annual Fund is able to bridge the $3,079 deficit that exists in educating each student, as well as meet the school’s mission to educate students who would otherwise be unable to afford a De La Salle education.    

In the submitted nomination forms, her peers expressed how Mrs. Wiese was the "heart and soul of De La Salle in terms of her commitment to the mission, teachers, and her goal to create opportunities for all students to thrive." 

Mr. Mark Chiarucci, Vice President for Advancement, said, "I don’t think there has been a greater staff champion of De La Salle High School than Karla. Her passion and devotion to the school and her role as Director of Development is inspiring. Because of her efforts, millions of dollars over the years have been raised to support the students, faculty and staff. Financial aid, co-circulars, building campaigns, the brotherhood fund, the list goes on and on. In just the last two years, her creativity and drive behind De La Salle's Giving Week has realized $1M for the school. The number of parents and alumni that she has engaged within our community is truly impressive. In addition, she is always willing to help out in any way she can, with any department, and is always there with a smile. She also “lights up” when she has the rare opportunity to work with our students, whether with the phone-a-thons, or working with the keynote student speaker at the auction. In my mind, there is no more devoted staff member."

About Saint Benilde:
Saint Benilde earned a reputation as a wise administrator, exceptional teacher, faith-filled catechist, helpful supervisor, and a strong disciplinarian. He was proclaimed a Saint on October 29, 1967, and was the first Christian Brother to be so honored.

Past Recipients:
De La Salle’s Saint Benilde Award is presented to a staff member every two years. Past recipients include Mrs. Sherry Bedford, Mrs. Marilyn Gardner, Mr. Allan Hightman, Mr. Russ Probst, Ms. Kathy Resch, Mrs. Margaret Silva, and Mrs. Dee Turin.