ROCKFORD — A Boylan Catholic High School graduate is taking a break from athletics to take on a student leadership role at Illinois Wesleyan University in Bloomington.
Gus Castro, from Boylan’s Class of 2015, is IWU’s new student senate vice president.
The IWU junior was encouraged by his debate teammate to run and was elected in the fall. He officially began his term with the new year.
Castro is taking a break from representing the school in the 400-meter track-and-field event. His goal is to be as visible as possible and to keep questioning administrators about their use of funds for students.
“I just want to help people in general," Castro said. "Everyone needs help. We should all help each other.”
The 21-year-old political science major hopes to become a lawyer. He’s considering law schools at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., and St. Louis University in St. Louis.
He told his mother that he’d like to become a district attorney one day. His mother, Mary Lou Castro, president of the League of United Latin American Citizens' Rockford chapter, wants him to think big.
She sent him to Boylan so he could have a strong moral background. She said it’s in her oldest child’s nature to be ambitious in his desire to help others. He is tied to the family of Galo Plaza, a former Ecuadorian president.
With that background, “you’re not as much as a follower as a leader helping (and) directing in a bigger way,” she said. “We want our kids to do our best.”
Susan Vela: 815-987-1392; svela@rrstar.com; @susanvela