St. John’s StormFest Inspires Generations of Johnnies

More than 2,000 prospective and current students, alumni, families, and friends of St. John’s University joyfully descended on the Queens, NY, campus on October 25–27 for “StormFest: Celebrating Our Johnnies from the Past, Present, and Future!”

For the first time, three popular, signature events of the University—Family Weekend, Alumni Homecoming, and Undergraduate Admission Open House—took place on the same weekend.

“StormFest provides a unique and wonderful opportunity for us to gather the entire St. John's family together in one weekend. The opportunities for making connections across generations is easy with the wide variety of events planned,” said Karen Simons, Director of Parent and Family Connections, which organized the events in collaboration with Alumni Relations, Enrollment Management, and the Athletic Department. 

“StormFest has something for everyone—our alumni Johnnies, our current Johnnies, and our future Johnnies,” Ms. Simons added, “and truly celebrates the legacy benefits of being a part of the St. John's family!” 

Major highlights of the weekend, which took place against a backdrop of crisp fall weather and sun-drenched skies, included a 5K walk/run; a family carnival and beverage garden; opportunities to explore academic spaces, including the newest building on campus, the St. Vincent Health Sciences Center; musical theater performances by the Chappell Players Theater Group; and a community Mass and fellowship. Families were introduced to St. John’s schools and colleges through a series of “Dean’s Hours,” where attendees had opportunities to tour those facilities and speak with faculty.  

Guests flocked to National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I athletic events, such as the University Men's Basketball team’s home exhibition game at midday Saturday in Carnesecca Arena. The Red Storm trounced the Towson University Tigers 64-46 in a charity game to benefit Autism Speaks, the largest autism advocacy group in the country. 

On the final day of StormFest, prospective and future Johnnies were warmly welcomed to St. John’s first fall Open House.

A significant highlight of the three-day celebration was a festive gathering of first-year families in Montgoris Dining Hall on Saturday to enjoy breakfast with Rev. Brian J. Shanley, O.P., President of St. John’s. 

“Student success is the most important task that we have at St. John’s,” Fr. Shanley said in his remarks at the breakfast. “Graduation in four years is our goal—and if we don’t graduate your kids in four years, that’s not success for us.”

“At the deepest level, we are committed to the spiritual success of your students, as well. We want them to grow in their faith, whatever they believe in,” he said. “That’s a critical part of our work on campus.” 

“The most important task in life is finding meaning and purpose,” added Fr. Shanley. “To have the sense of doing something that makes a difference in the world, where you are using the God-given talents that you have—and at St. John’s, we mean success in that holistic way.” 

First-year student Taquan Smith, of Brooklyn, NY, expressed his new-found love for St. John’s as he sat sharing breakfast with his mother, Teresa Smith. “St. John’s is a perfect fit for me, and I love the challenge my major is bringing into my life,” said Taquan, who was inspired by an uncle, who suffered a severe stroke as a young man, to pursue a Bachelor of Arts degree in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology. 

Branson Bailey, who is in his first year at St. John’s and is majoring in Legal Studies, left his home in Los Angeles, CA, to experience life on the East Coast, especially in New York City. “New York is so different from Los Angeles. I needed to spread my wings and St. John’s is a great place for doing that,” he said as he stood in Montgoris Hall near a dining table filled with family members. “It’s time for me to grow up and mature.”

“I am so excited for Branson and proud of him,” said his mother, Courtney Bailey. “This is his life’s journey and St. John’s marks a chapter of growth, opportunity, and exposure to new things for him.”

“I feel like I belong here at St. John’s,” said first-year student Romy Conza, of Queens, NY, as she joined her family for coffee and muffins. She said she wanted a career in criminal justice since she was 6 years old. “But I’m learning how much I  love Philosophy through the class I’m taking about it here,” she said.

Across from the dining hall, families took tours of the $106-million, state-of-the-art St. Vincent Health Sciences Center, which opened for the fall 2024 semester and is home to students in the University’s Nursing, Radiologic Sciences, and Physician Assistant programs. Nursing student Fionna Peterson was about to take her parents, Erick Peterson and Joanna McNeilly, both of Astoria, Queens, on a tour of the 70,000-square-foot building so they could get a first-hand look at features such as active learning classrooms, simulation facilities, and virtual reality technology that offers users an engaging and effective way to learn about the human body. 

“It’s truly a beautiful building and the labs are stunning,” said Fionna. Her father, a former professional actor who is now in his second career as an emergency room nurse after earning his nursing degree in 2018, observed to his daughter, “Where my generation of nurses is going to be finishing up in the field, you are going to be starting with all of this new technology!”

The health sciences building borders St. John’s Great Lawn, where Anthony Yandoli ’86CBA, was striding through the Fun Festival carnival, decked out in St. John’s swag that included an alumni baseball cap, sunglasses, and a windbreaker. “I come to as many events like this at St. John’s as I can. It’s like family to me,” said Mr. Yandoli, a certified public accountant from Briarwood, NY. “I always wanted to come to St. John’s for college. I grew up on Long Island and  always knew about St. John’s and its great reputation. For me, it was my top choice, there was no other.”

Tina Fevola ’93CBA and her son Adam Nash, a computer science major in his senior year at St. John’s, enjoyed the sunshine as they checked out FunFest attractions such as face painting, inflatables, pumpkin decorating, and live music. Proudly sporting a St. John’s Alumni tee shirt, Tina, who attended St. John’s former Staten Island campus, said, “I loved the proximity of St. John’s to my home in Brooklyn, and I really didn’t want to go away from home for college.”

“Coming to St. John’s was a no-brainer,” Adam said. “My mom is a woman of great taste and  always talked so highly of her time as a college student, so, I wanted to continue the family legacy.”

Kim Checkers ’93 CBA is a member of another family legacy at St. John’s. Her father, Pat Cozza, is an alumnus;  her two daughters and a niece are also alumni. “St. John’s does a great job of helping the next generation get ahead, flourish, and become dedicated to community service,” she said. “It’s a wonderful place.”   

"We couldn’t have asked for a better day! It was wonderful to see Johnnies of all ages converge on campus, share their St. John’s memories, and make new ones at StormFest. We can’t wait to do it again next year!” said Sara Hunt Munoz, Senior Director of Alumni Engagement.