October 18, 2012
Sharing strategies for earning high grades, cheering for student bands and welcoming a new season of Red Storm basketball — 250 parents from across the country sampled the excitement and support that St. John’s offers students at the University’s annual Family Weekend on October 12–14.
Traveling cross-country from Texas or driving the family car from New Jersey, parents came to the Queens, NY, campus for a full slate of activities highlighing the academic support and sense of community their students enjoy at St. John’s. Many parents brought younger children for the weekend.
“This was an extremely successful Family Weekend,” said Douglas Geiger, Ph.D., Associate Vice President for Student Affairs. “The activities allowed parents to really see what their children experience at St. John’s — in terms of academics and campus life. Everyone was clearly impressed.”
At the Staten Island campus, the weekend allowed alumni to reconnect with alma mater. Nearly 200 St. John’s graduates brought their spouses and children on Sunday, October 14, for activities including games, rides and a petting zoo.
Both campuses included a special presentation for Legacy Families — those in which students’ parents also attended St. John’s. “The greatest form of loyalty is when alumni entrust their child’s education to alma mater,” said Victor Ramos ’91CBA, ’93MBA, Associate Vice President for Institutional Advancement.
Queens campus activities began Friday evening with the men’s and women’s basketball tip-off in Carnesecca Arena. On Saturday, parents joined students for “Where We Are Now,” an hour-long session on strategies for continued scholarly and physical health. The program featured Ruth DeRosa, Associate Director for Student Wellness, and Gerard Fabian Cajas, Assistant Director for Academic Achievement, University Freshman Center.
After meals at Montgoris Dining Hall, Saturday activities continued with a campus-wide scavenger hunt, poetry readings and a student performance of You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown. Visitors received a limited number of discount tickets to three popular Broadway shows — Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark, Annie and Jersey Boys. The weekend concluded on Sunday with Mass at the St. Thomas More Church, a viewing of the NY Jets football game and a blanket-making class.
For parents, the weekend confirmed everything they had expected of St. John’s. John and Liane DaMommio came from Texas to spend time with their son, Luke, a management major in The Peter J. Tobin College of Business. “We were very impressed with the campus and the facilities,” said John DaMommio. “All those things come together with a university atmosphere. The kids feel secure, and you can be secure that your kids are safe.”
Luke had this to offer: “St. John’s is the best school in America! The teachers are awesome — go Red Storm!”
James Howard ’15TCB, an accounting major from Rockland County, NY, was delighted to show his father why he chose St. John’s. “I just like the kind of education you have here,” said James. “The professors help me with everything I need to do—and I’m glad that it’s so close to Manhattan.” His father added, “I think it’s a great campus — good education, good reputation. And it’s in New York City — you can’t beat that.”
Jasmine Elturk ’16C, a biology major from Spring, TX, said that Family Weekend allowed her to share the University with her mother. “It’s really fun being here,” she said. “There are always a lot of events going on, on campus and off. The school spirit is great.” Her mother, Elizabeth Heaney, summed up her daughter’s experience this way: “I’m glad she has a sense of family here.”
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