October 29, 2009
New York Governor David Paterson and NYC
School Chancellor Joel Klein Also Lauded
St.
John’s University President, Rev. Donald J. Harrington, C.M., was
honored this morning at the Queens Courier’s Second Annual “Kings
of Queens” Breakfast and Awards Ceremony held at Terrace on the
Park. The annual event honors outstanding individuals who
have demonstrated exceptional leadership and commitment to their
profession and the community they serve in the borough of
Queens.
New York Governor David Paterson was also feted as “King of
Kings,” while Joel Klein, Chancellor of the New York City
Department of Education was named “Man of the Year.”
Victoria Schneps, Publisher of the Queens Courier, cheerfully
announced that “the fabulous Father Harrington of St. John’s
University, who is celebrating his 20th Anniversary as President”
would be introduced by former “King of Queens” honoree and current
member of the St. John’s University Board of Governors, Joseph M.
Mattone, Sr.
In his acceptance video, Rev. Harrington, C.M., spoke of the three
key elements of success for St. John’s.
“The
first and foremost key is the wonderful mission and history of our
University,” he said. “Secondly, I and others recognize very
clearly our success is not because of just one person, we at St.
John’s have a very strong and competent faculty, we have a
wonderful student body and great administrators and
staff. And finally, we as a University believe the same
focus, and that discipline is what has led to the success of the
last 20 years.”
Rev. Harrington, C.M. is in his 20th year of service to St.
John’s University and, through his vision and dedication, has
transformed St. John’s into a 21st Century global leader in
education. Under his stewardship, St. John’s has blossomed
into a picturesque residential institution, with state-of-the-art
technology to support its enhanced academic initiatives, both in
New York and abroad.
As President, Rev. Harrington, C.M. has continued to support the
University’s mission to serve the poor, with countless on-going
community service projects designed to help those in need
throughout the University’s neighboring communities and campus
locations in New York (Queens, Staten Island, Manhattan and
Oakdale), as well as Rome, Italy and Paris, France.
Media interested in more information about the event can contact
Dominic Scianna, Assistant Vice President for Media Relations by
calling (718) 990-6185 or e-mail inquiries to sciannad@stjohns.edu.
For late breaking news and information regarding St. John’s
visit the University web site at www.stjohns.edu/news.