May 04, 2009
Queens, NY -
Carol Kelleher, Michael Repole
and Joseph Schwartz Highlight Queens, Staten Island
Graduations
Immaculee Ilibagiza, Rwandan genocide survivor, and Bruce
Beck, WNBC-TV sports anchor-reporter, will serve as 2009
Commencement Speakers at St. John’s University this year during
Graduation Weekend scheduled for Saturday, May 16 (Staten Island)
and Sunday, May 17 (Queens).
Ms. Ilibagiza is a world renowned speaker and 1994 survivor of
the vicious genocide attacks in Rwanda. She has appeared on
CBS-TV’s “60 Minutes” and her best selling book, Left to
Tell, chronicles her life-altering experiences. Mr. Beck is a
staple of the New York sports scene having worked as a television
broadcaster for more than 25 years. He has been recognized as an
8-time Emmy Award winner and is the reigning New York State
Sportscaster of the Year the last two years running (2007 and
2008).
The
times, locations and honorees for both Commencement Exercises are
as follows:
Saturday, May 16, 2009 at 10:00
a.m.
(Procession of graduates,
faculty and honored guests to begin at 9:45 a.m.)
Undergraduate/Graduate Ceremony
Staten Island Campus
300 Howard Avenue
Staten Island, NY
Great Lawn
Approximately 462 undergraduate and graduate students will
receive degrees at this ceremony.
- Bruce Beck,8-time Emmy Award winner and
veteran sports anchor-reporter of WNBC-TV in New York, will receive
an Honorary Doctor of Letters Degree and deliver the Commencement
Address.
- Carol Kelleher, staunch supporter of the
University and its Staten Island Campus and recognized for her
philanthropic work and involvement in Project Hospitality on Staten
Island, an organization whose goals mirror those of the Vincentian
Mission of St. John's, will receive the President’s Medal.
Sunday, May 17, 2009 at Noon
(Procession of graduates,
faculty and honored guests to begin at 11:20 a.m.)
Undergraduate/Graduate Ceremony
Queens Campus
8000 Utopia Parkway
Queens, NY
Great Lawn
Approximately 3,245 undergraduate and graduate students will
receive degrees at this ceremony.
- Immaculee Ilibagiza, Rwandan genocide survivor
and one of world’s top speakers on peace, faith, and forgiveness,
will receive the International Medal and deliver the Commencement
Address.
- Michael Repole, St. John’s alumnus and
co-founder of private drink maker Glaceau (the successful maker of
Vitaminwater), will receive the President’s Medal.
- Joseph Schwartz, St. John’s alumnus and
retired Partner of Wellington Management Company, will receive an
Honorary Doctor of Commercial Science Degree.
Media interested in attending are asked to R.S.V.P. and apply
for credentials. Please contact Dominic Scianna, Assistant Vice
President for Media Relations at (718) 990-6185 or e-mail inquiries
to sciannad@stjohns.edu.