Montini Catholic teacher receives VFW award

Montini Catholic High School in Lombard congratulates theology teacher Denis Block for being the recipient of the 2021-22 Smart/Maher VFW National Citizenship Education Teacher Award presented by Illinois' 19th District Veterans of Foreign Wars.

Block was presented with this award on Thursday, March 3, by Dennis Jensen, Commander of the Lombard Lilac VFW Post 5815.

The Smart/Maher VFW National Citizenship Education Teacher Award was created to honor teachers who are concerned about the perpetuation of America's noblest traditions and highest ideals, instilling a sense of national pride in their students.

Block was nominated for the award by Montini Catholic President Jim Segredo.

"Denis is an excellent role model for his students. He has a deep faith, a keen sense of what is ethical and moral behavior, a willingness to serve others and a great love for his country. As a Lasallian educator, Denis advocates to our students the importance of community service and helping those that are less fortunate than we are. He has dedicated countless hours of his time organizing and volunteering to help others. Through his work in campus ministry here at Montini, Denis has given students experiences in social justice and freedom of speech, as well as responsibility for others. He has taken students to Washington for the March for Life Rally, showing them how to appropriately exercise their freedom to express their opinion. he has taken students to Jamaica to work with poverty stricken families, instilling in his students, not just a sense of responsibility, but also an appreciation of what they have and the country they live in."

This is Denis Block's seventh year teaching at Montini Catholic, beginning in the 2015-2016 school year.

Since then he has taught seven classes: Theology 9, Theology 10, Church History, Sacraments, Social Justice, Faith in Media, and The Church/Pascal Mystery.

He also moderates Montini's Lasallian Youth and is assistant coach for the boys tennis team. He has enthusiastically organized the Habitat for Humanity trips on behalf of Montini for the past six years, co-moderated the March for Life (Washington D.C. trip) for seven years, and attended the 2018 International Samaritan mission trip to Jamaica.

Block humbly lives a life of "zeal for service," involving himself in Lasallian ministries since college. He worked in the library while earning his Bachelors in Accounting at Lewis University.

"After that, I joined the Lasallian Volunteer program from 2007-2009," he says. "They sent me to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where I served as a third-eighth grade physical education teacher while living with Christian Brothers and other volunteers. After that, I went to Saint Mary's College of California for three years where I worked in campus ministry and studied to earn my Masters in Business Administration with a concentration in Finance."

It was at that point that he realized he wanted to stay in the Lasallian world, and come back home. "I served on the retreat staff at La Salle Manor Retreat Center for three years. While there, I met many of the wonderful staff members and students at Montini Catholic. There was a job opening, I applied, and here I am!"

Throughout his years at Montini Catholic, Block has found that the most rewarding aspect of teaching at a Lasallian school is walking with the students as they grow in faith and knowledge.

"Denis has been very involved in service outreach here at Montini Catholic," says Campus Minister Michael Blanchette. "He is a teacher who shows great interest in his students and he challenges them to get involved in service opportunities. He truly helps them make the connection between what they learn in theology classes and in their everyday lives. He is always willing to help out wherever he can here at Montini. Denis is a true example of what it means to be Lasallian. We are so very blessed to have him as a member of our school community."

Principal Kevin Beirne agrees. "Denis is incredibly dedicated to our school community and the young people in it. His vocation is one of presence - he supports the students in their many endeavors outside the classroom and regularly creates opportunities for them to engage in wider community through service. There's no doubt that students are better prepared to improve the world around them when they leave us due to Denis's work and dedication."

"Denis Block loves his country and displays the American Spirit by helping others," adds Jim Segredo. "We were all so very proud to learn that he was chosen for this award. He is a true servant of God and his country. His volunteerism to help others and to organize groups of students to help others promotes our country's democratic values of service and helping others in need."

Founded in 1899, the VFW highly supports the education of America's youth. VFW and its Auxiliary have developed a slate of programs dedicated to helping America's educators. Their Citizenship Education programs stimulate interest in America's history, traditions, Americanism, civic responsibility, flag etiquette and patriotism.