October 17, 2018
Seeking a closer look at campus life and learning at St. John’s University, a record number of eager high school juniors, seniors, and their families made the trip to Queens, NY, for the University’s first Open House of the fall semester on Saturday, October 13.
“It was an exciting day at St. John’s, as we welcomed more than 900 prospective high school students to campus,” said Jorge Rodriguez, Vice Provost and Chief Enrollment Officer. “This was our largest turnout in recent years for an October Open House, and the families and students whom I met with were very engaging and excited to begin their college application to St. John’s.”
Students came to St. John’s 102-acre campus from as far away as California, North Carolina, and Puerto Rico, for a day that featured all-access tours, information sessions, and opportunities for discovery.
In his welcome address inside Carnesecca Arena, Simon G. Møller, Ph.D., Interim Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, and Professor, Biological Sciences, recalled his early days at St. John’s, and how inexplicably, he felt at home right away.
“I could not put a finger on what it was,” he said, “but it became quite apparent that every person whom I spoke with had the same crystal clear focal point—our students—and how we ensure that every single student at St. John’s is successful.”
Jillian Perota, a senior studying Psychology, delivered the student address and encouraged listeners to make the most of their time in college. “Pursue your education with an ambitious heart,” she said. “No goal is too big or too small, and if you work hard enough at something, success is not only possible, it’s inevitable.”
Open House served as a homecoming for alumni speaker Robert Cruz ’96SVC. “It has been 22 years since I set foot in this building and there are so many good memories coming back to me,” he said. As an undergraduate, Mr. Cruz enrolled in the ROTC program at St. John’s. He served eight years in the US Army, earning a Bronze Star. He is now Senior Vice President, Director of Field Operations, with Starr Companies.
“St. John’s cemented my foundation for success,” he said, “and should you choose to come here, I am confident they will do the same for you.”
The University opened the doors to virtually every academic building on campus for the Open House, and visitors had the option of taking guided tours, led by St. John’s Student Ambassadors, or exploring the University’s campus on their own.
Highlights of the tours included student demonstrations and presentations inside the new Media Arts & Design Lab, which supports programs in digital media, animation, art and design, advertising, and journalism; the new Technology Commons, which focuses on eSports, virtual reality technology, and 3D printing; and the recently dedicated Sanford Family Cyber Security Lab, which explores a wide range of network security concerns.
The Peter J. Tobin College of Business, which features a real-time LED stock ticker, multiple Bloomberg terminals, and 40 workstations, was also a popular destination for visitors.
For students planning to live on campus, many of the University’s residence halls were also open for exploration, including DaSilva Hall, Donovan Hall, and Hollis Hall, which are designated as freshman housing; and sophomore residence halls Century Hall, O’Connor Hall, and St. Vincent Hall.
At the Academic Programs and Student Services Fair inside Taffner Field House, faculty, administrators, and students were available to answer questions about the University’s 100+ programs and majors, as well as a wide range of student services.
Guests could also attend information sessions in the D’Angelo Center on programs such as Global Studies, Ozanam Scholars, and the Honors Program. Inside St. Albert Hall, students learned about the Doctor of Pharmacy program and toured the pharmacy labs.
High school senior Tonianne Montaquiza, of Mohegan Lake, NY, attended last year’s open house when she was a junior and wanted to further explore the University. “It’s such a beautiful campus and it has such a modern feel to it,” she said. “St. John’s has great business programs and the fact that it’s so close to Manhattan is a huge benefit for me.”
Her father, Robert Montaquiza ’92CBA, is a St. John’s alumnus and was happy to be back on campus. “So much has changed since I was a student, but I know firsthand what a great school this is,” he said. “I would be thrilled to have her come here to continue my legacy.”
Jack Reidy and his father made the trip down to New York from Allston, MA, so that he could get a real taste of campus life. “You can only learn so much from a brochure or a website,” he said.
“I really want to get out there and mingle with some students, because I want to be comfortable wherever I decide to go.”
His father, Martin, was interested in learning about St. John’s Catholic roots. “It is important to me that St. John’s is a Catholic university, because I want his education to have an ethical foundation,” he said. “I went to Catholic schools as a child and those core teachings are still with me to this day.”
Students interested in exploring the University’s 16.5-acre Staten Island campus can attend its Open House on Saturday, October 20. The Queens campus will host a second fall Open House on Sunday, November 18.