The District of Eastern North America (DENA) is preparing to welcome a new cohort of young participants to the 2025 Adrien Nyel Institute, a weeklong formation program for those exploring a vocation in education. Scheduled for June 22 to 26 at St. John’s College High School in Washington, D.C., the Institute will gather eight participants, including high school students, college students, recent graduates, and early-career professionals, for an immersive experience rooted in the Lasallian educational mission.

Participants will be housed at Embassy Suites in Bethesda, Maryland. Over the course of five days, attendees will take part in school visits, university and cultural site tours, prayer services, and guided discussions that explore the deeper meaning of teaching as a ministry of service, justice, and faith.

Named for Adrien Nyel, a 17th-century layman who collaborated with Saint John Baptist de La Salle to open schools for poor children, the Institute continues his legacy by nurturing new generations of educators grounded in compassion, equity, and purpose.

The proposed itinerary includes:

• June 22 – Participant arrivals at 4:00 PM
• June 23 – Visits to St. John’s College High School and San Miguel School, Washington, D.C.
• June 24 – Visit to Howard University and the Library of Congress
• June 25 – Return to St. John’s and a tour of the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum
• June 26 – Capstone synthesis session: participants will be challenged to design their ideal school, integrating what they’ve learned throughout the week and reflecting on their own educational journeys

The organizers of the program hope that the event will serve as a launching point for those discerning how they might use their gifts in the field of education, particularly in service to those most in need.

This initiative echoes the call of the 2020 Declaration on the Lasallian Educational Mission, which affirms that education is a vital force for building a more just and compassionate world.

The Adrien Nyel Institute forms part of a broader effort by DENA to invest in the future of Lasallian education by identifying, accompanying, and empowering young people who show promise as faith-filled and mission-driven educators.