New students at SJC Long Island donned cap and gowns Thursday for the College’s Investiture ceremony. An annual tradition for over a century, Investiture marks the first academic event of the year for the freshman class, and is an opportunity for family members and loved ones to see their children transform into bonafide college students.

“We must transform. All of us. Faculty, students and staff,” SJC President Donald Boomgaarden, Ph.D., said. “We must transform together to create this wonderful future. And SJC is the place to do this.”

Investiture symbolizes the beginning of a new student’s education at SJC by investing – or clothing – all members of the Class of 2021 and new transfer students. Clad in academic attire, the young men and women who started at SJC this fall assembled for the first time as the Class of 2021 to hear  esteemed faculty deliver words of encouragement and knowledge.

“This is a wonderful event. I’m so proud to be sharing it with the Class of 2021. You’ll be my first class, we’re going to graduate together in four years; it’s going to happen,” Dr. Boomgaarden said.

This is a wonderful event. I’m so proud to be sharing it with the Class of 2021. You’ll be my first class, we’re going to graduate together in four years; it’s going to happen. — President Donald Boomgaarden, Ph.D.

In addition to Dr. Boomgaarden, SJC Long Island’s Investiture faculty speakers included Associate Professor S. Suzanne Frank, Ph.D. and Interim Executive Dean Wendy Turgeon.

“Each year, we reflect on one of our College’s five values,” Dr. Turgeon said. “This year, it’s intellectual values. And what a fitting theme for today’s investiture. This is what it is to be human. To thirst for understanding and knowledge.  To question the obvious. We can awaken our inner curiosity as we channel it in the direction of what fascinates us.”

After Dr. Turgeon’s remarks, the Class of 2021 recited the SJC Student Pledge together with Department of Religious Studies Chair Thomas Petriano, Ph.D., and processed to the stage, one by one, to receive a ceremonial College Investiture pin.

The formal welcome to St. Joseph’s College concluded with an ovation after Interim Provost Thomas Travis, Ph.D., lead the ceremonial turning of tassels, official introducing our newest class.

“You have a fantastic faculty to work with. And they’re here to be your mentors and friends, and to guide you in this important journey,” Dr. Boomgaarden said. “And there’s nothing more exciting — and I can say this as a faculty member myself — than watching students learn, grow and develop. That’s exactly what is going to happen to you at SJC.”

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