Things aren't always what they seem, and much of what really
happens in and around Washington, DC is known to only a select few.
Fortunately, a number of St. John's University students are now
among that exclusive group.
From October 20 – 22, 2010, 49 St. John's students participated
in the 30th Annual Alumni Insider's View…U.S. Capital program. The
program was hosted by the Washington, DC Alumni and Washington, DC
Law Alumni Chapters.
A major student engagement initiative, this Alumni Insider's
View event brought current students together with Washington,
DC area alumni who hold positions within some of the nation's top
industries, including legal, healthcare, law enforcement,
political, business, education and communications. Students
benefitted from a firsthand look at the workings of our nation's
capital and the considerable professional and personal expertise of
the alumni participants. They were especially pleased with the
willingness of the alumni to spend quality time with them on an
individual basis, accommodating their questions and providing
whatever assistance they could to make the experience as memorable
as possible.
"Even after graduation, a lot of the alumni I met are still
practicing the mission of St. Vincent de Paul by helping others,"
said Tami Telford '11CPS. "That's really impressive."
The three-day program included panel discussions, tours and a
variety of networking opportunities.
On the way
to Washington, the students stopped at pharmacy giant MedImmune, a
company that develops, manufactures and markets formulations for
use in immunization programs. The visit was hosted by Robert
Fuentes, M.S., Pharm.D. '77P, Senior Director for Medical
Information at MedImmune. Dr. Fuentes conducted an informative
Question and Answer session regarding an
overview of careers in the Pharmacy industry, after which
laboratory technicians led the students on a tour of the company's
extensive facilities.
Dr. Fuentes and his staff stressed that there were many career
opportunities available within large healthcare organizations like
MedImmune, and most positions do not require a background in
science. He noted that students with nearly every major were
employed at MedImmune, and that working within the pharmaceutical
industry was both challenging and exciting.
The students then proceeded to Washington, where they attended
the
traditional welcome dinner, which was again hosted by the
family of the late Hon. James F. Tierney '41L.
In his
remarks at the conclusion of the dinner, Brian Breheny, Esq.
'90CBA, '96L, Partner, Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom,
LLP and Former Deputy Director, Division of Corporation Finance,
U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission noted that he was "…very
glad to see how much the program has changed over the years and how
much it's grown. I hope the students take it all in, because DC is
a great city."
The following day was devoted to a series of informative panel
discussions in which alumni shared their expertise with students on
a variety of important issues. All panels took place in the South
Congressional Meeting Room of the Capitol, one of the most
frequently used rooms for committee hearings when Congress is in
session.
Alumni participating in the first panel, entitled
"Working In and Around the U.S. Government", set the tone for
the day by providing students with valuable information about the
specific benefits of working within the Washington area. Panelists
stressed that being at the center of American public policy was an
exciting and satisfying experience, and that as St. John's alumni
they would always be available to assist students who chose to
establish their careers within the Beltway.
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