University Announces Commencement Schedule and Honorees

By: Jody Fisher
May 07, 2003

Jamaica, NY - St. John's University will host three major commencement ceremonies this spring, two on the Queens campus and one on the Staten Island campus. Times, locations and honorees are as follows:

Saturday, May 17, 2003 at 10 a.m.
Staten Island Campus
(undergraduate and graduate commencement)
300 Howard Avenue
Staten Island, NY
behind Campus Center (outdoors)

Ambassador Sergio Vento, Ambassador of Italy to the United States will receive the honorary degree of Doctor of Laws. Rev. Donald J. Harrington, C.M., President of St. John's University, will deliver the commencement address.

Approximately 360 undergraduate and graduate students will receive degrees.

Sunday, May 18, 2003 at Noon
Queens Campus
(undergraduate and graduate commencement)
8000 Utopia Parkway
Jamaica, NY
Great Lawn (outdoors for the first time since 1973)

Dr. Ellen Baker, NASA astronaut aboard the space shuttle Atlantis in 1989, will receive the honorary degree of Doctor of Science, and will deliver the commencement address. Her mother, Hon. Claire Shulman, former Queens Borough President, will receive the honorary degree of Doctor of Laws. James P. Riley, Jr., member of the St. John's University Board of Trustees, will receive the honorary degree of Doctor of Commercial Science.

Approximately 1885 undergraduate and graduate students will receive degrees.

Sunday, June 1, 2003 at 2 p.m.
Queens Campus
(School of Law Commencement)
8000 Utopia Parkway
Jamaica, NY
Alumni Hall

Hon. Carmen Beauchamp Ciparick,(L'68), Associate Judge of the New York State Court of Appeals, will receive the honorary degree of Doctor of Laws. Judge Ciparick will also deliver the commencement address. Basil A. Paterson, Esq., (L'51, '79HON) will receive the President's Medal, given to an individual who has achieved exceptional personal and professional success, and/or rendered outstanding service to the University or society.

Approximately 288 students will receive degrees.

Press wishing to attend must R.S.V.P. and apply for credentials. Please contact Jody Fisher, Director of Media Relations, at 718-990-6185 or at fisherjo@stjohns.edu.