May 17, 2004
Queens, NY - St. John’s University held its 134th Annual
Commencement Exercises on Sunday, May 16, 2004 on the Great Lawn on
the Queens campus. Approximately 1,500 undergraduate and graduate
students received degrees before a sea of some 3,000 family and
friends.
Honored guests included:
- Ron Silver, actor, will receive the honorary
degree of Doctor of Fine Arts and deliver the commencement address.
Ron Silver has had continuing roles on several television series
over the years, including "Rhoda," "Hill Street Blues," "The West
Wing," and most recently, "Skin."
- Dr. Adelaide Sanford, Vice Chancellor, New
York State Board of Regents, will receive the honorary degree of
Doctor of Humane Letters.
Also among this year’s graduate were:
- Min Seo Park, a deaf man from South Korea, who
received a Master of Divinity (M.Div) degree, after completing a
four-year, 99-credit course of study with the help of a St.
John’s-provided sign language interpreter. Min Seo plans to enter
the priesthood and return to work with the South Korean deaf
community.
- More than 40 student-athletes, including: men’s soccer player
Chris Wingert, a two-time All-American and the
first-ever soccer player to win the Hermann Trophy and the National
Soccer Coaches Association of America Scholar-Athlete Award;
women’s volleyball player Robyn Kurasaki, who
broke the record for all-time assists; softball’s Courtney
Fitzgerald, all-time leader in wins (59), shutouts (21)
innings pitched (711.2) and games started (102), and selected to
2004 All-BIG EAST second team; and men’s baseball player
Joe Reid, selected in 2003 Major League Baseball
draft by the Cleveland Indians.
Photos attached. For more information, please contact Jody
Fisher, Director of Media Relations, at (718) 990-6185 or at fisherjo@stjohns.edu.