Notre Dame staffer gets special recognition from Stanford University and former student.
Vlado Salic, left, Notre Dame’s director of guidance counseling, was nominated by 2016 alum James Pillot as part of Stanford University’s Teacher Tribute Initiative. Pillot, at right, served as one of Notre Dame’s student ambassadors while attending the school’s upper division.
Richard H. Shaw, who is the dean of undergraduate admission at Stanford, said that in earning the tribute, Salic has exhibited a meaningful impact on the lives and education of Notre Dame students, and in particular, on current Stanford freshman James Pillot.
“While the influence of former educators is truly invaluable, students do not often have the opportunity to express their appreciation,” Shaw said. “With this in mind, Stanford University sponsors the Teacher Tribute Initiative. This past summer, members of Stanford's Class of 2020 were given the opportunity to acknowledge a former educator who played a significant role in their intellectual, academic and personal development.”
For his part, Pillot, who is studying engineering at Stanford, said that while the entire staff at Notre Dame is exceptional, there was no question on who he would choose.
"Mr. Salic is as good as they come when it comes to the complex profession of guidance counseling,” Pillot said. “His lively spirit, relaxing demeanor, and highly sought-after wisdom that comes from years of experience makes him a sort of guru, a loved family man, and a highly valued employee. I will forever be grateful for the role that Mr. Salic has played in my many steps toward future success and on behalf of all that he does for everyone, I would like to send gratitude and God's many blessings to him.”
As a high-achieving student in Notre Dame Prep’s Class of 2016, Pillot also served in a number of extracurricular roles, including student ambassador and as a member of the Killer Bees robotics team. He also had a shoutout for a favorite subject during his tenure at NDP.
“My favorite subject has been math all throughout my years at Notre Dame with my favorite math class being Mr. McCaskey's AP Calc class,” Pillot said. “However, in a close second would be Mr. Smith's American Culture class that included looking at the evolution of music throughout the years and then watching footage from Woodstock, which was absolutely great. And I’m still a big fan of Jimi Hendrix!”
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About Notre Dame Preparatory School and Marist Academy
Notre Dame Preparatory School and Marist Academy is a private, Catholic, independent, coeducational day school located in Oakland County. The school's upper division enrolls students in grades nine through twelve and has been named one of the nation's best 50 Catholic high schools (Acton Institute) four times since 2005. Notre Dame's middle and lower divisions enroll students in jr. kindergarten through grade eight. All three divisions are International Baccalaureate "World Schools." The Marist Fathers and Brothers sponsor NDPMA's Catholic identity and manages its educational program. Notre Dame is accredited by the National Association of Independent Schools, the Independent Schools Association of the Central States and the North Central Association Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement. For more on Notre Dame Preparatory School and Marist Academy, visit the school's home page at www.ndpma.org.