Basketball, Brotherhood, and Giving Back: Sal Torre '88's Lifelong Salesian Connection

Basketball, Brotherhood, and Giving Back: Sal Torre '88's Lifelong Salesian Connection

Sal Torre showed up to Salesian High School on day one without knowing a thing about it. What followed was a basketball career that landed him in the Athletics Hall of Fame, a successful run in commercial real estate finance, and a return to the school as a Board of Trustees member helping build the future.  In this episode, Sal talks about playing on Coach Frank Conroy's first varsity team alongside future NBA draft pick Eric Mobley and 15-year pro Willie Latson, the mentors who shaped him, the teachers he's still friends with nearly 40 years later, and why he's helping launch Salesian's Alumni Association. His message to current and future Eagles: take every opportunity in front of you and find your lane. Salesian High School was founded in 1920 and is an independent school within the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools serving the Westchester County and Bronx areas. Learn more [https://www.salesianhigh.org/] about Salesian High School. Keep up to date with Salesian High School! Follow us on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/salesianeagles/], Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/SalesianHS/], YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCiERJF-V0EdTeYcg4JqWTqg], and LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/school/salesianhighschool/]

Drive, Dedication, and Doctoring: Dr. Michael Foti's '10 Salesian Story

Dr. Michael Foti came to Salesian because his brother couldn't stop talking about it. What happened next was a complete transformation. From ranking #1 in his class all four years to becoming valedictorian, Mike went on to Iona College, NYIT College of Osteopathic Medicine, and an internal medicine residency at Greenwich Hospital in the Yale system. Now a professor of medicine at Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine, Mike discovered that his real calling wasn't just being a doctor but being a mentor. In this episode, Steve Sallustio pulls out Mike's actual high school transcript, talks influential teachers like Jessica Cullen, Angelo Petrino, and Miss Caringi, and announces that Dr. Foti will be the 2026 commencement speaker. Salesian High School was founded in 1920 and is an independent school within the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools serving the Westchester County and Bronx areas. Learn more [https://www.salesianhigh.org/] about Salesian High School. Keep up to date with Salesian High School! Follow us on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/salesianeagles/], Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/SalesianHS/], YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCiERJF-V0EdTeYcg4JqWTqg], and LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/school/salesianhighschool/]

Faith, Family, and Giving Back: Tarik Hyman '96 and the Salesian Way

Tarik Hyman didn't choose Salesian High School. Salesian chose him. In this episode, Steve Sallustio sits down with the Class of 1996 Silver Eagle recipient who turned a career in Catholic education into a lifelong mission of paying it forward. From his grandmother bringing him to that first interview with Mr. Flaherty, to running schools across the Archdiocese, to sending countless students back to Salesian, Tariq's story is proof that the Salesian family never lets go. Now the Assistant Principal at St. Raymond's Elementary, Tariq is set to receive the Bishop Ernest Coppola Award for Alumni Achievement at the 2026 President's Dinner. Salesian High School was founded in 1920 and is an independent school within the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools serving the Westchester County and Bronx areas. Learn more [https://www.salesianhigh.org/] about Salesian High School. Keep up to date with Salesian High School! Follow us on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/salesianeagles/], Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/SalesianHS/], YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCiERJF-V0EdTeYcg4JqWTqg], and LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/school/salesianhighschool/]

Faith, Service, and Community: Gio Lopes’ '15 Salesian Journey

In this episode of Eagles on the Air, Steve Sallustio sits down with Gio Lopes, Class of 2015. Gio shares how his connection to the Salesian Order began through his mother’s work as an educator and how that relationship in Westchester led him to Salesian High School. Entering as a shy young student, Gio reflects on how Salesian helped him grow into a confident young man: drawn in by the basketball program and shaped by meaningful experiences both on and off the court. The conversation also explores Gio’s passion for service, from a powerful service trip to Haiti and his involvement in Gospel Roads, to his current role as Brand & Social Marketing Manager at Feeding Westchester, one of the largest food banks in the county. Gio speaks about how Salesian prepared him to continue a life of purpose, helping others and giving back to his community. 🎧 Listen now to hear how faith, service, and leadership come together in a true Salesian story. Salesian High School was founded in 1920 and is an independent school within the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools serving the Westchester County and Bronx areas. Learn more [https://www.salesianhigh.org/] about Salesian High School. Keep up to date with Salesian High School! Follow us on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/salesianeagles/], Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/SalesianHS/], YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCiERJF-V0EdTeYcg4JqWTqg], and LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/school/salesianhighschool/]

From Student to Coach: The Salesian Path of Spencer Boateng ’11

In this episode of Eagles on the Air, Steve Sallustio welcomes Spencer Boateng, Class of 2011. Spencer reflects on how his Salesian journey began at an Open House and how stepping onto the New Rochelle campus from the Bronx immediately made an impression. He shares the moment that truly won him over: when Fr. Patrick Angelucci explained that at Salesian, he would never be just a number, but always treated as a person. A self-described late start to basketball, Spencer talks about learning the game for the first time at Salesian and how sports became the gateway for him to discover his confidence and voice. With the support of teachers and coaches, he felt prepared for what came next—leading him into college sports recruitment at Iona University, becoming part of the Iona basketball program, and eventually stepping into leadership roles as head coach at CCNY and now as a Player Development Specialist with NY Renaissance. 🎧 Listen now to hear how Salesian prepares students to find their voice, on and off the court. Salesian High School was founded in 1920 and is an independent school within the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools serving the Westchester County and Bronx areas. Learn more [https://www.salesianhigh.org/] about Salesian High School. Keep up to date with Salesian High School! Follow us on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/salesianeagles/], Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/SalesianHS/], YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCiERJF-V0EdTeYcg4JqWTqg], and LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/school/salesianhighschool/]