Notre Dame College Alumni Come Home

On Saturday, May 1, 2010 Notre Dame College alumnae returned to the Staten Island campus for Homecoming 2010, an opportunity for them to relive their student days and reconnect with their fellow graduates. This popular annual event was enjoyed by everyone, especially the members of the anniversary classes 1935, 1940, 1945, 1950, 1955, 1960, 1965 and 1970.

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Notre Dame College was established in the Grymes Hill section of Staten Island with 13 students and graduated its first class in 1935. It remained a small, private women’s college until merging with St. John’s University in 1971, and today boasts over 1,500 active alumnae. Members of the Notre Dame College Alumnae Association play an important role in the St. John’s community and cultivate relationships with their classmates on the Staten Island campus through events such as Homecoming, the Holiday Appeal, the endowed Sister Helen Flynn Scholarship and the Flynn Hall Brick Program.
The day began as Rev. Patrick J. Griffin, C.M., Executive Vice President for Mission and Branch Campuses celebrated Mass in the Kiernan Suite of the Kelleher Center. Noting the ways in which St. John’s continues the spirit of Notre Dame College, Fr. Griffin told the alumnae that he was, “… honored to be here in your presence, and thankful to you for being here today.”

Immediately following Mass, guests enjoyed a festive champagne hour and lunch in the Campus Center, where they were welcomed by Joan Dobis ’66NDC, President, Notre Dame College Alumnae Association.  The invocation was delivered by Sr. Joan Mahoney, CND, Director, Campus Ministry, Staten Island campus.

A highlight of the event was the presentation of a long-stemmed rose and anniversary brooch to each alumna celebrating the 50th anniversary of her graduation.  

After the brooch presentation Dobis returned to the podium to express her gratitude to Homecoming Chair Suzanne Radcliffe ’69NDC and the individual Class Chairs for their efforts in making the event a success. She then provided information regarding a number of accomplishments that have taken place during the past year. She announced that nearly 300 engraved bricks have now been purchased, representing donations of more than $88,000 since the inception of the program that encourages the purchase of a personalized brick as a lasting tribute to a classmate, family member or special occasion in the life of the alumna. The engraved brick becomes a permanent part of the Flynn Hall Terrace, the former site of Notre Dame College graduations.

Dobis also announced that the anniversary classes had raised a total of $2,620 to support the Sister Helen Flynn Scholarship. Maureen O’Brien ’62NDC, Chairperson, Scholarship Committee, presented incoming freshmen Alexandra Soliman, who currently attends Fort Hamilton High School and Anthony Scarito, who currently attends Monsignor Farrell High School, as the two recipients of a four-year, $6,000 Sister Helen Flynn Scholarship.

“I’m very grateful to be given the opportunity to attend St. John’s,” said Scarito. “This scholarship has made it possible for me to realize my dream of studying criminal justice at this fine university.”

Soliman was also effusive in her appreciation for being chosen as a scholarship recipient, noting that she was “… honored to be one of the lucky students chosen to receive the Sister Helen Flynn Scholarship. Being able to attend St. John’s University is such an honor and a complete dream come true. Words cannot express the gratitude and joy that I feel. Thank you, to all, from the bottom of my heart!”

Dobis reminded the alumnae that, “The recipients of Sister Helen Flynn Scholarship truly are our living legacy, and we still have a lot of work to do to attain our goal of raising $1 million, the point at which the scholarship becomes self-sustaining and everlasting.”

Throughout the day Notre Dame College memorabilia were available for purchase, including sweatshirts, totes, a DVD slideshow portraying images of Notre Dame College and original tea sets that had been historically used by the ladies for formal teas.

Alumnae expressed delight to be back on the campus that has meant so much to them during their lives. “I’m very thankful to my parents for the education I was so privileged to receive at Notre Dame College,” remarked Genevieve Brady-Giargiana ’60NDC, “and I cannot stress enough the importance of a continuing Catholic education.”

For Aurelie Cavallaro ’60NDC, Homecoming brought back memories of the fun she had as a college student more than a half-century ago.  She recalled that her “…favorite memory is of jumping out of the window of the music room and going to the cafeteria to play bridge.”