St. Joseph’s College partnered with the New York State Middle School Association (NYSMSA) to host the Sixth Annual Teaching for Tomorrow Conference on May 21.

The conference brought together educators from all over Long Island and the New York City area to engage in professional development workshops and to celebrate the best practices for middle-level education.

The conference has become a staple in providing a venue for nationally recognized Essential Elements Schools to Watch award recipients to highlight their award-winning practices.

The workshops were led by top teaching professionals, administrators and educational consultants.

SJC’s Involvement

Shawn Robertson, Ed.D., associate professor of SJC Long Island’s child study department, continued as conference chair.

Alumni Dennis Schug, principal of Hampton Bays Middle School, and John Christie, Ed.D., principal of the Dayton Avenue School in Manorville, were conference committee members.  Mr. Schug graduated from SJC Long Island in 1997 with a B.A. in Child Study, and Dr. Christie graduated in 1999 with a B.A. in History.

NYSMSA represents those who serve the educational needs of all young adolescents in New York state. They are committed to creating, promoting and supporting effective middle-level programs that are academically rigorous and developmentally responsive.

Five SJC Long Island alumni were honored at the campus’ sixth annual Alumni Achievement Awards in Health Care and Human Services Thursday in the McGann Conference Center.

In his presentation, “Mental Health Matters,” the event’s keynote speaker Michael Stoltz, CEO of the Association for Mental Health and Wellness,  addressed the connection between mental and physical health, and the importance of taking a team approach to treating both.

“Form a relationship that transforms boundaries,” Stoltz said. “See that we are one health care domain. Winners tonight need to help bring change and start the conversation when it comes to mental health.”

For too long, Stoltz said, people treated physical health as something completely separate from mental health. He encouraged the award recipients to bridge that gap and work together to fight the stigma surrounding mental health.

SJC’s change agents honored this year were Joseph Aliano, Jr. ’18, director of food service at John T. Mather Memorial Hospital; Shanna Williams ’13, M.B.A. ’15, project manager at Suffolk Care Collaborative; Chris Spence ’16, director of quality improvement at SCO Family of Services; Carlene Williams ’10, M.S.N. ’13, R.N., nurse for 16 years and an instructor at SJC; and the first-ever hospitality and tourism management major to receive this award, Michael DeCicco ’18, access control coordinator at Northwell Health’s Huntington Hospital.

View a video recap of the event below:

Seven St. Joseph’s College alumni and one current SJC student received the Celebrate Long Island’s Young Professionals Award in May at the Crest Hollow Country Club in Huntington, New York.

The Huntington Chamber of Commerce held the 10th annual event to recognize 30 successful professionals from Long Island who are under the age of 30. The chamber created the Young Professionals Committee “to encourage young influential people from all lines of work to come together and share their experiences, utilize each other’s resources, generate business, work with chamber members and build their careers.”

SJC’s Young Professionals Honored

Dakota Arocho, a mobile program coordinator for Long Island Cares, Inc., received his B.S. in Human Services from St. Joseph’s in 2017. Arocho fulfills his desire to serve humanity by helping children, veterans, the eldery and the general population suffering from food insecurity. He plans to return to SJC for his M.S. in Human Services Leadership.

Shannon Dempsey, a demand planner II for Leviton Manufacturing Company Inc., graduated from St. Joe’s with a B.A. in Mathematics in 2010. The 29-year-old helped in planning the launch of Leviton’s groundbreaking line of WiFi-capable light switches and dimmers as part of Leviton’s “Decora Smart” technology.

Dylan Gafarian received a B.S. in Speech Communication and B.A. in Journalism and New Media Studies from SJC in 2015. After graduating, he began working at St. Joseph’s College. He later became an admissions counselor at Stony Brook University. Continuing his career in higher education, Gafarian is now an admissions counselor for Farmingdale State College. His goal is to make the admissions process fun, exciting and attainable for all.

Kristina Jubinville, a learning specialist at Longwood Central School District, is a St. Joe’s graduate with a B.A. in Child Study. She is a very active adviser for STEM Club at Longwood Middle School, which engages the students in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

Gabrielle Macagnone is a student at SJC Long Island pursing a B.S. in Business Administration. She expects to graduate in spring 2019. Macagnone held several internships, including one with Chanel Inc. She just accepted a summer position with the NPD Group in Port Washington, New York, as a product and development associate.

Alissa Moriarty, a 2012 SJC graduate with a B.S. in Accounting, now works as a supervisor of audit and consulting staffat Cerini & Associates, LLP. There, she serves nonprofit organizations and small business clientele across a variety of industries.

Cristian Murphy, director of Campus Ministry at SJC Long Island, earned his bachelor’s degree from St. Joseph’s in 2014. He worked at Catholic schools for the past four years as a youth minister and as a high school theology teacher before joining SJC Long Island as campus minister. He’s also a freelance filmmaker focused on faith and service through documentary film. He serves as a volunteer first-responder for the West Islip Fire Department.

James Tomeo graduated from St. Joe’s in 2015. He is the vice president of the Elwood School District Board of Education and the Elwood Taxpayers Association. He’s also the co-chair of the Legislative Committee, Safety Committee and Facilities Committee. Tomeo recently pursued his interests in being an entrepreneur and became a small business owner.

Also in attendance from SJC were Thomas Travis, Ph.D., interim provost and professor of general studies; Eileen White Jahn, Ph.D., chair and professor of business administration and marketing at SJC Long Island; Gail Lamberta, Ph.D., associate dean of community development, chair and professor of recreational and leisure studies, and coordinator of experiential learning; and SJC alumni who were past recipients of the 30 Under 30 Award.

For SJC Long Island hospitality and tourism management major Gabriella Marino, the opportunity to serve an internship at the 2018 U.S. Open Golf Championship was a dream come true.

The 118th championship, held at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club in Southampton, New York, drew over 500,000 fans from June 11 to 17.

President of the HTM Club, Gabriella Marino has completed her time working for @ridgewellsdc at the @usopengolf. What an amazing experience to be part of!

A post shared by St.Joseph’s College (@sjchtm_club) on Jun 18, 2018 at 7:10pm PDT

An Amazing Opportunity

SJC Long Island hospitality and tourism management major Gabriella Marino, 18.

“I am so happy I got to be a part of this experience,” said Marino, 18, who served as a buffet manager in her assigned tent. “I created new friendships, got the chance to see professional golfers and created lasting memories.”

Marino, a sophomore,  learned of the internship through Tina Ferro, assistant professor and chair of the Department of Hospitality and Tourism Management at St. Joseph’s College. After meeting Ridgewells Catering Staffing and Operations Manager Nicholas Rogers, who came to visit SJC Long Island, Rogers hired Marino on the spot.

“My work would consist of setting up and breaking down the buffet for each meal, and keeping the buffet presentable and neat throughout the day,” said the 18-year-old Yaphank, New York, resident. “The tent I got assigned to was very busy, and I was on my feet for most of the day. If I wasn’t working at the buffet, I would jump in wherever I was needed.

“After a week of working 14 hours each day, I was exhausted,” Marino continued. “But the memories were all worth the exhaustion. It was an amazing opportunity to see how the back-of-the-house productions run; a lot of time and preparation is put into a successful event.”

Preparing for the Future

This opportunity provided Marino with the experience and knowledge necessary for her to succeed in the field of hospitality, one of the fastest growing industries in New York.

“This internship helped me realize the amount of construction and time needed to make it all happen!” she said. “Hard work, dedication and organization are what makes it all a reality. Along with my journey in hospitality, I will always remember that it doesn’t come easy. You have to really work hard if you want something.”

Her Heart Set on Hospitality

Although Marino is sure of her path now, that wasn’t the case when she started at St. Joseph’s.

“Coming to St. Joseph’s College, I had no clue what I wanted to do with my life,” she said. “The end of my first semester, I decided to go to the ‘Meet the Majors’ event on campus. I met Tina Ferro in the hospitality classroom, and I instantly felt a burst of inspiration when she was talking about what the field of hospitality was all about. I was ecstatic — I knew instantly that this is the industry I wanted to be involved in.

“Once I left the room, I called my mom and shared with her the news that my heart was set on Hospitality,” Marino shared.

After graduation, she wants to start her own planning company. Her focus would be on planning corporate events, weddings and other special events.

“As the president of the Hospitality Club on campus, I coordinate events. By doing so, I instantly found gratitude,” she said. “I loved to come up with new ideas to fit the theme, and all the preparing that went into a successful event.”

They just keep studying (and swimming).

SJC Long Island women’s team for the fifth consecutive semester was named a College Swimming Coaches Association of America (CSCAA) Division III Scholar All-America Team.

“It makes me proud to be part of St. Joseph’s College swim team and to be recognized along with other hard-working, head-strong teammates,” said Catherine Peralta, a Sachem North High School alumna who will be a senior at SJC Long Island this fall. “It means so much to the team and me to be able to be distinguished among numerous other competitive schools in our division.”

With a 3.75 GPA for the spring 2018 semester, the women’s swim team placed in the top three out of 173 Div III programs, and finished ninth out of all NCAA swimming programs.

A lot of different ingredients go into the recipe for success, and we seem to have all of them right now as a team.” —Coach Chris Brandenberger

The Key to Success

“All the girls on the team work very hard to get the times they want and the grades they want,” said team captain Samantha Mullman, a Massapequa High School graduate who has been swimming since the age of four. “It is not always easy, but in the end it is good to be able to say we have a Scholar All-American team. Being honored for our hard work and dedication allows us to know we are doing well as student-athletes.”

Mullman, a nursing major who holds two individual school records and two relay school records, knows the importance of finding a balance between academics and athletics.

“It’s something a lot of student athletes, like myself, struggle with,” the 20-year-old Massapequa, New York, resident said. “I encourage them to get a planner and plan out each day. Take five minutes in the morning to write down what they want to accomplish. That is something that has helped me the most as a student athlete. Also, I tell them to utilize the Academic Center. I have gone once a week since my first semester, and it has helped me very much.”

Finding a Support System

Peralta, a biology major with a minor in chemistry and mathematics, is no stranger to juggling her busy schedule. In addition to class and swimming, she’s a a member of SJC’s Biology and Chemistry clubs, and she volunteers for the Central Islip-Hauppauge Ambulance Service. She is also enrolled in an EMT course to better understand the health field.

“The best way to achieve a balance is to have supportive teammates, coaches, friends and family,” said the 21-year-old Lake Ronkonkoma, New York, native, who’s been a competitive swimmer since seventh grade. “Without them, I don’t know if I would be where I am today. All of these people have helped me no matter what the situation was, and for that I’m grateful.”

Peralta owns two times on the team’s all-time top 10 lists — in the 500-yard Free and 200-yard Fly.

To become a CSCAA Scholar All-America Team, the college’s swim team must have a 3.0 GPA or higher.

A Caring Coach

“It’s part of how we’re trying to build our program for the future,” the swim team’s coach Chris Brandenberger said. “We want our student-athletes to have an outstanding academic and athletic experience when they come to St. Joseph’s College. This team of girls is showing they are great role models at St. Joseph’s College, and that’s important.”

Brandenberger became aquatics director and head coach of the women’s swim team at SJC Long Island in 2017.  Prior to joining the athletics department at SJC, he served as head coach of the Fort Belvoir Swim Team in Alexandria, Virginia, where he developed Junior Olympic qualifiers and finalists since May 2014.

“I think all the student-athletes at St. Joseph’s College know our coaching staff and athletics department are willing to provide whatever support necessary to allow our student-athletes to succeed both academically and athletically,” said Brandenberger, who enjoyed a successful swim career at the University of Maryland and Ward Melville High School.

“A lot of different ingredients go into the recipe for success, and we seem to have all of them right now as a team.”

For as long as he can remember, SJC Long Island junior Alex Pushnick has been fascinated by sharks.

When he was accepted to intern at the Earthwatch Institute’s Shark and Ray Conservation in Belize from June 13 to June 20, Pushnick, a biology major, jumped at what he considered the chance of a lifetime.

“It was an amazing experience to be accepted and to be a part of this internship,” Pushnick, 20, said. “Sharks have always had a special place in me, so being a part of this program was incredible. I was always fascinated by animals’ behaviors, niches and how their bodies physically work and how it benefits them for their environment.”

Hooked to the Idea

Pushnick found the internship with the help of Coordinator of Global Studies Linda Lubranksi, and he was excited about the opportunity to be involved in the research.

“The research is to help determine the current population to see if the marine reserve is having an impact on the sharks,” Pushnick said. “It’s also to see if the sharks at Glover’s Reef Atoll stay there throughout their life, or if they leave and come back to use the shallow waters as breeding grounds.”

After running the position by Francis Antonowich, Ph.D., professor and chair of the biology department, and Konstantine Rountos, Ph.D., assistant professor of biology, the internship was approved and his application was accepted.

Reeling It In

“Three flights, a half-hour car ride and a two-hour boat ride later, I officially landed at the research station located on Middle Caye Island in Glover’s Reef Atoll,” said Pushnick of Manorville, New York. “Traveling alone to Belize was an adventure. This was not my first time traveling internationally, but it was my first time doing it alone.”

On the first day of the internship, the conservation’s head research scientist Demian Chapman, Ph.D., an internationally recognized shark expert, informed the interns of the work they would be doing: catching sharks, taking their measurements at three locations, checking to see if the sharks were tagged with transponders and tagging them if they were not.

“Passive Integrated Transponder or PIT helps scientists track individual organisms by providing a reliable lifetime ‘barcode’ for an individual animal,” Pushnick explained. “These PIT tags are about the size of a grain of rice and are inserted just below the dorsal fin via a syringe. The serial number from the PIT tag would be recorded before being inserted. Once a PIT tag is inserted, it is scanned to make sure its working.”

The lead scientists also inserted transmitters into the sharks to track their locations. After that, the sharks were named and released. All of this would be performed in under five minutes to insure the shark’s health was as good as possible upon release.

Similar research was also collected from stingrays once their barb was cut.

“We worked with about five different types of sharks,” Pushnick said. “We were mainly targeting Caribbean Reef Shark, but we also did work on lemon, nurse, blacknose and sharpnose sharks. We caught about 15 in the time I was there.”

All Lined Up for the Future     

After graduating from St. Joseph’s College, Pushnick plans to attend medical school and possibly join Doctors Without Borders.

“My dream job would be just to travel and live a life of adventure, experiencing new culture while traveling the world,” he said.

Pushnick got a taste for this life while serving his internship in Belize.

“The island was run by locals, and they prepared all the food, which was amazing. Most of it was chicken or pork, but the spices opened a whole new cultural world. By living like the locals, it brought a new respect to just living life as is, and it shows how you don’t need much for happiness.”

Heather Barry, Ph.D., SJC Long Island’s director of the Faculty Center for Teaching and Learning, and professor of history,  is an American colonial historian. We decided to ask her some questions about the historical significance of Independence Day.

Q: What historical events led to the creation of this holiday?

A: The events that led up to the Declaration of Independence began in the 1760s and 1770s in colonial America. After the Seven Years’ War (also referred to the French and Indian War), the relationship between colonists and Parliament changed,  and disagreements began to boil over.  Eventually, war broke out in April of 1775, and independence was declared over a year later. This is the historical beginning of this holiday.

Q: Are there any common misconceptions surrounding the Fourth of July?

A: Like so many of the holidays we celebrate today, misconceptions surround most of them!  The Fourth of July is a perfect example.  Many people believe that we celebrate the Fourth of July because that was the date delegates signed the Declaration of Independence back in 1776, or that it was the date the Continental Congress delegates voted to declare their independence from Great Britain. Other people believe that the date was the start of the American Revolution.

All of these are inaccurate.  The American Revolution began over a year before this declaration (the Revolutionary War began in April of 1775). The Continental Congress voted to declare their independence from Great Britain on July 2, 1776, and the actual Declaration of Independence was not signed by most until Aug. 2 of 1776.

So, how did the Fourth of July become the date to celebrate declaring independence from Great Britain?  No one knows for sure, but evidence suggests that the first popularly published copies of the Declaration of Independence had the date July 4, 1776, printed on them. Then, two famous Americans, Thomas Jefferson and John Adams both died on July 4 in 1826, making this a memorable date. In actuality, the Fourth of July did not become a national holiday until 1870…almost 100 years after the event!

Q: Is there a difference in the way we observe this holiday as a nation now compared to how it was observed in the late 1700s?

A: For the first 15-20 years, Americans did not celebrate any one date or in any consistent way the Declaration of Independence. There are records of people celebrating independence by firing guns, ringing bells, lighting bonfires and even fireworks on various days in July and August of 1776 and 1777.  The day was not celebrated in any consistent way until the 19th century.

Q: Can you touch on the subject of people referring to the Fourth of July as the birthday of the U.S.A?

A: Many Americans believe that the Fourth of July is a holiday to celebrate the signing of the Declaration of Independence and that this document created the United States of America. In fact, the Declaration of Independence did not create the United States of America as we know it today. The Declaration of Independence created 13 independent sovereign states that no longer wanted to be a part of Great Britain. The United States of America, with a central government, was created as a result of the Constitution that was ratified in 1789.

In the end…does it really matter when, why or how we celebrate the beginning of the United States? I argue no! We should celebrate the United States, and whether we celebrate it on July 2, 4 or in August…the idea remains the same… We should celebrate together as a nation, and the Fourth of July works well!

Q: What was New York’s involvement in the Declaration of Independence? 

A: New York’s involvement is interesting… See, New York was under British occupation, so most New Yorkers had to either be or pretend to be loyalists in 1776. New York did have delegates, but they decided to abstain from the July 2 vote to declare independence.

Q: Are there any fun facts about the Fourth of July?

• Long Island’s very own William Floyd signed the Declaration of Independence.

• Congress made the Fourth of July an official unpaid holiday for federal employees in 1870. In 1938, Congress changed the day to be a paid federal holiday.

• The Declaration of Independence was signed by 56 men from 13 colonies.

• It is believed that the first Independence Day celebration took place in Philadelphia on July 8, 1776.

•Three American presidents died on July 4: John Adams, Thomas Jefferson and James Monroe.

More than 300 people applied for a two-month internship at Northwell Health’s Office of the Chief Information Officer (OCIO) in Long Island, New York. Of the 33 accepted into the program, four are students at St. Joseph’s College.

The OCIO accepted two mathematics and computer science majors, one health administration major and one health care management (M.B.A.) major from SJC Long Island to serve in the office from June 11 to Aug. 17.

The IT Dream

Senior Katherine Wagner, a computer information technology major and psychology minor, is working within the Cardholder Data Environment (CDE) department at the OCIO. This department handles the CDE domain and their users.

“It was a huge honor to be accepted in this internship program,” Wagner said. “I believe that I am going to learn a lot throughout the summer and will have a better understanding of the health care and IT field in the real world.”

While working at an independent pharmacy in January 2015, Wagner learned about the computer system and began understanding the basics behind prescription billing. This led to her interest in the health care aspect of information technology.

“I decided to declare my concentration in Health Care Information Management to learn more about the health care system, specifically the hospital side of it,” said the East Quogue, New York, native. “I want to work in health care because even if I am on the technology side of it, I am still able to help people in many ways. This internship is giving me exposure to this, and I already enjoy it.”

Wagner is hoping to land a full-time job with Northwell Health after she graduates next May.

Health Administration Aspirations

Roberto Fontanez, who has a background in biology, is a graduate student pursuing his M.B.A. in Health Care Management with a concentration in Health Information Systems.

Whether it’s through directly improving the patients’ experience by offering them the very best in health care technology or by finding solutions to problems before they experience them, I believe I am called to help people and learn.” —Roberto Fontanez

“This internship is giving me the opportunity to work in Health Informatics (the massive collection of patient data) to do research and discover new ways of preventing patient infections,” Fontanez, 32, said. “I also get a great introduction to the technology that makes hospitals work.”

The Patchogue, New York, resident’s dream job is to lead innovation in health care, especially in terms of how technology advances our understanding of medicine.

“The health care field interests me because, as a Navy veteran, I discovered my greatest potential is in helping others,” he said. “Whether it’s through directly improving the patients’ experience by offering them the very best in health care technology or by finding solutions to problems before they experience them, I believe I am called to help people and learn.”

SJC Team

The other St. Joseph’s interns at Northwell this summer are Rory Glynn, a mathematics and computer science major, and Rebecca Logan, who is majoring in health administration. Both students are interning in Northwell’s Office of the Chief Information Officer this summer.

Brian Wasson, executive director of social media at St. Joseph’s College, is well-versed in the linguistic value of emojis. OnCampus asked him some questions in honor of July 17, World Emoji Day.

Q: How did emojis become so popular?

A: Emojis as we now use them started in Japan in the late 1990s. They were adapted quickly because emoticons like : ) were already used in emails, blogs and other forms of electronic communication. So the picture versions of emoticons were a logical next step, and as is often the case with new technological advances, they first appeared on cellphones in Japan. However, it wasn’t until the introduction of smartphones in the mid-to-late 2000s that the rest of the world would get to see and use them on a regular basis. They’re cute little pictures … how could they not be popular?!

Q: What do you think is the future of emojis? Do you think they’ll always be creating more? Do you see it as more of a fad?

A: I don’t view the use of emojis as a fad at all. Many people said the same about social media just a few years back. Pictures used to represent words or phrases have been part of language and communication for thousands of years. Emojis are here to stay both in and out of social media use and in other technological uses, such as gaming and popular culture. I mean there has to be a sequel to the “Emoji Movie,” right?  I also don’t envision a massive new set of emojis being released every year, and I like the way only a few are released at a time. We have access to nearly 3,000 of them, and I can’t imagine having to sift through, say, double that number. My predictions for emoji use and development in the future are: scratch-n-sniff emojis on your phone and 3D emojis. Seriously.

Q: What’s the most popular emoji?

A: I believe two are near the top of the popularity list:    Smiling Face With Heart-Eyes and Red Heart. Face With Tears of Joy is up there, as well. Also of note are the ones least used (see here). If only I could work Man in Suit Levitating into our daily @SJCNY social posts more often.

Q: How do you think the popularization of emojis has changed the way we use social media?

A: It has certainly made it easier and more fun to respond to social media posts. At times, it’s made it more confusing, too, if you misread the use of them. Using emojis makes us more human on these platforms — more social. Typing out “birthday cake“ in reply to a social post regarding a friend’s birthday doesn’t evoke the same feelings as posting a  instead.

Q: On which social media platform do you see emojis used the most?

A: By far Instagram. Although in the last two years or so, I have seen use of them grow in popularity on Twitter. I don’t know why, but I am seeing them used more and more by brands and other organizations. We’ve adjusted our approach on @SJCNY and use them more, as well.

Q: How have emojis changed our ways of communicating? Do you think it’s for better or for worse?

A: Like any form of communication, there are both good and bad consequences. I don’t view the use of emojis as fitting solely into either bucket. We use emojis to convey our thoughts exactly and to supplement our messaging. That can be a good thing. For me, the use of emojis enriches our digital conversations in the same way that we use and rely on body language in face-to-face conversations. Our world is already filled with symbols used to represent simple and complex phrases, expressions and things. The introduction of emojis filled a digital void, and it will continue to evolve.

Q: What’s the most interesting thing about emojis to you?

A: The emojis that are missing are perhaps the most interesting to me. There’s some obvious food ones (looking at you, potato chips and waffles) that many users want, and even a wider selection of cars and choices for holidays. A Shushing Face was just released last year. Why did it take so long? It was nearly 10 years before we saw a taco, pretzels or bacon! I mean come on, how are we supposed to live like this? I find the ones we don’t have yet to be more interesting than the ones we have. Oh, I like emoji sentences, too! Those are fun to try and decipher.

Q: What’s your favorite emoji?

A: Why the bear face and eagle , of course!

PS: Anyone can submit an emoji for review. Click here for the page and details.

It’s not every day you get to meet the world’s most famous mixed martial artist. And it’s more against the odds that you’ll get to watch him train at your place of business. Unless, of course, if your business is in the Hamptons.

SJC Long Island alumnus Greg Melita ’06 had the pleasure of meeting Conor McGregor when the former UFC featherweight and lightweight champ trained at Melita’s jiu-jitsu studio, Hamptons Jiu Jitus, in Southampton, New York, in June. The martial arts and recovery studio offers Brazilian jiu-jitsu, Muay Thai kickboxing, yoga, MMA classes, cryotherapy, physical therapy, acupuncture massages, leg compression and sports consultation, all in-house.

Meeting McGregor

“It’s amazing to really see a guy of that status level be able to come in and train just like a normal guy,” Melita said. “He was really laid back. It was definitely one of my favorite memories so far.”

#UFC Warrior Conor McGregor Trains at #Hamptons Jiu Jitsu in Southampton, NYhttps://t.co/vYvknzKiNN @hamptonsbjj @mcgregorsfast @ConormcGregor5 @ConorMcGregorHQ pic.twitter.com/kmCSNa39GI

— Dan’s Papers (@danspapers) June 30, 2018

McGregor’s jiu-jitsu trainer Dillon Danis, who had heard of Hamptons Jiu Jitsu, reached out to Melita via an Instagram message and said that they would be in the area. He asked if they could stop by to train. Melita was more than happy to open the studio to them.

“I was already a big fan of McGregor, but now obviously, even more so,” the Islip, New York, resident said. “He couldn’t have been a nicer guy. He came in, loved the place, stayed and trained. He mentioned that he’ll be coming back”

But meeting McGregor was just one of the many highlights of owning his own business, said Melita, who also had the opportunity to meet the late Anthony Bourdain last year when Bourdain stopped in to train.

Becoming a Business Owner

“It was a surreal experience starting my own business on this scale,” he said. “It’s been a lifelong dream for me, but seeing it come to fruition makes all the years of work worth it.”

Melita opened Hamptons Jiu Jitsu in February 2017, and exactly one year later, he had a grand reopening at his new location (three doors down from the old one). The new space accommodates for his growing business, providing more mat space, two full locker rooms with a shower and laundry service in each. It also gave room for the addition of the Recovery Center, which is run by Vita Cryotherapy.

“I always had a fascination with martial arts because I saw the confidence that it gave people,” Melita said of his decision to start this business. “I admired Bruce Lee and Royce Gracie. I started with karate in 1998 through family friends, and once I received my black belt, I was also wrestling in high school, and the UFC was gaining popularity. I started jiu jitsu in 2000 at the Kioto Academy and received my black belt from them in 2013.”

Success Starts at St. Joe’s

Melita received his bachelor’s degree in computer information technology, minoring in business administration. Although he didn’t know exactly what his future career would be, he knew he wanted it to involve business and IT.

“St. Joseph’s really prepared me for where I am now because I studied such a broad range of topics: marketing, software, website design, social media and managing a business, as well. And I’m doing all of that now. I really think that St. Joe’s played a huge part in where I am today.”

Melita stressed that the liberal arts education he received from St. Joseph’s College helped him discover his interests and turned him into the person he is today.

“The broad curriculum there really helped me become well-rounded,” he said. “S. Jane Fritz really had an impact on me because she was the one that guided me and helped me figure out what classes to take.”

The chair of the religious studies department and the campus ministry director at SJC Long Island will be guest speakers at special screenings of “Pope Francis: A Man of His Word” on July 26 and Aug. 5 at The Plaza Cinema & Media Arts Center.

“This is part of an ongoing collaboration that the Cinema has had with St. Joseph’s,” said Thomas Petriano, Ph.D., chair of the Department of Religious Studies, who will speak at the July 26, 7:30 p.m. screening. “This is an important film for all who would like to know more about Pope Francis and his message.

“He has become a highly respected world leader, even among non Catholics and those who are not religious,” he added.

The 2018 documentary directed by Wim Wenders premiered at the Cannes Film Festival. It documents Pope Francis’ personal journey to present his reform work and address important global questions ­– from his deep concern over the inequality between the poor and wealthy to his involvement in environmental issues, social justice, and calls for peace. Wenders blends intimate conversations and interviews with footage of the pope’s public outings, where he captivates large, diverse crowds.

“This film is not a film about the Pope. This film is the Pope,” said Cristian Murphy, director of campus ministry and a 2014 SJC Long Island graduate. “The film captures raw footage of the Pope’s past four years in ways that will inspire and impress the audience.”

Murphy, himself an avid filmmaker, will speak at the Aug. 5, 10:30 a.m. screening.

Cristian Murphy (at right), director of campus ministry at SJC Long Island will be a speaker at a special screening of “Pope Francis: A Man of His Word” Aug. 5 at The Plaza Cinema & Media Arts Center in Patchogue.

“St. Joseph’s College students should see this movie because the messages that Pope Francis shares to the viewer would impress and perhaps even shock them,” Murphy said. “This film reminds us that we must never assume anything about anyone or any organization. Pope Francis truly welcomes all viewers to sit in the theatre with him and share experiences.”

Dr. Petriano said one of the reasons Pope Francis is so highly respected by so many is because he truly lives the message he preaches.

“He is a voice for the voiceless, for the poor and the oppressed, for refugees, and for our beleaguered planet,” he said. “His words are authentic, challenging and, at the same time, uplifting.

Thomas Petriano, Ph.D. (at left), chair of religious studies at SJC Long Island, will be a speaker at a special screening of “Pope Francis: A Man of His Word” July 26 at The Plaza Cinema & Media Arts Center in Patchogue.

“At a time when there is so much turmoil in our world, this is a film that gives hope, as it calls us to be agents of peace and justice. I think our students will be inspired by the way he speaks in this film,” Dr. Petriano added.

Tickets for both showings of the Pope Francis documentary are $9. Admission for students is $7; for children under 12 tickets are $5.

The Plaza Cinema & Media Arts Center is located at 20 Terry St. in downtown Patchogue.

A young priest and a group of women touched by the Spirit of God founded the Sisters of St. Joseph in the village of Le Puy, France, in 1650, according to the Sisters of St. Joseph website. They shared a vision of union with God and neighbor, which they sought to achieve through prayer, service and love. The Congregation came to America in 1836, eventually founding nine colleges in the United States. And now, nearly 370 years after the founding of the Sisters of St. Joseph, two students from each college went for the first time on a pilgrimage to Le Puy from June 16 to June 23.

Tatiana Belanich, a senior from SJC Long Island majoring in Philosophy and Religious Studies and Journalism and New Media Studies, traveled to France alongside SJC Brooklyn 2018 graduate Veronique Mathieu, who earned bachelor’s in English.

The Association of Colleges of Sisters of St. Joseph (ACSSJ) Executive Director Martha Malinski and Belanich (an intern for ACSSJ) explained the importance of this pilgrimage.

To experience these historical places was a professional and personal highlight that has deepened my awe and commitment to the Sisters of St. Joseph.” — ACSSJ Executive Director Martha Malinski

OnCampus: What was the purpose of this pilgrimage? 

Martha: To offer a unique opportunity for two students from each of our nine member institutions to participate in a weeklong trip to France to learn more about the Sisters of St. Joseph‘s history and charism.  Each of the students is charged with bringing their new knowledge, understanding and hopefully a deeper connection to the Sisters of St. Joseph back to their home campus and offering fall programs. Students are working to infuse their learning and the charism of the Sisters of St. Joseph on campuses, through presentations at first-year orientations, tabling, videos, programs, etc.

Martha: The students learned more about the history of the Sisters of St. Joseph in France that led to them coming to the United States in the 1800s to begin new ministries of dividing the city and circling it with love. Students had an opportunity to reflect on what bold and courageous women the first Sisters of St. Joseph were and how their work has led to great institutions, like St. Joseph’s College. It also allowed them to meet current Sisters of St. Joseph, who continue this bold legacy and are leaders in their own communities.

Tatiana: Not enough people know the story of the Sisters of St. Joseph, and that needs to change. The Sisters were radical for their time — they followed God’s will with unwavering faith and made a difference by loving without distinction. We are all called to make a difference. By attending the Le Puy Pilgrimage, we not only experienced the breath-taking views, but we had the opportunity to relate the stories of the Sisters to our own life.

OnCampus: What was the most meaningful part of this journey to you?

Martha: I was inspired by the group of 18 students who opened themselves up to the experience and came together as a group, fostering deep connections with each other and with the place. S. Kitty Hanley, C.S.J. and S. Joan Lescinski, C.S.J. were our guides. Their knowledge and understanding of the place and the charism were essential. Campus Ministry Directors Lori Helfrich (from Fontbonne University) and Daniel Leahy (from Regis College) provided thoughtful evening reflections to deepen our understanding of what we had seen, heard and felt during the day. They used the Sisters of St. Joseph’s Sharing of the Heart practice to guide these reflections.

It was my first time to Le Puy and Lyon. Walking the streets of Le Puy, sitting in the Motherhouse chapel in Lyon, and being in the first kitchen are spiritual and transformative experiences. These are places I have read about, heard stories of and imagined. To experience these historical places was a professional and personal highlight that has deepened my awe and commitment to the Sisters of St. Joseph.

Tatiana: The entire trip was filled with memorable moments. From walking the same streets to seeing the same beautiful sights as the first sisters, I was struck by the simple, humble beginnings of the congregation. With every story, I was enamored by the courage and passion the Sisters had in following God’s will. Moreover, sharing this with students from all around the country whose own colleges were also founded by the Sisters of St. Joseph enriched the experience more than I can say. We all had a desire to learn about the Sisters and their stories, and we all formed relationships and bonds that will remain. Most of all, our guides S. Joan and S. Kitty enlivened and blessed our journey beyond words. I was inspired by their wisdom and faith, and it was such a joy to see how much they loved Le Puy and the Sisters of St. Joseph.

OnCampus: What did you gain from this experience?

Tatiana: Being around a group of faithful, steadfast people awakened my love for God. Hearing the wisdom from our leaders reminded me that God fully knows and understands each one of us. I left with a deepened desire to discern and follow the will God has for my life — to make a difference. Le Puy will always be a home and an experience I will carry forever.

This experience also allowed students:

How are other teachers assigning homework? How do educators use social media in the classroom? How does someone survive their first year as a new principal?

These are a few of the discussion brought up by Long Island educators during Friday’s EdCamp Long Island conference, hosted by the SJC Long Island Alumni Association.

SJC Long Island Alumni Dennis Schug ’97 and Scott Garafola ’08, who helped form EdCamp Long Island about five years ago, commented on the positive energy flowing through the McGann Conference Center from local educators at the conference.

“I have to give a shout out to the teachers; this is a working day for them,” Garafola said. “It’s summer. And the teachers are like, ‘No, I’m going to take my Friday and go learn by my own choice.’”

“That speaks to the passionate group we have in this region,” he added.

During an EdCamp, it’s up to the attendees to come up with the day’s agenda, which Schug and Garafola said helps the productivity of the event.

When attendees arrived, an empty board on the back of the conference room wall beckoned for individuals to come and create their own schedule. If there is a topic an educator wanted to learn about – say, how others implement science, technology, English, art and math (STEAM) into their curriculum – the educator would write it on a piece of paper and tape it to the wall. Another educator at the conference, who may have strategies for teaching STEAM to share with the education community, could then sign up to lead that conversation.

Within the first hour of the day, the board was filled.

“It’s a powerful model,” Garafola said. “It’s changed what teachers are doing in their classrooms.”

Teaching With Technology

Starr Sackstein, the director of humanities for the West Hempstead Union Free School District, led a conversation Friday morning about using social media, such as Twitter and blogs, in the classroom.

Starr Sackstein, the director of humanities for the West Hempstead Union Free School District, uses social media and blogging in her classroom.

Sackstein said she has her students blog about the literature they are reading using Blogger, a blog-publishing service owned by Google. She explained that it allows the students to have book discussions with other kids who are reading the same type of literature as them and form a community.

On Twitter, Sackstein will sometimes take a picture of her class reading a book and tweet it to the author. Getting a response from the author never fails to spark excitement from her students.

“It’s so easy to develop relationships with these people today,” Sackstein said. “It’s not like back in the day when you were reaching out to their publicist.”

Johnny Milano still recalls the exact week at St. Joseph’s College when he decided he would follow a career path that blended his passions for political science and photography.

The 2011 SJC Long Island graduate was halfway through his senior year and on one of the school’s Nicaragua Project trips came to the realization. Milano, a political science major at St. Joseph’s, said his future career path clicked for him when he and his classmates ran a photography workshop for the residents of Nicaragua.

Johnny Milano ’11

“It kind of just fell into my lap,” said Milano, a freelance photographer who has worked for The New York Times, Newsday, Al Jazeera America, Wall Street Journal, VICE, CNN and other media outlets. “I definitely did not expect to be where I am.”

Today, Milano is an independent photographer, traveling often and capturing political events through the lens of his Nikon.

Recently, Milano has spent much of his time in Arizona, near the Mexican border, talking to and photographing members of the Arizona Border Recon, or AZBR – a non-government organization that patrols the border. The group is made up of citizens – mainly former military, law enforcement and private security workers – who pass information they gather about smuggling activities at the border to the U.S. Customs and Border Control.

The other major project Milano is working on tells the stories of white nationalists, including the Klu Klux Klan, and neo-Nazis.

“It’s an appropriate way to be using my degree,”  Milano said.

When Milano is out on assignment, he often uses the tools he acquired at St. Joseph’s. He explained that his deep understanding of the inner workings of politics that he learned at the College helps him navigate the political world with his camera. If he lacked that knowledge, Milano said many of his projects would likely miss the point of the story they are telling.

“Without that, it would have made my projects fail,” he said.

Milano credits the Nicaragua trip he took with fellow St. Joseh’s students and staff for leading him to study photojournalism and documentary photography at the International Center of Photography in Manhattan after graduation.

Milano said his photography career, which allows him to get face-to-face with current news events, is already exceeding his expectations.

“I’ve learned a lot,” Milano said. “There are a lot of preconceptions that I had about some organizations before. It’s different experiencing it for yourself.”

A former student-athlete from the Class of 1999 and two members of the Class of 2009 are the newest members of SJC Long Island’s Golden Eagles Athletics Hall of Fame, the College has announced.

Joseph King ’99, a psychology major and the first-baseman on SJC Long Island’s 1997 ECAC championship team, was elated by the news of his induction.

“I feel honored and excited to be a part of the Gold Eagles Hall of Fame,” said King, 42, who owns Pottery King, Inc., a wholesale distributor of pottery and glass vases  with an outlet store in New York City. “Baseball is a game that I have always been passionate about, and I have lasting memories of my four years at St. Joe’s.

Golden Eagles Hall of Fame inductee Joseph King ‘99 at bat while playing for SJC Long Island at Yankee Stadium.

“Playing soccer has been something I’ve loved doing since kindergarten, and the opportunity to play in college meant I got to keep doing what I enjoyed most,” said Brady, 30, a strategic account executive at Hub International. “Being recognized for my time on the field is just icing on the cake — it’s humbling and super exciting.”

Hall of Fame inductee Meghan Brady ’09 helped lead the Golden Eagles to three regular season Skyline Conference championships.

Brady said she remains very close with her teammates from St. Joseph’s.

“I’d challenge anyone to find friends better than the ones I made playing soccer at SJC,” said Brady of Farmingdale. “The bus trips to away games created a ton of memories for me. They were a great excuse for all of us to be together — we are still constantly laughing and reminiscing about the things that happened while we were traveling.”

 

Inductee Tyle Eckhoff was a three-time Skyline All-Conference selection who in 2008 led the men’s cross country team to its first-ever Skyline title. He still holds two SJC Long Island course records.

“It is an honor to be recognized by SJC,” said Eckhoff, 31, a middle school social studies teacher and high school cross country and track coach in Alexandria, Virginia. “St. Joseph’s enabled me to continue my running career, accomplish my dream of becoming a teacher, make lifelong friends and still have money to fund my graduate school after graduating.”

Tyler Eckhoff ’09, at right at the front of the pack, in 2008 helped lead the Golden Eagles cross country team to its first Skyline Conference title.

Hall of Fame Established 10 Years Ago

The Golden Eagles Hall of Fame was established in 2008 to honor former athletes, coaches and friends of St. Joseph’s College. Those honored have contributed significantly to the athletics program and continue to exemplify the principles of sportsmanship and integrity through their contributions and achievements in their respective communities and professions.

Three students from SJC Long Island participated this summer in the 2018 Science Undergraduate Laboratory Internship (SULI) at Brookhaven National Lab (BNL) in Upton, New York.

The internship program — open to college students across the country — kicked off June 4 and concluded Aug. 10. The students presented their research findings during a poster session last Thursday.

“BNL is one of only 10 major research labs in the United States, so it is very prestigious,” said Sister Jane Fritz, assistant professor of mathematics and computer science at SJC Long Island. “The interns gain extraordinary experience working with world famous scientists and researchers. They learn concepts and work with equipment far beyond those of a typical college classroom. For many, this is the beginning of a career path.”

As many as seven St. Joseph’s College students get accepted into this highly competitive internship each year, according to S. Jane. An informal collaboration has existed between St. Joseph’s and BNL for over two decades. In addition to choosing St. Joseph’s students as interns and employing graduates of the College, they have also aided the institution in receiving major grants through writing letters of support.

A Closer Look at SULI

“SULI is a national program sponsored by the Department of Energy and is available at the 17 Department of Energy Labs,” explained Melvyn Morris, special projects manager in BNL’s Office of Educational Programs. “All of the students that are considered have at least a 3.0 GPA and are going into at least their junior year.”

S. Jane Fritz and Dr. Cheyne Miller with students Jeami Van Weele and Jorge Diaz Jr.

References that speak to the character of the students are very important in students receiving this internship, Morris mentioned.

“Most of the students we have accepted have been based on recommendations from S. Jane and have been in the math and computer area,” he said.

Other students who interned at BNL this summer study at such institutions as Harvard, Columbia,  University of Pennsylvania, Brown University and Stony Brook University.

Confirming a Career Choice

“This internship was a real eye-opener for me, and I am so glad that I was given this opportunity to work with so many wonderful people,” SJC Long Island senior Jeami Van Weele said.

Van Weele, who transferred to St. Joseph’s last fall from Suffolk Community College, learned about the internship opportunity from S. Jane while taking one of her classes.

BNL intern Jeami Van Weele, 21.

“I was responsible for creating a JAVA code that could pull data from BNL’s Evaluated Nuclear Structure Data File (ENSDF) and print it out into the Nuclear Wallet Cards and Homeland Security Booklets produced by BNL. The code I created will be able to be reused each time they need to update the booklets.”

Van Weele, a computer information technology major, presented her research on “A JAVA-Based Approach to Nuclear Structure Data Mining” in Berkner Hall of BNL on Thursday.

“It was a little stressful at first, presenting my poster to people who have Ph.D.’s in the topic that I was discussing,” said the 21-year-old Blue Point, New York, resident. “But everyone was so friendly and seemed genuinely interested in the work that I had done throughout the summer.”

While Van Weele originally went into computer science looking to study game design, she developed an interest in forensic computing and cyber security.

“This internship has really opened my eyes to what it is like to work in this field, and it definitely solidified me remaining in this field and doing work with computers as my career,” she said.

St. Joe’s Shows Support

In addition to S. Jane, several other proud faculty members from St. Joe’s attended Thursday’s poster session, including Victoria Hong, chairperson of the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science, assistant professor and director of the M.S. program in Forensic Computing; Cheyne Miller, Ph.D., assistant professor of mathematics; and Michelle Bliss, lecturer in computer science.

From left: Victoria Hong, chair and professor of St. Joseph’s Department of Mathematics and Computer Science; Cheyne Miller, Ph.D., assistant professor of mathematics; student Jeami Van Weele; alumnus Thomas Smith ’15; student Jorge Diaz Jr.; S. Jane Fritz, assistant professor of mathematics and computer science; alumnus Salvador Gonzales ’07.

Salvador Gonzales ’07, educational programs representative in BNL’s Office of Educational Programs, and Thomas Smith ’15, one of the Linux System Administrators for the National Synchrotron Light Source II at BNL, also stopped by to support their fellow Golden Eagles.

Smith himself had interned at BNL for two summers while he was a student at St. Joseph’s College. After graduating in 2015 with a B.S. in Mathematics and Computer Science, he was invited back to BNL to work on a project jointly conducted with RIT. Toward the end of that project, he was offered a full-time position.

“The experience and skills picked up during an internship here are great on a résumé, regardless of where you apply for a job in the future,” Smith said. “Job recruiters contact me continuously, and they are all interested specifically in my experience at the lab. I suppose I got kind of lucky ending up staying, but the internship realistically could have gotten me in the door anywhere; it’s a great program.”

Opening an Opportunity

“Being accepted into this internship opened up different opportunities for me,” said Alyssa Quinn, 21, a Spanish adolescence education major at SJC Long Island. “As a future teacher, I learned about how important safety is to a workplace and what it means to have an emergency action plan.”

BNL intern Alyssa Quinn, 21.

Quinn, a senior, plans to pursue her master’s degree at St. Joseph’s after receiving her bachelor’s degree in May 2019. During the internship, she worked with four other interns in the Office of Emergency Management along with Fire-Rescue. They updated building safety information for all of the buildings on site.

“My dream job is to be a bilingual education teacher,” she said. “This internship did not directly influence this career, but it encouraged me to learn about safety, which is very important in schools.”

Quinn’s poster presentation focused on “Analysis and Validation of Building Safety Documents.”

“This internship opened up the opportunity for me to receive a job for next summer in BNL’s Office of Educational Programs as a policy student,” the Ridge, New York, native said. “Next summer, I will be working with this department to create activities for the interns and answer any questions they may have along with several other duties.”

A Stepping Stone

BNL intern Jorge Diaz Jr.

“This BNL internship is often a stepping stone for these students,” S. Jane said. “For example, we will encourage both (mathematics and computer science students) to apply to the MIT Undergraduate Research Conference in November, as well as to the Microsoft Undergraduate Research Competition in March.”

Jorge Diaz Jr., a double major in mathematics and computer science, presented his research on “Mining Metadata Structure to Monitor Data Usage at the National Synchrotron Light Source II.” According to BNL’s website, the “NSLS-II provides the research tools needed to foster new discoveries and create breakthroughs in critical areas such as energy security, environment, and human health.”

“Above all, it makes me very proud to see what they have accomplished and how they have applied the material we have taught them,” S. Jane said.

SJC Long Island’s Drama Society will be performing “Our Town” at the Clare Rose Playhouse Thursday, Aug. 16 through Friday, Aug. 18, at 7 p.m. and Sunday, Aug. 19, at 2 p.m.

During their first-ever summer production, the student club is tackling American playwright Thornton Wilder’s 1938 metatheatrical three-act drama. Wilder later won the Pulitzer Prize for drama for “Our Town.”

“On the surface, ‘Our Town’ seems to be a story about the people in the small (fictional) town of Grover’s Corners, New Hampshire, in the early 20th century,” director Bob Kelly said. “However, it follows the span of a human life, reflecting on the events and circumstances which unnecessarily occupy our time as opposed to what should.”

Using metatheatrical devices, Wilder set the play in the theater it is actually being performed in. Characters on the stage directly address the audience at times. The play is performed on a nearly bare stage with no set. The actors mime actions as there is a very minimal use of props.

Who’s in the Cast:

Sally Mellina (club president), Cecilia Young (vice president), Maxim Braem (secretary), Christopher Ryder (treasurer), Lauren Tyrie, David Pesce, Emily McClernon, Ian Byrne, Ryan Hanna, Kaitlyn Jaenicke, Max Crean, Jason Crean and SJC alumna Geena Moore ’18, who was excited to return to the College’s Drama Society.

 Tickets

Tickets will be sold at the door. General admission tickets are $8.  St. Joseph’s students pay $5 with Student ID. For more information, email dramasociety.li@student.sjcny.edu.

More than 400 first-year students gathered in the John A. Danzi Athletic Center Gymnasium at SJC Long Island last week for orientation. With the day’s theme of “Finding Your True North,” freshmen were reminded that their journey to finding themselves starts here and now — at SJC Long Island.

Echoing sentiments of this theme, key SJC Long Island leaders welcomed the newest Golden Eagles to the College.

“Although I had a great time in high school, it was only in college that I really began to understand who I was,” St. Joseph’s College President Donald R. Boomgaarden, Ph.D., said. “I really began to understand what my place in the world might be. Because suddenly I was surrounded by people who had similar interests. They were ambitious, they wanted to succeed, they wanted to study, they wanted to do well. And I found that really invigorating and exciting. I think you will find that here, as well.”

Staff Welcome

Students also heard from Interim Executive Dean Wendy Turgeon, Ph.D.; Vice President for Student Life Rose Mary Howell, Ed.D.; Bryan Gill, executive director of student involvement, leadership and multicultural programming; and Student Orientation Chairperson Alyssa Petry ’19.

Your choice to attend St. Joseph’s College marks the beginning of an exciting journey toward success.” —Student Orientation Chairperson Alyssa Petry ’19

“Be curious, go on adventures and make new friends,” Dr. Turgeon said, providing the new students with three tips to make the most of their time here.

Dr. Turgeon encouraged the students to be curious by engaging in the rich liberal arts courses, exploring subjects and ideas that are new to them.  She asked that they go on adventures through service-learning trips, internship opportunities, presenting at conferences and studying abroad. Lastly, she told them to take advantage of all the activities that happen on campus and to get involved — whether it’s in student clubs and organizations or athletics — explaining that their lifelong friends are sitting right next to them.

“It won’t take long for you to feel like this is home,” Dr. Howell said. “We look forward to a successful first year, and we look forward to working with you.”

Student Welcome

“All the orientation leaders you see around the room have worked tirelessly since May to ensure that you, our first-year students, fall in love with SJC just as we have,” Petry said when welcoming the Class of 2022. “There are so many reasons to love campus life here, and we’re confident that you will soon be familiar with them.”

Petry, a child study major with a concentration in history, told the entering freshmen about her own experience starting college at St. Joseph’s.

“I was a shy kid in high school, and I wasn’t too involved. When I got to college, however, I decided to make a change. Change in college is a beneficial necessity. It allows you to determine who you are and who you want to be.

“Your choice to attend St. Joseph’s College marks the beginning of an exciting journey toward success. On behalf of the entire 2018 orientation team, we welcome you.”

A Day of Fun

After hearing from various members of the College community, students listened to keynote speaker Arel Moodie. A professional speaker who has addressed more than 400,000 people in 48 states and five countries, Moodie taught the students a secret to help them make the most of college: everyone’s just as nervous and scared as the person next to them. He encouraged them to go out and meet new people, to get involved as much as they can and to remind themselves that they are not alone in their apprehension.

The event also included lunch, campus tours, a visit from the Mr. Softee truck, complimentary zeppolis and fried Oreos, an activities fair where students could speak to representatives from various College offices and ask last-minute questions, and the distribution of student IDs.

It won’t take long for you to feel like this is home.” —Vice President for Student Life Rose Mary Howell, Ed.D.

Christiana Bitonti has been plie-ing and tapping since she was just three years old.

Like many young dancers who invest a lot of time and energy into the art, she fantasized about one day owning her own dance studio. Never thinking about turning that dream into a reality, she went on to St. Joseph’s College and earned her bachelor’s  in both psychology and speech communication in 2008.

It wasn’t until after finishing college, however, that Bitonti realized she wasn’t willing to give up her passion for dance to work a 9-to-5 job.

Ten years after graduating from SJC Long Island, Bitonti met up with Lisa Galasso ’08, M.B.A./M.S. ’13, assistant director of alumni engagement at SJC Long Island, to discuss what it’s like being the owner of Peconic Ballet Theatre, a dance studio in Peconic Bay, New York.

A Dream Come True

“My favorite thing about the job is being able to share my passion with my students,” Bitonti said about her business, which she originally started in Patchogue, New York, in 2009 before moving to Peconic Bay in 2012. “Everyday I have the opportunity to walk into the studio and inspire children through dance, to watch them grow and see them achieve their goals as dancers and as young adults.”

Bitonti, who grew up on the East End of Long Island, chose Peconic Bay as the location for her dance studio because she wished there was a closer option when she was a young dancer. While she had to travel far to receive her training, she’s providing many local children and young adults with a closer choice.

My favorite thing about the job is being able to share my passion with my students.” —Christiana Bitonti ’08

“Peconic Ballet Theatre offers professional-level dance classes in ballet, jazz, tap, hip hop, modern, contemporary, character, and pointe from ages 3 through 18,” Bitonti said.

“As of now, we have 65 classes on the schedule, and I hope that the studio continues to grow to offer more classes as the years go on.  We also offer multiple performance opportunities for our students, as we produce several ballets throughout the year as well as an annual showcase for all of our students.”

In addition to Peconic Ballet Theatre, Bitonti also created Peconic Ballet Foundation, which provides disadvantaged youth, as well as children and adults with disabilities, the opportunity to take dance classes and to perform.

“We travel to schools and provide dance programs at Peconic Ballet Theatre,” Bitonti said. “We raise essential support to bring all the children the opportunity to observe and participate in the performing arts alongside professional dancers, thereby fostering self-expression and a high level of self-worth.”

Studying at St. Joseph’s College

This passion for service is something Bitonti attributes to her time at St. Joseph’s, where she was involved with many student clubs and served as the president for Students Taking an Active Role in Society (STARS).

“St. Joseph’s College provided me with a lot of the tools I use to this day,” Bitonti said. “(From STARS) I learned a lot about leadership, planning events, working closely with a team of people, and setting and achieving goals. Those lessons are invaluable to a business owner, and they prepared me for some of the obstacles I faced when I first opened the dance school.

“Also, both majors were very beneficial. As a psychology major, it prepped me and gave me guidance in working closely with children and their families, and as a speech communication major, it helped me a lot with all of the public speaking I need to do.”

In addition to gaining the skills and knowledge she needed to help her business succeed, Bitonti also gained a mentor from SJC Long Island. S. Grace Edna Rowland, C.S.J., professor of communication studies and director of the Clare Rose Playhouse, still keeps in touch with Bitonti.

“She always challenged me to strive to do my best, even when I doubted myself,” Bitonti said of S. Grace. “Also, when I told her I needed a performance space for my students when I first opened, she allowed me to use the Clare Rose Playhouse. I credit a lot of my success of the studio for that time when she first believed in me. It’s really hard to take that first step as an entrepreneur, but it’s always a lot easier when you have someone who believes in you.”

St. Joseph’s College provided me with a lot of the tools I use to this day.” —Bitonti

St. Joseph’s College has announced the introduction of a speaker’s bureau — a collection of faculty available to present on a series of specialized topics — which supports local academic, educational and cultural institutions or organizations in Brooklyn and Long Island in the pursuit for scholarship and service.

Presentations are available on the following topics: biology, computer science, development, education, family/public communications and youth athletics, health care, history, mathematics, philosophy, psychology and religious studies. All presentations are free.

There are 25 talks to choose from, with areas of interest ranging from Alexander Fleming, Biofilms and the First World War, all the way to The Optimal Basketball Free Throw. Each professor has indicated the intended audience for his or her talks.

“I believe that the SJC faculty is a group comprised of scholars with excellent expository skills. I felt that this fact needed to be better known,” said David Seppala-Holtzman, Ph.D., professor of mathematics and computer science at SJC Brooklyn. “As service is one of our five central pillars, what better way to serve the community than to give access to our superb faculty?”

Dr. Seppala-Holtzman created the idea for St. Joseph’s speaker’s bureau. Cheyne Miller, Ph.D., assistant professor of mathematics and computer science at SJC Long Island, is working closely with him on the project.

In addition to serving local high schools and colleges, the talks benefit, such venues as libraries, senior centers and civic clubs.

“We have tentative plans to invite speakers on our list to give their presentations on campus and have the talks recorded and archived,” Dr. Seppala-Holtzman said.  “The benefits of this are obvious: (1) This serves to enrich the extra-curricular academic environment for our own community; and (2) These archived talks could be posted online, with links to them included on the speaker’s bureau page. That way, someone requesting a talk could see a preview of it and determine its suitability for their audience. In addition, if the logistics of arranging a live presentation prove to be problematic, a recorded talk could serve in its stead.”

Interested in booking a presentation? Click here and fill out the form, indicating the title of the talk you’re requesting, and one of St. Joseph’s skilled professors will come to your institution or organization to present.