Alison Monaco ’26 received the Francis W. Antonawich Memorial Award for Environmental Stewardship, which is presented annually to a St. Joseph’s University, New York (SJNY) biology major who shows environmental stewardship, leadership and excellent character.
The award was created in 2018 to honor Francis W. Antonawich, a beloved SJNY student with a great passion for the environment who lost his battle with cancer in 2018.
Frankie, as Antonawich was lovingly known while pursuing his nursing degree at St. Joe’s, is the late son of Francis Antonawich, Ph.D., a professor of biology at SJNY.
The award was created in 2018 by Dr. Antonawich’s colleague, Konstantine Rountos, Ph.D., to carry out Frankie’s memory.
“I am absolutely honored to have been chosen to receive the 8th Annual Francis W. Antonawich Award. This award has a much deeper meaning to it than any other regular award that I could have received. Considering I have had the pleasure of taking numerous courses with Dr. Francis Antonawich, who is Frankie’s father, I feel a sense of pride knowing that I was able to somehow display traits that honored Frankie’s spirit,” said Moncao. “Dr. Francis Antonawich has been a mentor to me as I not only have been his student, but I help set up his labs as well. As someone who cares deeply about the environment, I find some joy knowing that there is some form of connection between such an inspirational person like Frankie and I.”
As a biology major with a minor in environmental science, Monaco chose SJNY initially for the nursing program.
“I initially applied to St. Joseph’s because I liked the layout of the Nursing program. I started my academic career in 2020 and completed five semesters of the Nursing program before realizing the medical route wasn’t the direction I wanted to go in. I switched into the Biology program and added an Environmental Studies minor to my degree as well. Once I realized that I had finally started to pursue what I have wanted to do since I was young, I knew I made the right choice,” said Monaco.
Campus Activities
During her time at SJNY Monaco has been very involved in campus activities and events.
“I am currently the president of the Bio Club, along with the social media manager of Green Team. I have a work-study as a teacher’s assistant and the lab prep assistant, helping Mrs. Patricia Lennon set up the Department of Biology’s labs.”
This summer, she will conduct research on sublethal impacts of coastal acidification through SJNY’s SURF program.
Being involved on campus through the biology club and through work-study positions have created some of Monaco’s best memories from SJNY.
“My favorite experiences at SJNY would have to be during the Bio Club events that the executive members and I created. The ability to craft an entire event and see it get put into action, with students joining and having a good time, is surreal,” she said.
Monaco credits her professors from the biology department, who shaped her into the student and professional she is today.
“Every member of the Department of Biology has had a huge impact in helping me become the person I am today,” she said. “Dr. Antonawich, Dr. Delaney, Dr. Giordano, Dr. Ivanovski, Dr. Rountos, and Mrs. Patricia Lennon have all guided me through various processes or helped me gain opportunities I never knew I would be able to. All of these individuals have been crucial to my success in the future, academically and personally,” said Monaco.
