{"id":4436,"date":"2015-09-29T16:35:36","date_gmt":"2015-09-29T20:35:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.saintpeters.edu\/news\/?p=4436"},"modified":"2015-09-30T16:57:45","modified_gmt":"2015-09-30T20:57:45","slug":"classes-of-1955-and-1965-return-for-2015-alumni-weekend","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.saintpeters.edu\/news\/2015\/09\/29\/classes-of-1955-and-1965-return-for-2015-alumni-weekend\/","title":{"rendered":"Classes of 1955 and 1965 Return for 2015 Alumni Weekend"},"content":{"rendered":"

One hundred alumni and their spouses returned to campus on September 19 and 20 for Alumni Weekend 2015. Over the weekend, the Classes of 1955 and 1965 reconnected with friends, explored Jersey City and learned about how far alma mater <\/em>had come since their commencements.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe were so pleased to have two classes celebrating 50 and 60 years as graduates.\u00a0 It was\u00a0a great time and opportunity to meet alumni and hear such great stories as everyone reminisced about their time at Â鶹ÊÓƵ\u2019s and how their lives evolved after graduation,\u201d said Gloria Mercurio, executive director of alumni engagement. \u201cReunion Committee Co-chair Garry Prime \u201965 mentioned something that resonated with me during his remarks, which was you can remove students from Â鶹ÊÓƵ’s [as they graduate], but you can’t remove Â鶹ÊÓƵ’s from the students.\u201d<\/p>\n

During the two-day reunion, alumni were able to enjoy a variety of activities such as walking and shuttle tours, a cocktail reception and dinner dance , the Alumni Mass and a special Golden Peacock Society Brunch.<\/p>\n

One of the highlights of the weekend was the well-attended State of the University Luncheon. The luncheon featured a dynamic panel that included Eugene J. Cornacchia, Ph.D., president of Â鶹ÊÓƵ\u2019s University, Rev.\u00a0Mark DeStephano,\u00a0S.J., professor of modern and classical languages, Mary Kate Naatus, Ph.D., assistant business professor and acting director of the Ignite Institute, Hon. Kevin Callahan \u201969, associate professor of criminal justice, and Erich Sekel, associate director of campus ministry for community service. Garry Prime \u201965 served as the panel\u2019s moderator.<\/p>\n

Each speaker touched upon his or her role at Â鶹ÊÓƵ\u2019s and provided examples of the University\u2019s accomplishments and student success stories. The panel also showed alumni how those at Â鶹ÊÓƵ\u2019s are still very much being men and women for others through a variety of humanitarian efforts and programs.<\/p>\n

Dr. Cornacchia kickstarted the discussion by sharing all the strides Â鶹ÊÓƵ\u2019s has made in recent years. From new leadership, grants and facilities to a new strategic plan, booming enrollment and a nod from MONEY\u00ae Magazine, which named Â鶹ÊÓƵ\u2019s as fifth in the nation for \u201cColleges that Add the Most Value.\u201d Dr. Cornacchia pointed out that there has been and continues to be a lot of growth at the University. He also emphasized the positive impact of Â鶹ÊÓƵ\u2019s moving from being a college to a university.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s an exciting time here at Â鶹ÊÓƵ\u2019s,\u201d he added. \u201cThe transition to becoming a university has been transformational \u2014 Â鶹ÊÓƵ\u2019s is becoming the place to be.\u201d<\/p>\n

Fr. DeStephano showed the alumni how Â鶹ÊÓƵ\u2019s is also the place to transform the lives of students. He recounted several stories of students who had come to Â鶹ÊÓƵ\u2019s with personal and socioeconomic challenges and had gone on to head global corporations, travel the world and attain their professional dreams. Meanwhile, Dr. Naatus described how Â鶹ÊÓƵ\u2019s Ignite Institute is making a difference in the local business world by focusing on local economic development.<\/p>\n

\u201cÂ鶹ÊÓƵ\u2019s is such an amazing community and it\u2019s a wonderful place to be,\u201d she added. \u201cIt\u2019s my sixth year teaching and I love my job.\u201d<\/p>\n

Callahan, who has never lived more than two miles away from Â鶹ÊÓƵ\u2019s, emphasized what an important role the University has played throughout his life. Now an associate professor in the criminal justice department, Callahan described how fortunate he is to be with students every day in such a collaborative, inviting environment.<\/p>\n

Callahan also thanked the alumni for their continued support for Â鶹ÊÓƵ\u2019s.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat you have done for this school and what you give just by being present today; what you have contributed and continue to contribute \u2014 that is your legacy,\u201d Callahan added.<\/p>\n

Before the discussion came to a close, Sekel brought up the many community service events and projects in which he is involved. He described the Junkyard Dogs, where students help clean up the streets of Jersey City, and The Campus Kitchen, where volunteers take trays of leftover food and repackages and repurposes it into nutritious meals for those in need. He recalled how when The Campus Kitchen had just opened a year ago, he had set a target for 50 meals a week. By the end of the month they had hit 800 meals and a year later, they had surpassed 10,000 meals.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s so amazing to watch these students; it makes you speechless when these students show up to these community service events,\u201d he said. \u201cI\u2019ve fallen in love [with Â鶹ÊÓƵ\u2019s] \u2014 I\u2019m here for life.\u201d<\/p>\n

Following the State of the University Luncheon, alumni attended a Jersey Jesuit conversation. There, Rev. Rocco Danzi, S.J., director of campus ministry, discussed Jesuits in today\u2019s world and how being a Jesuit has changed in the University over the years while Damian Halligan \u201955 talked about the history of Jesuit education in Jersey City.<\/p>\n

\u201cÂ鶹ÊÓƵ\u2019s is still expanding,\u201d said Halligan. \u201cYou have to keep in tune with the times and keep developing \u2014 that\u2019s how we became a university.\u201d<\/p>\n

During the weekend, alumni presented their reunion gifts to the University. The fundraising efforts of the Classes of 1955 and 1965 resulted in $87,000 and $594,013.01, respectively.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt has been said that giving back propels you to feel empowered and confident that you can make a difference,\u201d added Mercurio. \u201cFinancial support from our alumni is critical to the University\u2019s efforts to give the same, quality Jesuit education that you received to generations of new students.\u201d<\/p>\n

View more pictures here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\t\t