Convocations Mark the Beginning of New Academic Year

Produced by: Office of Marketing and Communications

Students at New Student Convocation
August 31, 2017

St. John’s University welcomed nearly 3,000 new freshmen and transfer students at its 2017 New Student Convocation, an annual event heralding the beginning of the academic year, held August 29 in Carnesecca Arena.

In remarks to Queens and Staten Island students, Conrado “Bobby” Gempesaw, Ph.D., President of St. John’s, greeted the incoming class. “This is the first time you will be together, and the next time you will be together as a class will be your graduation in 2021,” he said.

Dr. Gempesaw noted that this was the largest incoming class of any Catholic college or university in the United States. “You belong to a bright and diverse group of young women and men who have excelled in high school academics, extracurricular activities, and athletics.”

The Convocation’s featured speaker was Patti Ann McDonald, Mayor of Malverne, NY, and widow of Detective Steven McDonald, who was shot and paralyzed by a teenager he was pursuing in Central Park more than 30 years ago. Mr. McDonald famously forgave his assailant, an account included in this year’s freshman reading book, Why Forgive?, by the late Johann Christoph Arnold.

“How does beginning college relate to my family’s story?” she asked. “Maybe starting college can be as life-changing as what my husband and family experienced. And maybe forgiveness is as important for you to fulfill your mission at St. John’s, as it was for Steven to fulfill his life’s mission.”

During the Convocation, several freshmen said they already consider St. John’s home. Alex O’Shana ’21CPS, a California native who has not yet chosen a major, stressed that events such as the Sunset Festival, which introduced freshmen to the University’s Greek organizations, made him want to get involved.

Criminal Justice major and Connecticut native Kayla Medwinter ’12CPS likes the campus’s proximity to New York City. “I was also impressed by the personalized attention students receive from the faculty. Everyone seems really hands-on and friendly.”

“I encourage you to utilize the tremendous support that will be available to you at St. John’s,” stressed Robert Mangione, Ed.D., Provost. “Your professors, your academic and student affairs administrators, campus ministers---the entire St. John’s community wants you to do well. We will try our best to assist you. Stand tall and be confident, and yet be humble and determined as you begin your studies.”

The University’s annual Faculty Convocation was held later that afternoon at Taffner Field House on the Queens campus. In his remarks, Dr. Gempesaw said, “I know that at St. John’s, the faculty, administrators, and staff are passionate and dedicated to helping our students succeed. We are able to accomplish this goal because, at St. John’s, doing our best is a way of life.”

During the Convocation, the Academic Service-Learning Faculty Award was presented to Marilyn Dono-Koulouris ’03Ed.D., Associate Professor, Institute for Core Studies/Discover New York, St. John’s College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Staten Island campus.

Mary Ellen Freeley ‘84Ed.D., Associate Professor, Department of Administrative and Instructional Leadership in The School of Education, was faculty speaker at the Convocation. “Service is paramount,” she said. “As a faculty member, I have come to appreciate and more deeply understand the Vincentian charism that guides the University.”