Recently, two of our De La Salle Collegiate young alumni have generously given back to current students. 

Eric Tawney, ‘08, provided a donation for the DLS Stock Market Club to invest.

Tawney actually worked with then business teacher Dennis Koch, now the Director of Alumni Relations, to create the DLS Stock Market Club in 2007. Koch has continued to moderate the group, and recently invited Tawney to speak. 

While the Stock Market Club has engaged in various online stock market games, this donation will be used to carefully study the market and make real-time purchases. 

“It's an honor to support De La Salle in the creation of the Pilot Fund,” Tawney said. “It is my hope that this Fund will provide students with the opportunity to learn and further develop their interests in investing and financial markets.”

Tawney attended Oakland University, majoring in Finance and Economics, and later earned a Master’s in Public Policy at the University of Chicago in 2014. 

He now works in New York City, for BlackRock as a Vice President, Americas Real Assets Research & Strategy. During much of the pandemic, Tawney has been working remotely from his family home here in Michigan, but expects to return to NYC in the near future. 

Michael Smigiel, ‘15, provided a generous donation toward the Stock Market Club, and a second donation for the Career Readiness class, created by Emerge Training. The four-module class covers building students’ personal brand, networking, the college/job search, and interviews and offers. The course is offered after school. 

 
Of his philanthropy, Smigiel said, “I wanted to give current students a head start on their career paths, no matter if you are in finance or the medical field. DLS students are future leaders.”
 
Smigiel graduated from DePaul University, in Chicago, with a major in Finance and a minor in Accounting. He currently lives in Chicago, and works for William Blair, a global investment banking firm. At William Blair, Smigiel works with Healthcare clients, within the Biopharma and Medical Technology space, to either raise money within the capital markets (i.e. IPOs) or represent his clients through strategic acquisitions (Sell-Side M&A). 
 
During his time at DLS, Smigiel was active within DECA, the Stockmarket Club, and the banking class presented by Christian Financial Credit Union. 
 
Alumni Relations Director Dennis Koch praised both graduates for their philanthropy and commitment to helping the next generation with experiences beyond the classroom.