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Son Of School's Namesake Comes To Roberto Clemente Dedication

Son Of School's Namesake Comes To Roberto Clemente Dedication image
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Day
19
Month
September
Year
1994
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Donated by the Ann Arbor News. © The Ann Arbor News.
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Son of school's namesake comes to Roberto Clemente dedication

By LILLY A. EVANS

NEWS SPECIAL WRITER

The dedication of the new Roberto Clemente Student Development Center Sunday afternoon left few dry eyes.

Unveiling the $3.1 million school for at-risk students in the Ann Arbor Schools also served as a tribute to Roberto Clemente Principal Joe Dulin, who has strived for 20 years to improve and expand the program and its facility at Textile and Carpenter Roads.

Guest of honor Roberto Clemente Jr., son of the first Hispanic elected to the Baseball Hall of fame, told a gathering of about 250 that Dulin is a lot like his father, who also helped youths in the community.

“My father is looking upon us and thanking us for using his name for such a good program,” Clemente Jr. said.

Roberto Clemente Sr., who became as famous for his charitable acts as his batting average, died in a plane crash while flying supplies to victims of the 1972 Nicaraguan earthquake.

Clemente Jr. said what a wonderful honor it is to have the school and program named after his father.

Ingrid Sheldon, mayor of the city of Ann Arbor, John Simpson, the Superintendent of Ann Arbor Schools and Anthony Barker, president of the board of education, also took the podium to congratulate Dulin.

“Joe, this is your day. Hold fast to your dreams and they will come true,” Simpson said.

The ceremony also featured Clemente student Bri’Anne Thomas singing a solo and students Andrew Graham and LaNita Lyons reciting a humorous history of Clemente and thanking Dulin.

The dedication closed with the crowd holding hands, singing “Lean on Me.”

Teachers and parents of students worked closely with the architects to build the brick school with a home-like environment for learning.

About 60 percent of Clemente’s Students are self-referrals, and 40 percent were referred because of discipline problems at other schools.

The 43,000-square-foot school has 17 classrooms that will accommodate 200 students. Dulin said presently there are 100 students, next year there will be 150 students and the following year there will be 200 students attending.

The entrance of the school is a beacon that serves as a welcome for the students as they enter. The halls radiate outward from the lobby, which serves as the gathering hub for the building. Curriculum offerings have been expanded right along with the building, to include computers, technology, music, art and physical education.

Roberto Clemente Sr.’s widow was supposed to be a guest of honor but didn’t attend due to a family illness.

'Joe, this is your day. Hold fast to your dreams and they will come true.'

— Supt. John Simpson to Principal Joe Dulin

NEWS PHOTO • WILLIAM JORDAN

Roberto Clemente Jr., left, is greeted by Principal Joe Dulin at the dedication of the new education facility on Textile road.