SJC Long Island celebrated distinguished scholars during the annual Honors Convocation on Wednesday, Dec. 1, in the Muriel & Virginia Pless Center for Performing Arts.
The event recognized members of institutional, national and international honor societies, as well as recipients of various scholarships.
“Honor society membership is a noteworthy accomplishment,” said Lisa Tafuro, Ph.D., associate professor of communication studies and chair of the Honors Committee. “It rests not only on your academic achievement, but your resourcefulness, your contribution to the community, and your willingness to embrace differences. You all are truly leaders and visionaries.”
Recognizing Their Accomplishments
Recipients include members of Gamma Tau Delta, an SJC Long Island honor society based on academic performance and involvement in service efforts, and Delta Epsilon Sigma, a national honor society based on outstanding academic accomplishment and leadership potential.
Jo Anne Durovich, Ph.D., LMSW, hands a departmental honor society student a pin.
Alexandra Romanoff received the Thomas J. Wendt Alumni Scholarship, an annual award that recognizes a student who demonstrates their continued service to the College and local community, as well as success in the classroom. The scholarship is given in remembrance of Thomas Wendt ’88, a former student and employee who was dedicated to volunteerism and charitable causes, and who embodied the five pillars of St. Joseph’s College.
“We honor (Alexandra’s) superb academic achievement and outstanding service to the College and the local community,” said Paulina Melin, director of Alumni Engagement, who presented the award.
Tiffany Longhitano received The Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph Endowed Scholarship, which provides financial support to a student who lives a life characterized by service to God and the community. The scholarship celebrates the vision of the Sisters, their fortitude and wisdom in their decision to create and design an institution of higher education for students who aspire to these virtues.
“We recognize (Tiffany) for her sterling academic accomplishments, and her lifelong mission to serve God and her neighbor without reward,” Vice President for Institutional Advancement Rory Shaffer-Walsh said, presenting the award.
Her Service to the College
Eileen White Jahn, Ph.D., hands S. Karen her “Master of Ceremonies” award.
Toward the end of the event, St. Joseph’s College President Donald R. Boomgaarden, Ph.D., went on stage to honor S. Karen Donohue, C.S.J., assistant dean for scholarship maintenance and academic events. Eileen White Jahn, Ph.D., executive dean and associate professor of business administration, presented S. Karen with the “Master of Ceremonies” award, created specially for this event to thank her for 21 years of service to the College.
S. Karen, who began working at the College in 2000, oversaw academic ceremonies, including Investiture, the Honors Convocation and Commencement. This year’s Honors Convocation marks her last academic ceremony at the College.
“We’ve had so many great conversations, not only about academic ceremonies, but also about the importance of ceremony, the importance of being together in moments like this,” said Dr. Boomgaarden, who shared an anecdote about how S. Karen called him in January 2017, shortly after he’d been appointed as the College’s new president but before he officially started, to discuss where the upcoming May commencement would take place.
“S. Karen’s ideas and her vision and her creativity, not only in the ceremonies but in the courses she teaches and in all the work that she did here, were really exemplary and really in the tradition of the Sisters of St. Joseph,” Dr. Boomgaarden continued. “S. Karen has played a huge role in helping the College with its mission of transforming the world around us for a better place.”
