At 156th Commencement, St. John’s Graduates Are Called to Purpose, Service, and Resilience

Commencement signifies the closing of one chapter while simultaneously beginning another.

St. John’s University held its 156th annual Undergraduate-Level Commencement Exercise on May 17 during a flawless, warm, summer-like day on the Great Lawn of the Queens, NY, campus.

Graduates were reminded by speakers and their peers that a new world eagerly awaited the unique gifts and talents that were cultivated in them by an institution that embodies Catholic and Vincentian values. More than 2,100 undergraduate degrees were conferred at the jubilant ceremony.

During his welcoming remarks, Rev. Brian J. Shanley, O.P., President of St. John’s, told graduates, “The deepest desire of the human heart is to find purpose, to find meaning, to have a life project, and to matter.”

He added, “The first big ‘mattering project’ of your life is complete—you’ve graduated from St. John’s.”

Fr. Shanley stressed to students that as they begin this next phase of “mattering,” the ultimate goal is to lead a life well lived. “Surely a career is part of it, but it’s not all of it.”

He hoped that the projects graduates choose to find meaning and purpose match the unique gifts and talents gifted to them by God. “There is no one way to have a life that matters. It is a project that will occupy the rest of your life. You never stop seeking how to find meaning and to matter.”

Commencement speaker Most Reverend Richard G. Henning, S.T.D., D.D. ’86SJC, ’88M.A., Archbishop of Boston, MA, the 10th Bishop and seventh Archbishop of Boston, and a double alumnus of the University, credited the Vincentian community with strengthening his faith and call to the priesthood.

A scholar of sacred Scripture, Archbishop Henning explained that the Word of God defined his life’s work as a priest and bishop, “and I would like to bring that lens to bear here and now at this moment in your lives.”

He added, “I see an assembly of men and women endowed with tremendous gifts and opportunities given to them from above. I see determination and perseverance. So many of you have endured and overcome trials and setbacks to be sitting where you are today. No doubt, many of you have also experienced wonders and seemingly chance interventions at the eleventh hour that kept you moving forward through the rigors of your studies and the many complications that life can throw at you.”

Archbishop Henning called graduates a “priestly people,” noting the similarities between his episcopal vestments and their caps and gowns. “They are cut from the same cloth, as it were. Commencement exercises hearken back to the first universities erected by the Church to explore what we can know in the double light of reason and revelation.”

He explained that the first university students were primarily clerics, who had taken up the sacred charge of sharing the splendor of truth. “What you are wearing today is much like their daily uniform. They were to bring light where there is darkness. They were to give themselves away in service and sacrifice. So are you.”

Graduates are not meant to live an ordinary life, Archbishop Henning stressed, adding that they will be tested and experience hardship. “Sometimes the scariest thing in the world is to know that we are not meant to live an ordinary life with all the security that ordinariness supplies.”

Becoming the person you were made to be involves “passing through fire and dark clouds,” Archbishop Henning observed. “There is no safe route to that destination. No one arrives unscathed,” and the temptation will present itself to seek out something easier.

“Don’t settle for it. Look higher. Go deeper.”

Rather than impart the traditional sentiments graduates expect to hear, Archbishop Henning said, “I wish for you to find that purpose, meaning, and joy that’s not found in career and possessions, but in the struggle of the human story—in the heartbreak, in the depths, and in the light of the God who loves us to the end.”

Archbishop Henning also received an honorary Doctor of Sacred Theology degree during the ceremony.

During the ceremony, four additional honorary degrees were also conferred upon the following individuals:

Valerie Ackerman, Commissioner, BIG EAST Conference

Sr. Joanne Callahan, O.S.U. ’72ED, ’89M.S.Ed., Ursuline Sisters Province Office

Mario J. Gabelli, C.F.A., Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, GAMCO Investors, Inc.

James J. Shannon ’87CBA, Chief Executive Officer, Indus Capital Partners, LLC, and Chair-Elect, Board of Trustees, St. John’s University.

On May 15, the University conferred graduate degrees to students in four of its Schools and Colleges: St. John’s College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, The Peter J. Tobin College of Business, The Lesley H. and William L. Collins College of Professional Studies, and the College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences.

Lucille T. Accetta, R.Ph., M.P.H., M.B.A. ’86CPHS, Senior Vice President, Chief Pharmacy Officer, and Head of CVS Specialty Operations, CVS Health, spoke at the morning ceremony, and underscored the true meaning of Commencement. “It is a moment of reflection and anticipation, a moment to pause and recognize everything it took to get here—the discipline, the sacrifices, and the resilience. It is also a moment to look ahead—to imagine the paths you will take, the opportunities you will pursue, and the impact you will have,” she stressed. “Graduates, you have earned this moment.”

Afternoon speaker Robert J. Adams ’84CBA, ’88M.B.A., Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer, and Head of Operations & Services Group, Fidelity Investments, and Member, Board of Trustees, St. John’s University, spoke about the career disruption he experienced during the stock market crash of 1987 and how his time at St. John’s enabled him to  pass through it successfully. “What sustained me wasn’t my job title or the name on the building,” he stressed. “It was what my parents and St. John’s had already given me: a mindset rooted in lifelong learning, relationships, and responsibility to others.”

He added, “Continuing my M.B.A. classes at night during that period reinforced a lesson I carry to this day: learning is not insurance against disruption. It is preparation for it. A degree will help you open doors, but a willingness to keep learning will determine how long those doors remain open.”

In moments of upheaval, résumés matter, Mr. Adams noted, but relationships matter more. “That obligation to lift others as we climb mirrors St. John’s Vincentian mission: to lead with compassion, serve the common good, and measure success not only by what we achieve, but by whom we serve. As part of that community, your education carries a moral weight not just to succeed, but to support, contribute, and mentor.”

Student speaker Ashley Genao, a government and politics major and member of the President’s Society, the University’s highest undergraduate-level honor society, said, “Growth does not come from having everything figured out. It comes from showing up anyway, taking chances, learning from failure, and choosing to keep going.”

She added, “If the last four years have taught us anything, we are more capable than we think.”

As graduates reflected on the past, they saw a bright future ahead. “My time at St. John’s has meant so much to me,” explained George Kontogianis ’25TCB, who earned his M.B.A. in management. “What I’ll remember most are the people and the strong sense of community. No matter what I was working through, there was always someone willing to offer support and encouragement. I am grateful for the friendships and experiences that made my time at St. John’s so memorable.”

Actuarial science major Ademore Adesina was thoughtful. “This moment means everything to my family. I’m the last of five children to graduate with a bachelor’s degree, so I think the sense of achievement my parents feel, along with the joy my siblings have for me on my special day, make this an unforgettable experience. St. John’s was the catalyst for my success. I’m grateful for all the professors, friends, and faculty who equipped me with all the skills to thrive postgraduation.”

Olamide Onabanwo, a finance major, recalled that transferring to St. John’s brought an initial period of adjustment. “My first semester here was a shock,” he said, but he soon found his rhythm. “It’s been amazing.” The experience soon became more meaningful when his two brothers joined him at the University, creating an enduring family legacy.

College was a period of transformation for Brianna Rivera, a communication arts major, who described her St. John’s years as a critical bridge between adolescence and adulthood. “These four years are the most pivotal years,” she explained, describing them as a transition “from being a kid to an adult, and really discovering yourself.”

As an executive board member of the St. John’s chapter of the Public Relations Student Society of America, Brianna helped organize professional and social events, including a presentation on workplace attire and accessorizing. Working with what she described as a female-led organization allowed her to contribute to the campus community while also enjoying the friendships formed through that work.

Andrea Lin, a member of the first graduating cohort from the University’s nursing program, said, “Being a part of the first cohort was exhilarating and exciting, but also nerve-wracking at the same time. It was, honestly, a roller coaster of emotions. because it was a new program and you expected challenges and obstacles. Overall, the faculty and administration are amazing. I felt incredibly supported throughout all four years. I feel ready to make an impact and become a competent nurse.”

“It’s been a lot of ups and downs,” observed Zyane Nicholas, a marketing major, “but I’d definitely say the biggest thing that I’ve learned is who I am and who I want to be.” He added that attending St. John’s Men’s Basketball games were among some of his most treasured memories.

For Stephen Robayo, a cyber security systems major, St. John’s became more than “just another four years of school.” He explained that the University helped prepare him for the working world.

“It’s definitely given me a lot of insight as to how to operate and proceed with my life going forward,” he said. He also found community through the eSports group in the Technology Commons, where students gathered around shared interests. Those connections, he noted, mattered beyond the classroom.

“My time at St. John’s University was incredibly meaningful,” offered radiologic sciences major Victoria Kekatos. “Every experience here contributed to my personal and professional growth, and I will always cherish the memories and relationships I’ve built. Graduation is the perfect way to celebrate the end of this chapter. I am surrounded by the people and experiences that made my time at St. John’s so special. This truly feels like the most memorable way to close this journey.”

Justin Musumeci, also a finance major, stressed that his St. John’s experience “has been everything.” He credited the University with helping him build character, form lasting friendships, and grow as a person. “I made a lot of friends that I’ll have for the rest of my life,” he said. “It built character. It changed everything about me.”