May 18, 2008
Rev. Donald
J. Harrington, C.M., President of St. John’s University,
welcomed a crowd of more than 16,000 to the 138th Commencement
Ceremony at the University’s Queens Campus earlier today and
bestowed honorary degrees upon Sr. Anthony Barczykowski, D.C. and
Irving Burgie.
Sr. Barczykowski was cited for her tireless relief efforts in
New Orleans during the Hurricane Katrina tragedy with the Doctor of
Humane Letters Degree and Burgie was feted for his musical
contributions to the entertainment industry with the Doctor of Fine
Arts Degree.
In his Commencement Address to the more than 2,500 St. John’s
graduates, Rev. Harrington, C.M. spoke of Pope Benedict XVI’s
historic visit to the United States in Washington, D.C. this past
April.
“The message Pope Benedict XVI related to all of us is to be
‘Bearers of Hope,’ said Rev. Harrington, C.M. “I’m optimistic about
our world because there are so many wonderful people who continue
to work hard to make the world a better place. Go out and walk in
the world today and be that Bearer of Hope.”
Other highlights from the Commencement Exercises included a
motivational Student Address from Whitney Coleman, St. John’s
College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, and an emotional Burgie, 83,
lifting his hand and waving to the crowd in appreciation for their
loud ovation upon receiving his honorary degree.
“St. John’s has fostered within us an identity, discipline and a
sound doctrine for which to follow. The greatest part of the St.
John’s tradition is our ability to give back. With great
responsibility comes great sacrifice and we must never forget to do
our part to impact the lives of others,” said Coleman. “So in
closing, congratulations Class of 2008 – today you have made it to
a place called success.”
The two-hour ceremony was filled with pomp and circumstance and
concluded with traditional cap throwing, bursts of streamers and a
ticker tape celebration as the parade of graduates walked across
the Great Lawn of the Queens Campus for the first time as alumni of
St. John’s University.
For more information 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.
Information regarding St. John's can be found by visiting the
University web site at www.stjohns.edu/news.