DLS plans for new STEM Center

WARREN — Due to the generosity of one De La Salle Collegiate High School graduate, a brand-new STEM Center will be built on the school’s campus.

On June 22, it was announced Steve McShane pledged a multimillion-dollar gift to De La Salle, which will be used to construct a world-class science, technology, engineering and math center.

“I think the addition of a STEM-based center will be highly impactful,” Class of ’61 graduate McShane said in a prepared statement. “For starters, it’ll help attract high-quality students who are committed to excelling in various highly technical subjects. This is critically important to the school and to our country, which relies on innovation to compete in today’s world.”

The forthcoming STEM center is a component of the school’s recently launched capital campaign. The campaign — titled “Builders of Boys. Makers of Men. The Next 100 Years!” — is designed to keep De La Salle alive and well for another century.

“When I was at De La Salle, I was put into some of the advanced courses, with high expectations, that really helped create for me the value of learning and understanding concepts (especially in science and mathematics,”) McShane said. “I think this STEM center will do the same for the DLS students of tomorrow.”

According to DLS officials, the multimillion-dollar gift is the second largest in the history of the all-boys Catholic High School. The new STEM facility will be called the Steve and Kathy McShane STEM Innovation Center. Officials plan to build the new center in a classroom where the esports program currently is.

DLS President Larry Rancilio, a Class of 1986 graduate, said construction on the new STEM building will begin at the end of May 2024. The new STEM center will open in the fall of 2025.

“The De La Salle community is blessed to have Mr. and Mrs. McShane as part of the Pilot family and views this ultra-generous gift as being critical to the long-term success of the school,” Rancilio said. “I cannot thank Steve and Kathy enough for their generosity. De La Salle is better today than it was yesterday, and it’s because this gift will impact a countless number of young men for years to come.”

With the addition of the Steve and Kathy McShane STEM Innovation Center, DLS educators will be able to offer more options for students in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. That includes everything from computer programming to coding.

“This will be a game changer for us. It opens the door to any number of different classes to be offered,” Advancement Director Greg Esler said. “Steve and Kathy McShane are two of the most good-hearted and value-driven people that I know. He’s been a generous donor over the last couple years. We talked to him about this project for a long time. We’re happy to see it come to fruition.”

For instance, one plan is to bring in an aviation program in which a simulator will be used so students can feel like they are in an actual airplane. Three DLS students already have earned their pilot license, which is fitting since the school mascot is the pilot. With the STEM Center, more students will have the opportunity to learn about aviation.

“We’ll have the capacity to fly drones in a controlled environment,” Esler said.

Many DLS graduates pursue their postsecondary education at various colleges, including the University of Detroit Mercy in Detroit, Lawrence Technological University in Southfield and Wayne State University in Detroit. With the addition of the STEM Center, the DLS students will be better prepared for college.

“We’ve gone to the universities and asked them what they need from our students,” Rancilio said. “We’re (gearing) our classes and our programs toward that. For us being a college preparatory school, that’s our goal.”

School officials are looking forward to the opening of the Steve and Kathy McShane STEM Innovation Center.

“It will meet the needs of our students,” school Principal Br. Ken Kalinowski said.

McShane is the CEO of Midtronics Inc., which he founded in 1984. Midtronics is a global market leader in battery testers and diagnostic chargers for traditional automotive electric systems, as well as the service equipment for electrical vehicle batteries. Midtronics possesses more than 200 patents in battery management technology. It has twice been named Chicago’s most innovative company by Crain’s Chicago Business.