| May 21, 2008 | Vol 9. No. 14 |
Commencement 2008
Family and friends filled UB’s Alumni Arena to congratulate the 750 members of the undergraduate Class of 2008 on May 17. Calvin M. Darden ’72, retired senior vice president of UPS, addressed the graduates.
Darden told graduates that the key to wealth is “not about financial gain, but rather it is about hard work and sticking to your values.” He added that the recent grads have a responsibility to use their education and gifts for the benefit of others.
Rev. Vincent M. Cooke, S.J., college president, presents Calvin M. Darden ’72 with an honorary degree at Saturday’s undergraduate commencement ceremonies.
After years of hard work, 2008 graduates enjoyed their commencement ceremonies.
Darden also received an honorary degree during the ceremony, as did Herbert Hauptman, PhD, director of the Hauptman Woodward Medical Institute and Clement Eckert, president and CEO of the Food Bank of Western New York. James F. Lyons ’56 was the recipient of the LaSalle Medal, which is the Alumni Association's most distinguished award and recognizes substantial contributions in advancing the interests of the college. Adam P. Pendelton ’08 served as the student commencement speaker. U.S. Senator Charles Schumer (D-NY) also briefly addressed the graduates.
Daniel W. Stanton, founding principal of Samson Capital Advisors LLC, a fixed income investment manager in Palm Beach, FL, spoke during graduate commencement ceremonies on Wednesday, May 14 in the Koessler Athletic Center. Stanton also is a former general partner and managing director of Goldman Sachs Group Inc., a leading global investment banking, securities and investment management firm. In his commencement address, he shared with graduates his own “top ten” qualities or characteristics of a good leader. He received an honorary degree during the ceremony, as did David C. Hohn, MD, executive director of health policy and president emeritus of Roswell Park Cancer Institute.
To view the Commencement 2008 photo gallery, click here.
Canisius Employee Graduates
Congratulations to the Canisius employees who were among the graduates at commencement ceremonies in May.
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| Judith R. Caserta, athletic business manager, master’s degree in sport administration | Sarah E. Signorino ’04, associate campus minister, master’s degree in college student personnel administration | Michael G. Sonnefeld, public safety officer, master’s degree in early childhood education | ||
| Not pictured: Lazare A. Adingono, assistant men’s basketball coach, master’s degree in sport administration; Matthew D. Gracie, bachelor’s degree in computer science; Jennifer L. Skowron, human resources associate, bachelor’s degree in history; Mollie A. Strasser, associate director of admissions, master’s degree in college student personnel administration (February). | ||||
ROTC Commissioning
Lt. Col. James H. Soos, chair of military science and Golden Griffin Battalion Commander, commissioned 16 cadets as second lieutenants in the U.S. Army during the college’s 55th ROTC Commissioning Ceremony on Friday, May 16 in the Montante Cultural Center. Seven students graduated from Canisius College, eight graduated from the State University of New York at Buffalo and one graduated from Medaille College. Three-Star Lieutenant General Peter M. Cuviello ’69 (Ret.) served as the guest speaker for the event.
U.S. Navy Captain Robin Wilkening delivered the oath of office via video teleconference for her son, Canisius ROTC Cadet Benjamin O. Berry '08. Wilkening is currently deployed in Kuwait.
Berry’s brother (pictured on screen), Marine Lance Cpl. Noah Berry who is stationed in Hawaii, watched the ceremony via teleconference.
Canisius ROTC Program Receives MacArthur Award Plaque at Honors Ceremony
(l-r) Lt. Col. James H. Soos, chair of military science, Cadet Jeremy Reamer '11, Rev. Vincent M. Cooke, S.J., college president, Cadet Matthew Laney '10, Cadet and Battalion Commander Jessica Lee ’08 and Cadet Robert Tuttle ’10.
At the ROTC Spring Honors ceremony on May 1, Canisius President Rev. Vincent M. Cooke, S.J., presented the MacArthur Award plaque and streamer to the cadre and Lt. Col. James H. Soos, Golden Griffin Battalion command officer and chair of military science. The battalion received the MacArthur Award from the U.S. Army’s Cadet Command for ranking #1 in the Eastern Region out of 135 schools.
Dierenfield Travels with Students to Gold Coast
Pictured above (l-r): Sababu C. Norris, director of multicultural programs, Jessica Grabski '10 and Bruce J. Dierenfield, PhD, professor of history and director of the Program in the African American Experience, visit Elmina, Ghana. Elmina is the site of the famous Portuguese slave castle, which was one of the most important stops on the route of the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade.
History Professor and Director of the All-College Honors Program Bruce J. Dierenfield, PhD, traveled with nine Canisius students to the West African country of Ghana during spring break. The nine-day trip was part of Dierenfield’s Program in the African American Experience, which is funded through a Peter Canisius Distinguished Teaching Professorship.
Dierenfield and the students toured various historic monuments and nature preserves, including Kakum National Park, a tropical rainforest; the Manhyia Palace Museum, where Asante kings once lived; and Mole National Park, home to elephants, antelope, baboons, warthogs and green monkeys roam.
Prior to becoming an independent nation in 1957, Ghana was a British colony known as Gold Coast. Many people still refer to the country by this name.
Ferguson Travels to South Africa for Sabbatical
During her three-week stay in South Africa, Janet M. Ferguson, PhD, volunteered at an orphanage called the ARK.
Associate Professor of Adolescence Education Janet M. Ferguson, PhD, recently returned from Cape Town, South Africa, where she conducted research on student perceptions toward school safety in the United States and South Africa. Ferguson surveyed students in Cape Town, because schools there are currently considered among the most dangerous in the world. She also surveyed students in Brooklyn, NY and Fort Erie, Canada, as part of her research. She plans to release the results in September.
Summer Hours
Summer hours are now in effect at the college, until August 15. The workday is 8:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. with a half-hour lunch period.