May 01, 2009
Alumni and friends gathered on Thursday evening, April 30 at the
Bourne Mansion on St. John’s Oakdale location to honor the
achievements of six exceptional educators and educational
administrators whose contributions have made a lasting impact that
will be felt locally, nationally and internationally.
Photo Gallery
Honorees included:
Richard Castellano ’73Ed
Girls Basketball Coach
Northport High School
Carla D’Ambrosio ’06Ed.D.
Superintendent
Rocky Point UFSD
Joseph Geoghan ’59CBA
Chairman
Elementary School Education Commission
Diocese of Rockville Centre
Debra Kalabza-Balsamo ’06Ed.D.
Lead Teacher
Music Department
Smithtown High School
Michael Keany
Former Chairman
Long Island School Leadership Center
Rev. Christopher Okorie ’05G, ’06GEd
Chaplain
St. John’s Preparatory School
Priest
Our Lady of Mercy Parish
Gathered in an elegant room bathed in the soft lights of
traditional St. John’s red, the event began with introductory
remarks from Linda Faucetta ’75GEd, Assistant Professor and
Administrative Director, The Graduate School of Education, St.
John’s University.
The 162 guests were then welcomed by Jerrold Ross, Ph.D., Dean of
St. John’s The School of Education. Dean Ross expressed his
appreciation to everyone for making this inaugural event at Oakdale
so successful. He noted that he expects the event to continue
to grow in the years ahead, and acknowledge the unique
contributions that each of the honorees has made to the field of
education and educational administration. Dean Ross also
reminded everyone that this L.E.A.D. event was part of The School
of Education Centennial Celebration and urged them to be
justifiably proud of the impact that St. John’s University has had
on all areas of education for the past 100 years.
Serving as the talented Master of Ceremonies, Jim Monnier
’74Ed, ’79GEd, Associate Vice President, Development, St. John’s
University, urged everyone to remember the importance of the
Vincentian values that have served as the University’s foundation
since 1870. He then introduced Rev. Patrick Griffin, C.M.,
Executive Vice President for Mission and Branch Campuses, St.
John’s University, who delivered the Invocation.
Following a delightful dinner Dean Ross and Jim Monnier returned to
the podium to present the L.E.A.D. awards. Guests marveled at
the accomplishments of each honoree as his or her citation was
read.
Richard Castellano ’73Ed has served for more than 20 years as
President of the Suffolk County Women’s Basketball Coaches
Association and is a member of both the New York State
Basketball Hall of Fame and the Suffolk County Sports Hall of
Fame. He acknowledges that he is “…living [my] dream – being
a high school teacher and coach, meeting superior student athletes
and sharing my life with a loving and supportive family.”
Carla D’Ambrosio ’06Ed.D. has been recognized for her “…excellence
and leadership in education and her dedication to the profession
and school community” with the Council of Administrators and
Supervisors Award. She has also been honored as a finalist
for the eSchool TechSavvy Superintendent’s Award as a “…visionary
leader who understands the technological needs of the 21st century
and the impact on the educational program.”
Joseph Geoghan ’59CBA is a retired businessman who has been a
lifelong supporter of Catholic education at every level.
Since his retirement in 1998 he has devoted his time in support of
not-for-profit and Church-related organizations, primarily in the
areas of financial planning, strategic planning and
development. He has served as Chair of the Catholic
Elementary School Education Commission of the Diocese of Rockville
Centre since its formation in January, 2005. He is currently
Director of Tomorrow’s Hope Foundation in the Diocese of Rockville
Centre and the Alive in Hope Foundation of the Diocese of
Brooklyn.
Debra Kalabza-Balsamo ’06Ed.D. is a musician and music teacher
whose impact is both local and international. In 2006 she and
her husband traveled to South Africa to serve as music ministers,
performing at several local churches in the region. Their
warm reception inspired plans for a return visit next summer in
support of their vision to bring music education to South
Africa. She has recently joined the Executive Board of The
Magic Penny, Inc., an organization devoted to building elementary
school in Sierra Leone, West Africa.
Michael Keany spent 33 years at a teacher and administrator in the
Manhasset School District. Upon retirement he turned his
attention to “…sharing his expertise with the next generation of
school administrators” as the Co-Founder and Director of the Long
Island Leadership Center, an organization dedicated to “…addressing
the growing need for qualified administrators in Long Island public
schools.” He has recently been appointed to the School
Building Leader Advisory Assessment Committee, a group responsible
for the creation of the new assessment strategies for certifying
school administrators in New York. He has been honored by
Nassau BOCES as one of “The Most Influential People in Education on
Long Island.”
Rev. Christopher Okorie ’05G, ’06GEd is a survivor of the Biafran
genocide who believes that “…his life is to be lived in giving
back.” Even today in his home village of Obinagu, Nigeria
there is no electricity or clean water supply, and an average of 50
children die each year from water-borne disease. With the
help of his parishioners in Our Lady of Mercy Parish in Forest
Hills and the students of St. John’s Prep High School he has raised
more than $44,000 for Water for Life in Africa, an organization he
and his parishioners founded to supply clean, fresh water to the
people of his village.
“This has been a tremendous evening for St. John’s University and
our School of Education,” noted Bill Schaeffer ’73CBA, Director,
Alumni Relations. “This L.E.A.D. event emphasized the
importance of education, a reality that was clearly displayed by
the deserving honorees and their contributions to the various
fields of education. All of us at St. John’s University are
very proud of our alumni.”
Guests at the Oakdale L.E.A.D. event enjoyed the first of what will
definitely become an annual tradition. “This was a great
evening at a wonderful location that brought together a terrific
group of education professionals,” said Thomas Gilroy ’68Ed.
“It was nice to be able to honor these six very deserving L.E.A.D.
award recipients.”
“This was a first class, professionally-run event,” said John
Schwartz, a guest of honoree Michael Keany. “St. John’s
University has much to be proud of, especially The School of
Education.”