Under the Arch

FORMER VMC PRESIDENT TO ADDRESS MAY GRADUATES

Former Villa Maria College President Sister Leonie Shanley, SSJ, will deliver the keynote address at Gannon’s spring commencement, scheduled for Saturday, May 10.

The ceremony will begin at 2 p.m. at Tullio Arena, 809 French Street. Some 575 graduates, including 17 associate's, 374 bachelor's, 181 master's, and three post-master's certificates, will receive their diplomas.

Sister Shanley has a long association with Villa Maria College, from which she graduated in 1957 with a bachelor’s degree in French. (Her master’s degree, also in French, is from Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland.)

She was a member of the Villa Maria College faculty from 1965-68 and also served as VMC’s Dean of Students (1968-70) and Director of Student Personal Services (1970-73). From 1973-81, she served as a VMC trustee; from 1981-88 she was a President’s Council member.

From 1988-89, Shanley was the interim president of Villa Maria College after Sister Lawreace Antoun retired after 22 years. Following the merger of Villa Maria and Gannon in 1989, Shanley became Dean of the Villa Maria College of Gannon University.

In 1991, she was awarded an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from Gannon University, and in 2000 she received the Monsignor Wilfrid J. Nash Principles of Christian Conduct Award at Gannon’s Distinguished Alumni Awards Dinner.

Gannon President Antoine M. Garibaldi, Ph.D., proposed that Shanley address the graduates and their families because of the Erie Diocese’s upcoming Sesquicentennial Celebration. “May Commencement is a most propitious time to acknowledge Villa Maria College’s and Gannon’s unique, combined 78-year history in the Diocese,” Garibaldi said. “Sister Shanley is a very appropriate and knowledgeable representative of that rich history.”

Shanley served as associate superintendent for secondary schools for the Diocese of Erie from 1991-93 and currently is the administrator of the Villa Maria Center.

A longtime educator, she has held a number of teaching positions: Saint Peter Elementary School (1946-47); Saint Patrick Elementary School (1950-56); Villa Maria Academy (1956-61); and Bradford Central Christian High School (1961-68).

From 1982-88, she served as Secretary for Evangelization for the Diocese of Erie, overseeing the offices for Black Apostolate, Campus Ministry, Catholic Schools, Family Ministries, Hispanic Apostolate, Mission, Religious Education, and Youth Ministries.

She also has been active with the Sisters of Saint Joseph both locally and nationally. Her positions include: member, French Research Team, United States Federation of Sisters of Saint Joseph (1969-73); vice president, U.S. Federation (1975-78); president, U.S. Federation (1978-80); and general superior, Sisters of Saint Joseph of Northwestern Pennsylvania (1973-81).

Her other educational and religious experience includes being a member of the Bishop’s Administrative Cabinet (1982-88); a member of the Planning Task Force for Eastside Parishes and Schools (1988); and a member of the Erie Conference Education Task Force (1988-91).

Shanley is either a current or past member of the Boards of Directors or Boards of Trustees for the following schools: Bradford Central Christian High School, Cathedral Preparatory School, DuBois Central Christian High School, Elk County Christian High School, Kennedy Christian High School, Mercyhurst Preparatory School, Venango Central Christian High School, Villa Maria Academy, and Villa Maria Elementary School.

Her other affiliations include Saint Vincent Health Center, incorporator and Nominating and By-Laws committees; Meadville Medical Center, incorporator; Saint Vincent Health Center, trustee; and Spencer Hospital, trustee.

OUR EVENTS

Monday, April 28 – Gannon University Schuster Theatre: "The Mysteries/Resurrection," spring theatre and culture class presentation. Show is at 8 p.m.
Tuesday, April 29 – Graduate and Adult Open House: Scheduled for 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. on the third floor open area of the Palumbo Center. Application fee will be waived for attendees. Call ext. 7474 for more information.
Tuesday, April 29-Wednesday, April 30 – Nash Library Book Sale: All proceeds benefit the library.
Thursday, May 1 – Springtopia Closing Mass: 11 a.m. in A.J.'s Way; rain location is Yehl.
Friday, May 2-Saturday, May 3 – Gannon University Relay for Life: Hosted by Gannon's Interfraternity and Panhellenic councils. The event will be held at Gannon University Field from 1 p.m. Friday to 1 a.m. Saturday. Proceeds will benefit the American Cancer Society. Teams can register at the event; call ext. 7573 for more information.
Friday, May 2, and Sunday, May 4 – Erie Opera Theatre: “The Elixir of Love,” featuring Arthur Martone, Director, and Bruce Morton Wright, Conductor. Both performances will begin at 7:30 p.m. at the Central High School Auditorium, 3325 Cherry Street.
Saturday, May 10 – May Commencement: 2 p.m. at Tullio Arena, with Sister Leonie Shanley as keynote speaker.
Through May 16 – Schuster Gallery: Featuring the works of local photographers Eric Grignol and Greg Zbach. Grignol is also an art teacher and Zbach is an accomplished composer. The Gallery is located on the third floor of the library and is open during regular library hours.

OUR FOLKS

Sympathy extended:

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

Elois Wright, mother of Bruce Morton Wright, Music Director and Conductor of Gannon University's Erie Chamber Orchestra, and grandmother of Gannon graduate Anna Wright.
Fred (Larry) Lehnortt, father of Gannon student Emily Lehnortt.

Prayer requests and updates:

Prayers were requested April 22 for Fran Grabski, Secretary, Physical Therapy. Fran was at Hamot recovering from emergency surgery.

CURRENT BIRTHDAYS

Steve Washek. Jim Meko. Bob Allshouse. Faye Fromknecht. Mary Richmond. Charles Ramsey. Patricia Oligeri. Kimberly Blount. Michael Panza. Michele Healy. Rick Iacobucci. Michael Bucholtz. Sam Hazen. Sharon Krahe. Michael Bane. James LaScola. Jeffrey Costello. Father Robert Susa. David Steiner. Fred Beil. Rebecca Curtis. Richard Bukowski. Ned Lottie. Denise Winschel. Michelle Homan.

THE PRESIDENT'S SCHEDULE

Tuesday, April 29 – Retiree luncheon; Guest Speaker, Annual Academic Letter Banquet, North East High School. Wednesday, April 30 – United Way Board of Directors meeting; University of Pittsburgh study on Information Technology Success in Higher Education meeting. Thursday, May 1 – Springtopia Mass and related events. Saturday, May 3 – PROMISE and KnightLife at the Ballpark, Erie SeaWolves at Jerry Uht Park. Sunday, May 4 – Mid-Knight Pancake Breakfast.

ODDS AND ENDS:

Nearly 30 teams, which equates to about 270 people, have signed up for Gannon's Relay for Life, which begins this Friday, May 2, at 1 p.m. It's not too late to participate; teams can still register the day of the event.
This semester's Mid-Knight Pancake Breakfast will be held Sunday, May 4, in the Gannon Cafeteria. As always, door prizes for the students and volunteers for two shifts are needed: 9 to 10:30 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. to 12 a.m. To volunteer, contact Angela Jones at ext. 5800, or Christine Agnello at ext. 7410.
Gannon's Communications Office continues to put out award-winning publications. The Annual Report of the President won an Award of Distinction in the Communicator Awards’ 2003 International Print Media competition, as well as a Silver Addy in the 2003 Erie Advertising Club Awards competition. Gannon Magazine won a Bronze Addy at the 2003 Erie Ad Club Awards. Both publications are edited by Deb Bartle.
What would you do with $100 to spend in the bookstore? The Office of Admissions is sponsoring a "GU Moments Photo Contest." Gannon students, faculty, staff, and alumni can submit up to three pictures depicting anything to do with the university – an event on campus, a group of students, etc. A panel of judges will award a first place prize of a $100 gift certificate to the winner. The entry deadline is May 2, and winners will be announced on May 15. Contest guidelines are at the Office of Admissions, at the Waldron Center information desk, or online at http://ww4.gannon.edu/admiss/photo.ihtml