December 01, 2006
More than 300 guests gathered in Manhattan on November 30 for
the 16th annual Loughlin
Society Reception held in honor of the University’s premier
supporters and friends.
Photo Gallery
The evening included a presentation opened by University
Provost Julia A.
Upton, RSM, Ph.D., ’73G, ’75G who welcomed those present and
thanked them for their generosity. Dr. Upton noted that it is
because of their partnership, which is highly valued, that our
students are able to achieve their greatest potentials. “St. John’s
has never been an ivory tower university,” she said. “We have
always believed that education is the means to a better life for
our students and, through them, a better world for us all.”
To display the impact of the generosity of Loughlin Society
donors, Upton introduced
Dr. Derek Owens, director of the Institute for Writing Studies,
and current students Sandra Garcia ’08Ed, and John Kelly ’09TCB to
share their stories of the benefits provided to academic
programming and students. Mr. Kelly spoke of the spirit he
felt at St. John’s which drew him to enroll and the generous
financial aid package that allowed him to attend. Ms. Garcia
moved many in the crowd as she described her experience as the
child of immigrants who is the first person in her family to go to
college, sharing her hopes to give back to St. John’s once she
becomes an alumna.
Loughlin Society chairpersons Antoinette ’82CBA and Joseph
O’Connor ’82CBA announced that in the past year, 464 first-time
Loughlin Society members had joined, bringing the total membership
to an all- time high of 1,512 and contributing a total of more than
$12.4 million. University President Rev. Donald J.
Harrington, C.M. concluded the presentation by expressing his
heartfelt appreciation for everything that the Loughlin Society
continues to do for St. John’s. “We would not have made the
progress we have without the support of our alumni and our
friends,” he said. “We thank you for walking this path with us and
we thank you for continuing to walk this path into the future so
that we can make St. John’s University a stronger university than
ever.”
Loughlin Society member Terrance Holliday ’68C remarked that it
was a stirring evening, “I’ve been a member of the Loughlin Society
for about five or six years and this is always a lovely event,” he
said. “The University has provided us with the tools to do good
things in our lives and I think it’s everyone’s responsibility to
give back to those who come after them.” John Kowalski ’76CBA,
’83MBA echoed that sentiment. ”The University does a great job of
educating people and it’s nice to give back,” Kowalski
said. “I encourage everyone to do as much as they can.”
Founded in 1990, the Loughlin
Society is made up of those who contribute $1000 or more to the
University within a single fiscal year. The Loughlin Associates
program is open to alumni within one to four years of graduation
who contribute $150 or more, those within five to seven years of
graduation who contribute $300 or more and those within eight to
nine years of graduation who contribute $600 or more.
For more information on the Loughlin Society visit www.stjohns.edu/loughlinsociety.