St. John's University Celebrates Excellence in Education in a Special Way

March 22, 2013

For more than a century St. John’s University has been at the forefront of teacher education, producing classroom personnel, counselors and administrators who have achieved excellence in their profession locally, nationally and internationally. The annual Leaders in Education Awards Dinner (L.E.A.D.) was established at St. John’s in 2005 by The School of Education and the Office of Alumni Relations to recognize outstanding teachers and administrators who have made significant contributions to the field of education.

The Eighth Annual L.E.A.D. for the Staten Island campus will be held on Tuesday, April 30, 2013 at 6:30 p.m. at the Hilton Garden Inn. This year, in lieu of individual honorees, we will be recognizing the outstanding contributions and efforts put forth by 23 Staten Island high schools in reaching out to their local community in the wake of Hurricane Sandy.

The Vincentian spirit of caring for those in need has always served as the foundation of the University experience, and the schools being honored at this special event reflect that spirit in a very real and lasting way. 

 

In the immediate aftermath of the storm, high schools literally became homes to evacuees who had lost everything. Hundreds of volunteers from these schools gavetirelessly and selflessly. Their efforts included candlelight vigils, fundraisers, concerts and drives to collect food, toys and blood for those left helpless and hopeless in the face of the monumental disaster that surrounded them.

 

With a commitment unlike any other, the high schools of Staten Island pooled their talented faculty, staff, students, parents and alumni to raisenot only dollars but also awareness of the plight of those in dire need of food, shelter and clothing. Even today, they are still dedicated to providing much needed relief to the community-at-large.

 

Net proceeds from the dinner will benefit the Hurricane Sandy Victims Scholarship Fund, which provides scholarship assistance to St. John's students whose families have been impacted by the storm.Sponsorship opportunities to contribute to the Fund are available.

 

For additional information regarding the Staten Island L.E.A.D. event and sponsorship opportunities, contact Andriana Lewinsky ’04CPS, ’12GEd, Assistant Director, Alumni Relations at (718) 390-4145 or e-mail lewinska@stjohns.edu.

For media inquiries, contact Elizabeth Reilly, Director of Media Relations, at (718) 990-5789 or e-mail reillye@stjohns.edu.