Soccer Hero Scores Big with Liberty School Student

Who’s your hero? That was the question Liberty School teacher Mrs. Patla asked her fourth grade class recently. One of her students Logan Pellerino’s response was hero is Luke Perkes, a student soccer player from St. Austell, England who is living with his family as part of the Chicago Fire Soccer Club international exchange program. Luke recently visited Logan’s class as part of their study of heroes. Enamored with Luke’s accent, the students had an opportunity to ask questions, practice drills and play a short soccer game.
Logan has played for the Orland Park Soccer Club since first grade. Through the Orland Park Soccer Club his family heard of the unique opportunity to be a host family for the international exchange program presented by the Chicago Fire Soccer Club and volunteered to be a host family for Perkes, a Chicago Fire Trainer Coach.
Perkes has been living with the Pellerino family for the past seven weeks as part of the exchange program to cultivate interest in soccer with local community youth organizations. The family reports that the experience has been a rewarding experience for Logan’s youth soccer team and his family.
Logan’s Dad, Brian Pellerino, said that “Logan really looks up to Luke and thinks he is brave for living so far away from his family. After a soccer game he can’t wait to get home and tell Luke how he played. Luke has been a positive role model for Logan and given him confidence and enthusiasm for the sport.”
Mrs. Patla plans on having the students keep in touch with Luke via Skype upon his return back to England.