May 09, 2011
Carnesecca to be Honored for 50-years of
Service, Montanti Lauded for her Work with Children of
War
St. John’s
celebrates its 141st Commencement Exercises this
weekend highlighted by CNBC’s Maria Bartiromo (Staten Island) and
co-founder of Glacéau vitaminwater Mike Repole (Queens), who will
be the Commencement Speakers at the University’s 2011 graduation
ceremonies to be held on Saturday, May 14 and Sunday, May 15 in
Staten Island and Queens, NY, respectively.
Rev. Donald J. Harrington, C.M., President of St. John’s
University will preside over both Commencement Exercises and confer
all degrees and special presentations.
Highlights for the weekend festivities will also include the
presentation of special awards to Lou Carnesecca, who will be
honored for his 50-years of service to the University by receiving
the St. Vincent de Paul Medal at the Queens Campus ceremony and,
Elissa Montanti, for her assistance in helping kids disabled by
war. She will be honored with the President’s Medal at the Staten
Island Campus commencement. Both individuals have touched the lives
of many and fit perfectly with St. John’s University’s mission of
service to the global community.
Staten Island Commencement:
Saturday, May 14, 2011 at 10 a.m.
(Procession begins at 9:45 a.m.)
Undergraduate and Graduate Commencement
Great Lawn (outdoors)
- Approximately 400 undergraduate and graduate students will
receive degrees at this ceremony.
- More than 2,000 family members, friends, administrators and
students expected to attend.
Queens Commencement: Sunday, May
15, 2011 at 11:00 a.m.
(Procession begins at 10 a.m.)
Undergraduate and Graduate Commencement
Great Lawn (outdoors)
- Approximately 2,800 graduates will receive their degrees at
this ceremony.
- Approximately 20,000 family members, friends, administrators
and students expected to attend.
For more information, please visit St. John's Commencement site.
Bartiromo,
famous for her business acumen as one of the lead anchors on CNBC,
will receive an honorary Doctor of Commercial Science Degree at St.
John’s University’s Staten Island Campus ceremony. Her weekly
network
show “The Closing Bell with Maria Bartiromo” is one of the highest
rated programs on CNBC airing Monday-Friday from 3-5 p.m. EST. She
has covered Wall Street for more than 20 years and is the anchor
and managing editor of the nationally syndicated “Wall Street
Journal Report with Maria Bartiromo,” rated the most watched
financial news program in America.
Repole, a St. John’s graduate (‘91 SVC), and successful
entrepreneur who has made his mark in the business world, will
receive an honorary Doctor of Commercial Science Degree at the
Queens Campus graduation ceremony. Repole co-founded bottled water
company Glacéau vitaminwater and turned it into a money-making
endeavor to the tune of $4.1 billion in 2007 after its sale to the
Coca Cola Company. He now serves as chairman of the board and
operating manager of Pirate Brands, maker of the healthy snack food
Pirate’s Booty, and chairman and majority owner of Energy Kitchen,
a chain of healthy fast-food restaurants throughout the New York
metropolitan area.
Carnesecca, who has been a part of the University fabric for more
than 50 years, is known worldwide for his 526 collegiate wins and a
trip to the 1985 NCAA Final Four. He has served as goodwill
ambassador for the game of amateur basketball and St. John’s
University his entire life. Carnesecca will be honored with the St.
Vincent de Paul Medal at the Queens Campus Commencement Exercises
on Sunday, May 15.
Montanti has been featured on CBS’s “60 Minutes” and PEOPLE
magazine’s “Heroes Among Us,” for her work with children – most of
whom have lost limbs in war zones all across the world. These
children are assisted with visas and accommodations at Montanti’s
Staten Island (GMRF) facility sponsored by the Richmond County
Savings Foundation (a local business affiliate). She will be
honored with the President’s Medal at the Staten Island Campus
Commencement Ceremony on Saturday, May 14.
“We are honored to have alumnus and highly successful business
entrepreneur Mike Repole, and equally esteemed broadcast journalist
and business expert Maria Bartiromo speak to our graduates this
year,” said Rev. Harrington, C.M., President of St. John’s
University. “Both individuals are self-made success stories and
their words of wisdom coupled with the academic accomplishments of
our graduates will make for a special celebration this Commencement
weekend.”
And the honorees are just as impressive and will make a lasting
impression on the Class of 2011.
“Lou is St. John’s. We celebrate his 50 years of service to the
University, love for St. John’s and passion for the game globally
which has transformed him into an international icon. He, along
with Elissa Montanti, an angel for young children ravaged by war,
have touched the lives of so many and fit perfectly with our
Vincentian mission and service to the community at home and around
the world,” added Rev. Harrington, C.M.
For more information contact Dominic Scianna, Assistant Vice
President for Media Relations by calling (718) 990-6185 or e-mail
inquires to sciannad@stjohns.edu.