April 20, 2010
On
Thursday, April 15, 2010 nearly 130 alumni and friends gathered for
the Fifth Annual Leaders in Education Awards Dinner
(L.E.A.D.) in the D’Angelo Center Ballroom on the Queens
campus. This annual event honors St. John’s University alumni who
have distinguished themselves as professional educators or
educational administrators.
Photo Gallery
The honorees who were recognized for enhancing the field of
education included:
Maria DeWald ’68Ed
Arts in Education Coordinator
Dutchess County BOCES
James Hennessy, Ph.D. ’63C, ’66G
Dean, Graduate School of Education
Fordham University
Susan Lipman ’77Ed
President
New York State PTA
James Phair ’72C
Principal
P.S. 107
Carolyn Reres ’62Ed, ’66GEd
Former Adjunct Assistant Professor
St. John's University
Retired Teacher, H. Frank Carey High School
Sewanhaka High School District
“I’m very proud of these honorees,” said Jerrold Ross, Ph.D.,
Dean, St. John’s The School of Education. “In these times, when
education is at the top of the national agenda, we need to promote
those people who’ve been successful in helping all people to
achieve at the highest level of their aspirations.”
Delivering the Invocation, Rev. John Kettelberger, C.M.,
Director of Residence Ministry and University Chaplain noted that
the honorees were “…wonderful teachers, administrators and
counselors. They have inspired us by their example, and we pray
that God will bless them for what they do.”
Joseph Sciame ’71Ed, Vice President for Community Relations who
received a L.E.A.D Award in 2008, was impressed by how each
honoree has embraced the spirit of St. Vincent de Paul in his or
her own individual way, remarking that, “Every one of them has done
tremendous work in their communities. They’re truly steeped in the
mission of St. John’s, and they’re such great examples of the
Vincentian charism.”
The honorees received their awards from William Sanders, former
Chairman of the Department of Early Childhood, Childhood and
Secondary Education at The School of Education and a previous
L.E.A.D. Award recipient. “This award was so impressive to me that
I’m going to remember it for the rest of my life,” he recalled,
“and I know that the wonderful people whom we’re honoring tonight
feel the same way.”
For the honorees, the understanding that they were being
recognized by the University than has meant so much to them for so
many years made the award especially meaningful on a variety of
levels. “This award is so unexpected and so humbling,” said DeWald.
“I love St. John’s and even though I now live upstate I still have
such a connection to my sorority sisters and friends from this
area. I know that St. John’s led me to do much of the service work
that I do now, and I’ll always be grateful for that.”
“What really makes this award so incredible for me is that it
comes from The School of Education at my alma mater,”
agreed Lippman. “I’ve worked so hard to do what’s right for
children, to make their lives as good as they can be, and to be
recognized for that by St. John’s is really, really special.”
Dr. Hennessy noted that his time at the University, “…formed me
academically, and introduced me to higher education from a
professional standpoint. The rigors of intellect need to be
tempered by the Vincentian concept of charity. That’s what St.
John’s has always been about, and it’s why I’m so honored to
receive this award.”
For
Thomas Lupo ’70Ed, ’75MBA the opportunity to come back to St.
John’s and participate in an event honoring one of his most
respected associates was not to be missed. “I’m here on behalf of
Carolyn Reres, who’s a colleague of mine in the Order Sons of
Italy,” he said. “She sits on our Executive Board and on our
foundation, and I wanted to be here to congratulate her for the
kind of exceptional work she’s done at all levels of
education.”
As the evening drew to a close, the honorees and guests mingled
to share stories of their days on campus while bringing each other
up-to-date on where their lives had taken them in the intervening
years. “To be identified as a leader in education is especially
nice, since it means that my career has come full circle,” said
Phair, “and it’s just as great to come back here tonight and relive
wonderful memories. I’ve always had a close spot in my heart for
St. John’s. It’s always been a marvelous place, and after all is
said and done, it’s good to come home!”