Kevin and Janet Hetzel

“Dana is getting a tremendous
education here.”

Kevin and Janet Hetzel,
parents of Dana Hetzel ’14 Ed, ’15 GEd


Kevin and Janet Hetzel look back fondly on the day their daughter, Dana Hetzel ’14 Ed, ’15 GEd made one of the most important decisions of her life.

After touring the Queens campus of St. John’s University, they visited St. Thomas More Church to reflect on their visit. “The church was open, so we went in and sat there for a little while,” said Janet Hetzel. “We all had a warm and peaceful feeling about the University. On the drive back to Long Island, Dana decided that St. John’s was her first choice.”

The Hetzels were thrilled with their daughter’s decision, to say the least. “St. John’s has a pristine reputation in the academic world and we wanted our daughter to have the best,” said Kevin Hetzel. He added, “Dana’s grandfather and aunt were active members of the St. Vincent DePaul Society, so it’s no coincidence that Dana ended up at a Vincentian university.”

Now, as Dana enters her sophomore year in The School of Education, her parent’s enthusiasm is as strong as ever. “Dana is getting a tremendous education here and we believe there will be many doors open to her,” Mrs. Hetzel added. Dana is enrolled in The School of Education’s Five - Year Combined Degree Program, which will allow her to complete both undergraduate and graduate degrees in just five years —– at considerable savings in cost and time.

When she’s not in the classroom, Dana is extremely involved in the St. John’s community and has been named a  Dean’s Scholar, the highest academic honor in The School of Education. As a Dean’s Scholar, Dana represents The School of Education at major events. Dean’s Scholars must have a minimum of a 3.75 GPA. She is also a member of  Kappa Delta Pi, the education honor society, the Phi Eta Sigma national honor society, the Music Ministry and other service organizations.

Eager to enrich her life and broaden her horizons, Dana will experience European culture, art, and politics by spending the spring 2012 semester studying in Italy, France and Spain through the University’s Discover the World: Education program.

Naturally, the Hetzels are proud of their daughter’s many achievements at St. John’s. Moreover, they are they are impressed with her maturation during her short time at the University. “She has grown intellectually, socially and spiritually since attending St. John’s.”