October 24, 2022
“I think student success is measured more today here than it is in getting them out the door on time and with a job—because that’s just the beginning of life after St. John’s University. We educate for life so our graduates can live lives of meaning and purpose and make a difference in the world.”
Those words, from Rev. Brian J. Shanley, O.P., President of St. John’s, were spoken at the annual Alumni Convocation held on October 20 honoring 14 notable St. John’s graduates who have achieved great personal and professional success while never forgetting their ties to alma mater. Following the formal program at St. Thomas More Church on the Queens, NY, campus, a special reception for honorees and their guests was held in the D’Angelo Center. The Convocation was a cornerstone event held during St. John’s Homecoming,.
“Our success is on display here today,” Fr. Shanley stressed. “These people have lived lives of honor, purpose, and excellence. This is what we educated you to do.”
Fr. Shanley noted that it is important for current students to see these alumni because they are shining examples of what it means to lead a good life. “It is important for us to honor those who make St. John’s proud by the lives they have led.”
Joseph H. Schwartz ’70C, ’72MBA, ’09HON, recipient of the University Lifetime Achievement Award, gave remarks at the reception. “The first-rate education and positive values that I received at St. John’s were essential to my future career success and integral to who I became as a person, reinforcing the core values instilled in me by my parents,” he recalled.
One of those core values, he added, was a strong belief in the power of higher education as a catalyst to elevate people’s lives, especially those who were not economically advantaged. “This was the reason why Bishop John Loughlin of Brooklyn asked the Vincentian Fathers to establish St. John’s University in 1870: to serve New York’s poor immigrant population. Today, St. John’s continues to serve as a gateway University for a significant portion of its students.”
Mr. Schwartz related how grateful he was for a graduate fellowship he received while attending St. John’s. “No one succeeds in life on their own. Relationships matter. In life, family, friends, teachers, and colleagues support, inspire, and console us. They help us to be better versions of ourselves. Yes, it sometimes takes a village.”
“Ever since my time at St. John’s University, I have been inspired by St. Vincent de Paul’s compassion and zeal for service. I truly believe in providing excellent education for all people, especially those lacking economic, physical, or social advantages,” said Weedens E. Blanchard ’94SVC, ’97MBA, ’17Ed.D., a recipient of the Outstanding Alumni Achievement Medal.
Fellow Outstanding Alumni Achievement Medal recipient Paul F. Engelhart ’82GEd said, “In my counseling studies at St. John’s, it was emphasized that the people I would be helping deserved to be treated with dignity and respect. Furthermore, within the context of Vincentian values, it was a privilege to serve those in need.”
Barbara A. Hagan ’72C, a recipient of the Pietas Medal, said that attending St. John’s greatly enhanced her spiritual life. “I was a frightened, young, first-year student and St. John’s welcomed me, helping me grow into who I am today.”