St. John's News

St. John’s University to Host 138th Annual Commencement Exercises On Staten Island and Queens Campuses, May 17-18

May 14, 2008

St. John’s University will host its 138th Annual Commencement Ceremonies this weekend (May 17-18) on the Staten Island and Queens Campuses. Details on both events are listed below.

Saturday, May 17, 2008 at 10:00 a.m.
(Procession of graduates, faculty and honored guests to begin at 9:45 a.m.)
Undergraduate and Graduate Commencement
Staten Island Campus, Great Lawn (outdoors)

The graduation ceremony will take place at the school’s Grymes Hill location (300 Howard Avenue, Staten Island, NY) before more than 2,500 faculty, administrators, friends and family to honor the graduating Class of 2008.

  • Dana Tyler, WCBS-TV broadcast journalist, will receive the Honorary Doctor of Letters Degree and deliver the Commencement Address.
  • Rev. Vincent J. O’Malley, C.M., will receive the Doctor of Sacred Theology Degree for his outstanding service to the Vincentian Community and the underserved throughout the world.

More than 350 undergraduate and graduate students will receive degrees at this ceremony.

Sunday, May 18, 2008 at Noon
(Procession of graduates, faculty and honored guests to begin at 11:00 a.m.)
Undergraduate and Graduate Commencement
Queens Campus (8000 Utopia Parkway, Queens, NY)
Great Lawn (outdoors)

Rev. Donald J. Harrington, C.M., President of St. John’s University will give the Commencement Address before a crowd of more than 16,000 to honor the Class of 2008 made up of more than 2,500 undergraduate and graduate students in Queens.

  • Sr. Anthony Barczykowski, D.C., will receive the Doctor of Humane Letters Degree for her contributions to the relief effort in New Orleans during the Hurricane Katrina tragedy.
  • Irving Burgie, well known New York performing artist and song writer will receive the Honorary Doctor of Fine Arts for his musical contributions to the entertainment industry.

Both campus ceremonies will be broadcast live on the St. John's Web site.

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 St. John’s University by calling (718) 990-6185 or e-mail inquiries to sciannad@stjohns.edu. More information regarding St. John’s can be found by visiting the University web site at www.stjohns.edu/news.