May 07, 2012
St. John’s proudly announces that Steve Lavin, head men’s
basketball coach, will deliver the Commencement Address to the
Class of 2012 during the University’s 142nd graduation exercises,
to be held at the Staten Island, NY, campus on Saturday, May 12,
and the Queens, NY, campus on Sunday, May 13.
The
University also will honor the Very Rev. Perry Henry, C.M., D.Min.,
William L. Collins ’76C and Patricia Ann Norris McDonald during
graduation exercises at the Queens campus.
Lavin is responsible for the men’s basketball team’s resurgence
after the program’s return to the NCAA tournament and 20-plus-win
season in 2011. After battling prostate cancer this past year, he
is free of the disease and thankful that his condition was
diagnosed early by his medical team at New York’s Memorial Sloan
Kettering Cancer Center.
“Steve Lavin has a great affinity with our student body and is a
popular choice for this year’s Commencement Ceremonies,” said Rev.
Donald J. Harrington, C.M., President of St. John’s University.
A member of St. John’s Board of Trustees, William L. Collins
will receive the degree of Doctor of Commercial Science,
honoris causa. Collins is founder, CEO and chief
investment officer of Brencourt Advisors, LLC. Since 2001, the
company has been engaged in fund management on a global basis as
well as investment strategies dealing with merger arbitrage, credit
opportunities and event-driven activities. Collins, a 1976 graduate
of St. John’s, and his wife, Lesley, have served as co-chairs of
the University’s annual President’s Dinner.
Patricia Ann Norris McDonald, mayor of Malverne, NY, will
receive the St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Medal. Her husband, Steven, is
a former New York City police officer who was paralyzed in 1986 by
a gunshot wound he received in the line of duty. They overcame this
personal tragedy to launch a worldwide crusade for peace and
forgiveness. Like Mother Seton, McDonald is a role model for women
everywhere who, as wives and mothers, find the grace, faith and
courage to live remarkable lives.
The Very Rev. Perry Henry, C.M., D.Min., will receive the degree of
Doctor of Sacred Theology, honoris causa. He is the
provincial superior of the Western Province of the Congregation of
the Mission in the U.S.A. He is the former assistant provincial of
the Southern Province (2004-2008) and former pastor of St. Joseph
Parish, New Orleans. Fr. Henry also served on DePaul University’s
Board of Trustees (1995-2000).
“Bill, Patricia and the Very Rev. Henry are individuals that have
given their lives to serve the greater good in their communities,”
said Fr. Harrington. “We are honored that they have accepted our
invitation to highlight what will be a memorable 142nd graduation
celebration this year for our students, their families and the
faculty and administration at St. John’s.”
Queens Commencement: Sunday, 10 a.m., May 13,
2012
(Procession of graduates, faculty and honored guests begins at 9
a.m.)
Undergraduate and Graduate Commencement
- Approximately 2,300+ graduates will receive their degrees at
this ceremony and more than 19,000 family, friends, administrators
and students will attend.
Staten Island Commencement: Saturday, 10 a.m., May 12,
2012
(Procession of graduates, faculty and honored guests begins at 9:45
a.m.)
Undergraduate and Graduate Commencement
- Approximately 400+ undergraduate and graduate students will
receive degrees at this ceremony and more than 2,000 family,
friends, administrators and students will attend.
Interested media can contact Dominic Scianna, Assistant Vice
President for Media Relations at St. John’s University: (718)
990-6185; sciannad@stjohns.edu.