Under the Arch

REV. O’CONNELL, PRESIDENT OF CATHOLIC UNIV., TO ADDRESS GRADUATES

Very Reverend David M. O’Connell, C.M., president of The Catholic University of America, will be the keynote speaker for Gannon University’s May Commencement exercises.

The ceremony, which will begin at 2 p.m. Saturday, May 5 at Tullio Arena, will bring the university’s total graduating class for the 2006-07 academic year to 873 students.

May’s 632 degrees, to be awarded by Gannon University President Antoine M. Garibaldi, Ph.D., include one doctoral degree recipient as well as 25 students receiving the doctor of physical therapy degree. The graduates also include 205 students who will be awarded master’s degrees, 369 who will be awarded bachelor’s degrees, and 32 who will be awarded associate’s degrees.

In addition, 47 students will graduate summa cum laude, 72 magna cum laude, 68 cum laude, and nine with academic honors.

More about Very Reverend David M. O’Connell, C.M.

O’Connell will be awarded an honorary doctor of laws degree during the ceremony. He was chosen to address the graduates in part because of his dedication to his priestly ministry, his distinguished career in higher education, and his service to the church.

Ordained in May, 1982, O’Connell is a priest of the Congregation of the Mission, founded by St. Vincent de Paul and known in the United States as the “Vincentians.” Since March 1998, he has served as the 14^th president of The Catholic University of America (CUA), located in Washington, D.C. O’Connell has the added distinction of holding the John Joseph Keane University Professorship at Catholic.

After earning a bachelor’s degree in philosophy from Niagara University in 1978, O’Connell in 1981 and 1983, respectively, earned a master’s of divinity degree and a master’s of theology degree from Mary Immaculate Seminary in Northampton, Pa.

O’Connell has a licentiate and doctorate in Canon Law, with a specialization in higher education, from Catholic University. The recipient of four honorary doctorates, O’Connell also has been awarded the President’s Medal by St. John’s University (New York).

Prior to serving as president of Catholic, O’Connell held a number of positions at St. John’s, including associate vice president, academic dean, dean of faculty, assistant legal counsel, and professor. He also was interim academic vice president at Niagara University in New York and an assistant professor at Mary Immaculate Seminary. He has served as an ecclesiastical judge and canonical adviser in numerous dioceses.

In addition, O’Connell has been a nationally-recognized spokesperson for and supporter of Ex Corde Ecclesiae – an apostolic constitution written by Pope John Paul II regarding Catholic colleges and universities – and its full implementation within Catholic higher education. O’Connell is also a consultor on the Vatican Congregation for Catholic Education.

In 2006, he received the St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Award from the National Catholic Education Association. His active involvement in the church and in higher education also includes his service on the boards of Niagara University, The Pope John Paul II Cultural Center, and the Consortium of Universities of the Washington Metropolitan Area. O’Connell is also a member of the Knights of Malta, the Knights of Columbus, and the Knights of Constantinian Order of St. George.

He is a native of Philadelphia.

RECENT NEWS AND HIGHLIGHTS

News of interest on and around campus...

On behalf of the Office of Admissions, thank you! The office thanks all members of the Gannon Community who assisted with Spring Open House. Attendance at the event was the highest in the past decade, with 468 students visiting campus along with their families. The Open House continues to be a great opportunity for students and parents to experience everything the University offers, and also to visit with faculty and staff. The attendees included 111 seniors; 40 of which are still making their final decisions about where to attend college in the fall. Progress towards achieving our enrollment goal for the freshmen class continues to be positive. Much work continues to be done to enroll the Class of 2011, and we look forward to the entire Gannon Community’s involvement.
Gannon receives state grant: Pennsylvania Gov. Edward G. Rendell recently pledged more than $6.4 million in funds to support the commonwealth’s Keystone Innovation Zones. The funds are intended to help attract more of the world’s best academic faculty to Pennsylvania’s colleges, universities, and medical institutions. The funds include two initiatives under the Keystone Innovation Zone program: the Keystone Innovation Starter Kit and Keystone Innovation Grant programs. Gannon University, as one of the Keystone Innovation Starter Kit recipients, was selected for nearly $120,000 in funds. Specifically, the funds will benefit the university’s forthcoming Erie Technology Incubator, as well as the Gannon Computer and Information Science (CIS) Department. Chaired by Stephen T. Frezza, Ph.D., the department offers high-quality undergraduate majors in computer science, management information systems, and software engineering, as well as a microcomputer applications certificate. A well-regarded graduate degree in computer and information science also is offered.

CAMPUS EVENTS

Wednesday, May 2 – Retirement Party: For Marion Gallivan, director of Nash Library. The party will be held at 3 p.m. in the Boardroom of Old Main. Please RSVP to ext. 7341.
Friday, May 4 – Graduate Commencement Reception (by invitation): The reception will celebrate Graduate School graduates and the outstanding students of each program. The event will begin at 5 p.m. in the Yehl Room.
Saturday, May 5 – Spring Commencement: The ROTC Commissioning will begin at 8:30 a.m. in room 219 of the Waldron Center (reservations required). The Baccalaureate Mass will begin at 10 a.m. at St. Peter Cathedral, and the Commencement Reception will begin at 11 a.m. in the Yehl Room (call ext. 7341 for reservations). The main ceremony will begin at 2 p.m. at Tullio Arena. The keynote speaker will be Rev. David O’Connell, president of Catholic University (see above for more information on Fr. O’Connell). The 2006-07 graduating class includes 873 graduates.
“Our Events” is intended to serve as a random sample of campus events. For a more complete listing, refer to Eventcal.

THE PRESIDENT’S SCHEDULE

Monday, April 30 – Villa Maria Academy junior class visit to Gannon; President’s Dinner with Honors Program graduates. Wednesday, May 2 – Annual Teacher Appreciation Dinner. Thursday, May 3 – President and Mrs. Frank G. Pogue, Jr. Farewell Reception and Dinner (Edinboro University). Friday, May 4 – Graduate School Commencement Reception; Commencement Speaker dinner. Saturday, May 5 – ROTC Commissioning Ceremony; Baccalaureate Mass; Commencement Reception; Commencement Brunch; Commencement Ceremony.

PRAYER CONCERNS

Please remember all in your prayers as regretfully we announce the deaths of:

Leona Karnes, mother of Carolyn Gaither, director of Continuing Education & Computer Training; and grandmother of Gannon student Veronica Gaither (physician assistant program).
Betty Carter, mother of Cathy Fresch, director of Alumni Services; and grandmother of Gannon student Becky Fresch (communications arts).

CURRENT BIRTHDAYS

Mary Lee Lynch. Robert Allshouse. Stephen Bahny. John E. Gomolchak. Faye Fromknecht. Bradley Rzyczycki. Amy Buechel. Kevin Connaroe. Mary Richmond. Daniel Halter. Patricia Oligeri. Randi Johnson. Kimberly Blount. Michael Panza. Kenneth Berlin. Sister Michelle Healy. Rick Iacobucci. Michael Bucholtz. Sam Hazen. Sharon Krahe. Michael Bane. James LaScola. Jeffrey Costello. Delayne Shah. Dorothy Wassel. Rev. Robert Susa. Fred Beil. Thomas Wager. Rebecca Curtis. Rachid Abouabid. Ned Lottie. Denise Winschel. Michelle Homan. Diann Cooper. Diane Hardner. Richard Altmire.

PICTURE OF THE WEEK

Nothin’ but net: Last week at Hammermill Center, Dr. Garibaldi took on all comers in the fourth annual G-U Basketball Shoot-Out Tournament. Dr. Garibaldi faced off against nearly 20 Gannon students, faculty, staff and alumni, each of whom had to pay a small fee to challenge the President in a friendly sharp shooting contest. The money raised from the event will go toward the Senior Class Gift to the Annual Fund. Britt Daehnke (left), associate director, Annual Fund, and Mark Gaeta (right), major gifts officer, coordinated the event.