St. John's News

Rome, Italy - St. John's University will host its 7th annual commencement at its campus in Rome, Italy on Sunday, July 20, 2003. Approximately 40 students form Italy, The United States and other nations around the world will receive Master of Arts in international relations and Master of Business Administration degrees. H.E. Pio Cardinal Laghi will also attend the event.

At the ceremony, St. John's University will present several honorary degrees:

• His Eminence Giovanni Battista Cardinal Re, Prefect of the Congregation for Bishops and President of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America will receive the degree of Doctor of Laws.
  
  
• Dottor Gaetano Gifuni, Secretary General, Presidency of the Republic of Italy will receive the degree of Doctor of Laws.
  
  
• Professor Carlo Rubbia, General Commissioner, ENEA - Ente per le Nuove Tecnologie l'Energia e l'Ambiente, Winner of the Nobel Prize in Physics, will receive the degree of Doctor of Pedagogy.
  
  
• Dottor Cesare Romiti, President, RCS Quotidiani S.p.A. will receive the degree of Doctor of Commercial Science.

Also attending the commencement will be the members of the St. John's University Board of Trustees and the Rome campus Advisory Board. This past March 2003, Countess Dr.ssa Marisa Pinto Olori del Poggio was named Vice Chair of the Rome campus Advisory Board. Countess Pinto Olori del Poggio has been an active participant in the University and she has made numerous contributions to the Rome campus over the past several years.

"St. John's is proud to continue its outstanding relationship with the Italian people, and offering American-style business classes in Rome," said Rev. Donald J. Harrington, C.M., President of St. John's University. "For seven years now, our students have had the distinct advantage of receiving an education that is truly global."

Photos will be available after the event. For more information, please contact Jody Fisher, Director of Media Relations, at 718 990-6185 or at fisherjo@stjohns.edu. Italian media may contact Dott. Gianluigi de Stefano, Press Representative, St. John's Rome Campus at 335 371190 or intaf@tin.it.