October brings with it many special events at St. John’s University. It is a time when new students and their families are celebrated, as well as devoted alumni who have maintained a special connection to alma mater.
The Alumni Convocation, held on October 19 in St. Thomas More Church on the Queens, NY, campus, honored 13 of the University’s best and brightest: people who brought its Vincentian values into incredibly successful lives and careers.
“As we gather together today, we remember the positive impact St. John’s has had on our lives, both personally and professionally,” said Christian P. Vaupel, Ed.D., Senior Vice President for Advancement, as he opened the ceremony. “This event also gives the University a chance to say thank you—to express in a very tangible way how your generous support enhances the education of every student who follows in your footsteps.”
He added, “Not only do you continue to play a role in the life of this institution, but you serve as role models for current and future generations of students.”
During his opening remarks, Rev. Brian J. Shanley, O.P., President, told the gathering that one of his favorite roles at St. John’s is teaching Ethics. Fr. Shanley said that the essential question asked by Aristotle was, “What does it mean for a life to turn out well? What does a good human life look like?”
The most important thing for Aristotle, Fr. Shanley continued, was what kind of character does someone possess? Virtue was his main concern.
“Virtues are settled dispositions to act well that you learn and hone, and practice for your entire life,” he said. “They are the one thing that is immune to what happens in the entire world. Nobody can change what kind of person you are. Even if bad things happen to you, you have that character.”
He added, “Tonight, I think we celebrate lives that are well lived.”
In speaking about the citations the honorees received, Fr. Shanley stressed they all told narratives about St. John’s graduates who took what they learned here and became successful. “There’s no one pattern for a good life,” he stressed. “What’s underneath is the stable character of doing well for others.”
He explained, “What we celebrate tonight in all these lives that are lived well come out of the values that were learned here at St. John’s. As different as they are, they share some commonalities. They share Vincentian commonalities and stories of service.”
This year’s honorees included
Outstanding Alumni Achievement Medal Recipients
Induction into the Heritage Circle
- Vincent T. Iannelli ’73NDC
- Rick R. Jefferson ’83SVC
- Anne Yee Fun Lin ’84P, ’86Pharm.D., FNAP
- Elaine C. Weddington Steward ’84SVC, ’87L
Pietas Medal Recipients
- Bob Adams ’84CBA, ’88MBA
- Barbara M. Donnellan ’79C, ’81G
- Maria Fiorelli ’89GEd
President’s Medal Recipients
Medal of Honor Recipient
University Lifetime Achievement Award Recipient
- James P. Riley, Jr. ’74CBA, ’75MBA, ’03HON
Ms. Fiorelli, a retired educator for the New York City Department of Education, said, “The University provided experiences for which I am so grateful. The academic setting teaches that success and personal happiness need to be earned, and that there are so many opportunities to positively impact others.”
“St. John’s helped ingrain in me to always remember people less fortunate than I am, and be grateful for what I have been given in my life,” explained Mr. Whelan, a successful entrepreneur who is President of the Stout NYC Hospitality Group. “Like many of my classmates at the time, I held a job while attending school. This helped teach me how to balance my life and contributed to my strong work ethic.”
Mr. Donnellan, who serves as Executive Vice President and Chief of Staff for the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP), stressed, “I believe my work and career has helped make it possible for Americans to live longer and richer lives with dignity and purpose. These represent the Vincentian values instilled in me during my time at St. John’s.”
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