TUCSON, Ariz. — One University of Arizona graduate is proud to have the influence of his grandfather, Jim LaSalle, who was a beloved professor for decades.
For Drew LaSalle, the choice came easy. Wildcat pride has run in his family in every generation after his grandfather started teaching there.
"It was a pretty clear-cut choice for me. I applied to ASU as well, but that was more to kind of mess with him and my parents a little bit. They actually gave me a little bit more scholarship money, which was kind of funny. Just to let them sweat a little bit, but it was a pretty easy choice for me," said Drew.
Not only did going to UA make Jim LaSalle proud, but the fact that his grandson is getting a degree in the same program he helped off the ground (MIS), makes him beam with pride.
"This was really exciting for me. I started that program 56 years ago. And so to see that he was interested enough and he's already got a career lined up in terms of job opportunity and all. So I'm really proud of his decision and I think he made a wonderful choice," said Jim.
Drew is Jim's first grandchild to graduate from the university he loves so much, and Drew is proud to have kept the LaSalle family-legacy alive.
"Its nice to know that I'm the one kind of continuing it, or starting it with this next generation, however you want to look at it. UA has meant a lot to me and means a lot to my family. So it's really nice to kind of wrap it up here this last week for me," said Drew.
"I'm really proud of him, he's starting a trend hopefully all eight others of our grandchildren will go to UA as well. We'll see how that works out," said Jim.
Drew's commencement ceremony holds a bit more meaning to him, as Jim was the commencement speaker.
