New SJC Long Island students filed into the┬аJohn A. Danzi Athletic Center in their caps and gowns Thursday, Sept. 20, for the CollegeтАЩs annual investiture ceremony.
Sister Suzanne Franck, C.S.J., Ph.D., an associate professor and the director for academic advising, stood at the podium, donning her own academic attire, and explained how investiture symbolizes the beginning of the Class of 2023тАЩs journey as college students and invests them into the St. JosephтАЩs community.
тАЬThe young women and men will formally pledge their commitment to the College,тАЭ S. Suzanne said during the first academic event of the academic year for the freshmen class. тАЬIn turn, the academic community will confirm their acceptance of the goals, values and spirit of St. JosephтАЩs by joining the Class of 2023 in the recitation of the academic integrity pledge.тАЭ
S. Suzanne noted that investiture is a commitment, affirmation and transformation of a studentтАЩs promise to live a life guided by integrity, service, intellectual values, spiritual values and this yearтАЩs theme: commitment to social responsibility.
Students recited the Oath of Integrity, turned their tassels and listened to words of encouragement from St. JosephтАЩs administrators and faculty. Among them:┬аPresident Donald R. Boomgaarden, Ph.D.; Bryan Gill, M.S., M.B.A., executive director of student involvement and coordinator of FYE; Gigi Lamens, vice president for enrollment management; Eileen White Jahn, Ph.D., interim executive dean for SJC Long Island; James Blakeley, Ph.D., associate professor and chairman of the history department; Steven Fuchs, Ph.D., associate professor of history; Wendy Turgeon, Ph.D., professor and chair of philosophy and the coordinator of SJC 100; and Cristian Murphy, director of campus ministry.
A Bright Future for the Class of 2023
Freshman Frank Romano, who aspires to be a history teacher, said the investiture ceremony, and his first few weeks at college, have been a positive experience.
тАЬI picked St. JoeтАЩs because I knew IтАЩd do better in a small environment,тАЭ Romano said. тАЬThe support from all the professors has been great.тАЭ
Asma Hosein, a freshman child study major, said she especially enjoyed the stories┬аadministrators shared during the investiture ceremony.
тАЬI really liked the speeches a lot тАФ especially Dr. BoomgaardenтАЩs,тАЭ Hosein said. тАЬIt was very inspiring.тАЭ
Dr. Boomgaarden shared his commitment to seeing every student graduate, talked about the benefits of being part of the St. JosephтАЩs College community and told stories about high-achieving alumni, including Trustee Peter Meyer тАЩ87, a transfer student who now works as the New York City market president of TD Bank.
тАЬTonight is just as much about the parents as it is about the studentsтАжтАЭ Dr. Boomgaarden said. тАЬEducation is about family. These students are here tonight because someone in your family тАФ your father, your mother, your grandparents, your aunts and uncles тАФ value education. They know how important it is, and they have prepared you to come to St. JosephтАЩs and be successful.тАЭ
