Dr. Petillo's Blog

It’s been a special and exciting week for our Athletics Department as the news came on Tuesday that we won our fifth consecutive Brenda Weare Commissioner’s Cup, tying the league record for consecutive cup wins. Sacred Heart also took its sixth-straight Joan Martin Women’s Commissioner’s Cup, which extends our own league record. With this win, we tie UMBC’s record for consecutive Commissioner’s Cup wins. We just need one more cup victory to equal the all-time record of six shared by Fairleigh Dickinson and Monmouth.

We had barely caught our breath when we learned yesterday that Sacred Heart is the winner of the second annual NEC Building Communities Award. We also won the inaugural award last year. The award recognizes the institution that demonstrates the highest dedication to making an impact in the community through the efforts of its student-athletes, coaches and administrators. Overall, conference members donated an impressive 26,000 hours of community service. Our student-athletes alone contributed 6,625 hours to that total. This award is especially meaningful to me because it epitomizes everything that Sacred Heart stands for – a commitment to community involvement and social responsibility. The volunteerism from our Athletics Department was part of an overall commitment of more than 50,000 volunteer hours this year by students, faculty and staff.

Congratulations to our student-athletes, coaches and athletics administrators for an outstanding year both on and off the playing fields. You did us proud!

Before I wish you all a wonderful weekend, I want to congratulate the students in our Masters of Arts in Communication Program on an outstanding event this past Tuesday evening. The SHU Media Exchange offered guests the opportunity to listen to and ask questions of a moderated panel of local media experts. The panel included Vinnie Fusco, general manager/executive in charge of NBCUniversal Stamford Media Center; Meryl Moss founder/president of Meryl Moss Media Relations; Bud Grebey, vice president, Corporate Communications, Tronox, Inc.; and Kip Bergstrom, State of Connecticut executive director of the Commission on Culture and Tourism and was moderated by John Seigenthaler of NBC Nightly News and Seigenthaler Public Relations. The program drew a large crowd who heard about the opportunities available locally to graduates with a background in media, as a result of the expansion of Connecticut’s “Creative Corridor” and the emergence of the media industry in our state. The MACOMM program plans to make this exchange an annual event, and they have created a great model to build on.

Have a fun and relaxing weekend!

It’s been quiet on campus this week with the students off for the summer and many of the faculty taking time off. I am looking forward to the summer programs we have lined up that will bring students of all ages to our campus. In addition to our traditional summer camps, this year we are giving qualified high school juniors and seniors a chance to earn college credits by taking one of 15 courses offered as part of our new Pre-College Program. We hope the three-week program will not only give teens a jump start on their college credits, but will also provide a chance for them to explore new interests, while experiencing academic life on a college campus.

Equally exciting is our inaugural Horizons program. In affiliation with Horizons National, we will have 32 first- and second-grade students from Bridgeport Public and Cathedral Education Cluster schools on campus for six weeks this summer. The program will address summer learning loss, a phenomenon in which low-income children fall behind in reading and math skills in the summer, while middle-income students keep pace or jump ahead. These programs are exactly how we should be using our campus space during the summer months.

Of course, we also have our own students taking classes as well. On Tuesday, students in our Masters of Arts in Communication Program will sponsor the SHU Media Exchange. The event offers a moderated panel of experts, including Vinnie Fusco, general manager/executive in charge of NBCUniversal Stamford Media Center; Meryl Moss founder/president of Meryl Moss Media Relations; Bud Grebey, vice president, Corporate Communications, Tronox, Inc.; and Kip Bergstrom, State of Connecticut executive director of the Commission on Culture and Tourism. The panel will be moderated by John Seigenthaler of NBC Nightly News and Seigenthaler Public Relations. It promises to be a dynamic discussion about agency trends, the expansion of Connecticut’s “Creative Corridor” and the emergence of the media industry in our state.

Our 23rd annual Pioneer Open golf fundraiser took place on Monday. Despite a rainy day, we had a full field at the Brooklawn Country Club, and everyone had a great time. Congratulations to the University Advancement team on exceeding their goal and raising $235,000 through entry fees and the live and silent auction (which included a Pebble Beach golf package). The money will be used for much-needed student scholarships.

A great big cheer goes out to the Sacred Heart baseball team for its second consecutive NEC championship. There was a bit of déjà vu involved as the Pioneers once again entered the tournament as the second seed; once again won behind complete-game victories by Tony Scribner, Nick Leiningen and Kody Kerski; and once again closed out the tournament with two straight victories over Monmouth at Dodd Field. The team will play in the NCAA Regionals June 1-4. Go Pioneers!

Almost a week later, I am still thinking about graduation and the exciting week of activities. I enjoyed the opportunity to celebrate with the senior class at the champagne brunch in the new student commons Thursday morning and the Commencement Ball Friday evening. More than 1,600 people attended the dinner-dance under the tent Saturday evening. It was a wonderful event where students and their families celebrated the hard work and investment that has gone into earning their degrees. Music was provided by the Cartells, and I thoroughly enjoyed their performance. By the looks of things, I was not the only one.

The graduate and undergraduate degree ceremonies are always a mixture of joy and solemnity. From my conversations with the graduates – and my own memories of that time – I know that leaving college brings mixed feelings of sadness, nostalgia and trepidation, along with relief, excitement and anticipation.

For me, the overwhelming emotion was pride. I am incredibly proud of the 744 graduate students and 846 undergrads who received degrees over the weekend. I am proud of the strong men and women whom I shook hands with – men and women who are prepared to make a difference in the world. I am proud that during their four years here, they contributed to more than 22,000 hours of community service and am confident that they will continue that spirit of selflessness throughout their lives. You would think after countless graduations as a teacher and administrator, it would get old. It never does. I am always filled with pride at all these students have accomplished and excitement at all they have ahead of them.

I am also proud of the faculty and staff who came to work every day with the best interests of the students in mind. You worked hard on creative curriculums, programs and events that would capture their imaginations and prepare them for their adult lives. You nurtured and encouraged them and pushed them to succeed. As I looked at you during the graduation ceremonies, I saw the same pride on your faces that I was feeling. You have made a difference in these young people’s lives, and you should be every bit as proud of yourselves and you are of them.

We recently received the wonderful news that our Upward Bound grant has been extended for five years in excess of $1 million. Upward Bound has been part of Sacred Heart University’s culture for the past 21 years. The program has provided academic support, curriculum services and college preparation to more than 1,000 students from the three public high schools in Bridgeport and the Bridge Academy. The new grant will begin in September 2012 and will service a minimum of 63 students per year. Congratulations to program director Carylanne Rice-Ehalt and staff members Emma Sanchez and Kathy Garzillo for their hard work putting together a successful Upward Bound application for the United States Department of Education.  

Last Friday, we had a very special guest on campus. Her name is Yin Myo Su (Misuu), and she was here as part of Fortune magazine and the U.S. State Department’s Global Women’s Mentoring Partnership program. Misuu is managing director of the Inle Princess Resort Hotel in Burma and was the mentee of Xerox. Xerox put together a schedule of events designed to give her an understanding of how executive women operate in a global corporation with a goal of helping her to advance her leadership skills. Part of that schedule included a visit to our campus, which turned out to be her first time at a traditional University. While here, she toured the campus and met with Vice Provost for Special Academic Affairs Mary Lou DeRosa and others. This opportunity came as a result of our relationship with Yvonne Hickey, general manager for Public Sector Operations at Xerox, who has joined our Horizons Board of Directors.


On Monday, students from our undergraduate biology and professional science graduate programs worked with staff from the Connecticut Audubon Society to plant trees and shrubs at Stratford Point.

A couple months ago, members of our faculty participated in controlled burn at the site to get rid of vegetation and debris and give native species a chance to thrive there. The hope is that Monday’s planting project will encourage birds to come back to the site for food and shelter.


Congratulations to the members of the baseball team who are in the process of defending their NEC title as the second seed. They were also seeded second when they won last year’s championship.

I miss the students and the normal buzz of the campus already, but I am looking forward to the start of our summer sessions and orientations. Enjoy the beautiful weather that is expected to continue through the weekend!

Without a doubt, I am going to start this blog with huge congratulations to all our students who will graduate this weekend.  A total of 744 graduate students will receive master’s degrees, professional certificates and doctorates, and 846 undergrads will receive associate and bachelor’s degrees. We will also award honorary doctorates to Susan Davis, chief executive officer of St. Vincent’s Health Services, and Carl Anderson, supreme knight of the Knights of Columbus. Currently there’s no rain in the forecast. Let’s hope it stays that way.

This week we finalized our search for the new dean of the Isabelle Farrington College of Education. We welcome James C. Carl, Ph.D., who will officially join us August 1. Dr. Carl most recently served as department chair of Curriculum and Foundations at Cleveland State University where he was responsible for budgeting, scheduling, evaluating, grant writing and curriculum development. He was selected after a lengthy search that included consideration of a number of highly qualified candidates. I am extremely grateful to Dr. Ann Clark, chair of the search committee, and the other members of her team for the effort they put forth to find the right candidate for this position. I also want to thank those of you who shared your thoughts and provided feedback to the committee. It was critical to the process. Please make a point of introducing yourself to Dr. Carl and welcoming him to the Sacred Heart community.

We received sad news this week with the passing of Marian “Bunny” Calabrese, former associate professor of English. During her tenure here she was beloved by students and colleagues alike, and many of you have made it a point to share your memories of her during the past few days. A memorial service for Bunny will take place tomorrow at 11 a.m. at Mary Taylor Memorial United Methodist Church in Milford. 

Congratulations are in order for Dr. Julie Stewart, assistant professor of Nursing. Julie was named one of the most outstanding nursing educators in the United States by the National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties. The organization – responsible for setting standards in nursing education not just nationally, but throughout the world – presented her with the prestigious “Outstanding Faculty Practice Award” at its 38th Annual Conference recently in Charleston. As Julie pointed out herself, the award reflects not only her skills, but the quality of the education that Sacred Heart nursing students receive. Julie was also named a Connecticut Nurses Association Diamond Jubilee Award winner in 2010. She won the Florence Wald Nursing Award for Clinical Excellence.

Kudos, too, to Katie Nichols, director of Greek Life, who was honored by Cooperative Educational Services (CES) of Trumbull with the Success through Educational Partnerships (STEP) Award. Katie was honored for overseeing the 24-hour see-saw-a-thon fundraiser – Greek Life Goes Back to Give Back – put on by the University’s Greek Life organization to raise money for a playground at Bridgeport’s Six to Six Interdistrict Magnet School.

Approximately 75 faculty and staff members and 30 students enjoyed a delicious lunch from the Big Green Pizza Truck on Tuesday during our first-ever Campus Donor Day. During the event, which was hosted by the Office of Annual Giving, I had the honor of receiving a check for more than $5,000 from the students who ran the Class of 2012’s Forever Pioneers giving campaign. I also received a check for more than $67,000 from Dr. Peter Maresco, who was representing the faculty and staff. Thanks to all of you who gave so generously.

On Wednesday, I had the chance to present Katie Nichols (not the same Katie I referenced above!) and David Hill each with an Apple iPad2 for the award-winning essays they submitted to the Religious Freedom Essay Contest, sponsored by the Knights of Malta. It was great to have a chance to congratulate them in person.

A round of applause goes to Tony Jean-Louis of the men’s track & field team for breaking an NEC record in the 110m hurdles. He paced the competition with an IC4A qualifying time of 14.03s. And kudos to senior Leopoldo Garcia, who has been selected to play in the 2012 NCAA Men’s Golf Championship after a win in the NEC Conference Championship last weekend. He will compete as an individual in the regional tournament in Greensboro, NC.

I hope members of the faculty and staff had a chance to stop by the end-of-year thank you barbecue. As I said in my message earlier this week, this has been an outstanding year for us. I asked you back in September to join me in making servant leadership, stewardship and presence the hallmarks of my tenure. We’re off to a good start, and I thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Looking forward to a great Commencement Weekend!

I want to start today’s message with a welcome to the Class of 2016! We are so glad that you have decided to join the Sacred Heart community, and we are looking forward to meeting you at orientation next month.

A big thank you to all the faculty and staff members who came out Monday night to serve the students at the end-of-classes late night breakfast sponsored by Res Life. It appeared to be a lot of fun for all involved. Clearly, hundreds of hungry students appreciated your efforts.

I’d like to wish students the best of luck as you take the last of your finals and finish up your projects and papers. Whether you are heading home for the summer or gearing up for graduation exercises next weekend, have fun and be safe.

I hope you had a chance to attend one or more of the student performances over the weekend. The University Choirs, the University Concert Band and the SHU F.O.R.C.E. DanceEnsemble all put on spectacular shows.

We got some good news this week by way of social media: Pilar Munday, who teaches Spanish in our Foreign Languages and Cultures Department, was named in a list of the Top 50 Foreign Language Professors on Twitter. She was commended for her posts in Spanish and English on language education, health and cultural topics. Consider me a follower of @mundaysa!

Congratulations to the Master of Arts in communication team that took the top prize in the Wine and Spirit Wholesalers of Connecticut, Inc. state-wide PSA contest. Their commercial about underage drinking took home the awards for best overall PSA and technical excellence, which means that it will air on all the major television stations in Connecticut for a full year. Members of this creative team were Jeff Crane, Mike Dominguez, Jade Ean-Heller, Lauren Forgione, Michele Herrmann, Justine Luzzi, Guilherme Palma Neto and Wayne Travers. Along withtheir project supervisors, Lori Bindig and Justin Liberman, we take great pride in this extremely talented group of students.

Congratulations also to Katie Nicols, winner of the Religious Freedom Essay Contest, sponsored by the Order of Malta, and to David Hill who wrote the runner-up essay. Both Katie and David will receive an Apple iPad2 for their efforts, and the essays will bepublished on the SHU website. These two stood out among the many extremely well-written essays that were submitted. The judges were impressed by all the essays, so kudos to the other students who sent in submissions.

It was a week of accolades and awards, beginning with our 20th annual All-Sports and Senior Awards Banquet on Monday evening at the Trumbull Marriott. A total of 168 senior student-athletes and others were honored for their accomplishments both on and off the field. Jeff Holtz, the voice of the Pioneer Sports Network, served as the evening’s master of ceremonies, and Callan Taylor of the women’s basketball team delivered moving remarks on behalf of all the student-athletes.

On Thursday, nearly 200 faculty and staff members gathered for the Faculty Awards reception, which was one of our presidential inauguration year events. Provost Laura Niesen de Abruna joined me in hosting the event where 55 faculty members were honored. Categories included Academics for Creative Teaching Grants, Faculty Excellence Awards, Retiring Faculty, Sabbatical Awards and University Research and Creativity Grants, as well as the Annual Excellence Awards for Scholarship and Teaching. Congratulations to all the honorees.

Let’s enjoy these last few days of the semester.

On Monday and Tuesday this week, we welcomed nearly 200 guests from around the country and Canada to our Vatican II 50^th Anniversary Celebration Conference. The purpose of the conference was to reflect on the seven speeches given by the Cardinals at the conclusion of the Second Vatican Council. Our dynamic and forward-thinking speakers were able to offer ideas about how those speeches can address the issues of the 21^st century. They left their listeners with a great deal to think about.  We will continue the discussion in the fall when we host a panel of three additional authorities on the Second Vatican Council. Not surprisingly, we received positive feedback not only about the conference, but also about our beautiful campus and our friendly and helpful faculty, staff and students. Congratulations to Father Tony Ciorra and the entire conference committee on their hard work and attention to detail. It was a job very well done.

On Monday night, my wife and I attended “Life’s a Beach,” the annual Pops concert by SHU L.O.V.E. Can I say I thought they were every bit as good as the Midtown Men? I am looking forward with great anticipation to “A Broadway Celebration” by the University Choirs Saturday evening and the University Concert Band’s selection of songs from video games Sunday afternoon as well as the SHU F.O.R.C.E. Dance Ensemble’s performance Saturday afternoon. I encourage you to attend these concerts over the weekend—our talented student performers always put on a great show.

On Wednesday, I had the opportunity to join approximately 50 faculty and staff members to recognize 75 administrative assistants at a lunch put on by the Human Resources team in honor of Administrative Professionals Day. Guest speaker Father Jerry Ryle offered some suggestions about the benefits of relaxation and meditation. Anyone who doesn’t think our administrative assistants run this place hasn’t seen them in action!

Congratulations to all the finalists for the Campus Life Leadership Awards and especially to our four winners: Dr. James McCabe, winner of the Dr. Marian Calabrese Outstanding Faculty Member Award; Dr. Mary Jo Mason, winner of the Outstanding Administrator Award; Lisa Gallagher, winner of the Outstanding Staff MemberAward; and Amanda Rowe, winner of the Outstanding Graduate Assistant Award. The final selections were made by members of Student Government. I thank you all for being there for our students.

As the semester draws to a close, there are wonderful opportunities to see the work our students have been doing over the past few months. The presentations by the seniors in the Thomas More Honors Program have been circulated to everyone via email, and they are most impressive. Thursday evening was Senior Portfolio Night, which provided an opportunity to see the outstanding work of our student graphic designers and artists. And, Friday afternoon was the Annual Undergraduate Poster and Showcase Session. A total of 51 student projects were on display on topics that ranged from the characteristics of youthful offenders to the perils of artificial tanning. There was even a robot! Congratulations to the Poster Showcase winners and to all the students who presented at these events for their hard work and creativity.

Earlier today, students, staff and faculty gathered in the Chapel of the Holy Spirit for the Yom HaShoah Holocaust Remembrance Service. Although the Holocaust took place only 60 years ago, it can seem like ancient history to younger generations. It is important that the atrocities of the past are not forgotten.

A high five to the women’s lacrosse team for securing the top seed in the Northeast Conference Championships! That allows the women to host this year’s tournament, which takes place today and Sunday. The women will be enjoying that home field advantage as they look to capture their fourth title in five years. Go Pioneers!

Finally, I want to encourage members of the faculty and staff to join me Monday night as we continue our tradition of serving a late night breakfast in the Mahogany Room to students who are studying for finals. It’s a great opportunity to interact with students in a relaxed setting on the last day of classes.

Enjoy the weekend!

It’s been another busy and exciting week on campus as we barrel toward graduation. Why do the semesters seem to pass so quickly? The Discovery Gala was a wonderful event, and our new commons was the perfect setting. Approximately 300 people came out to mingle and dine in a 1960s Las Vegas setting. Even more exciting, we raised more than half a million dollars for student scholarships. Congratulations to Megan Rock and the University Advancement team! The Midtown Men did not disappoint as their high-energy performance left a capacity crowd at the Edgerton Center completely entertained.

For several days this week, we hosted a Lilly Fellows Network conference on the topic of Integrating A Faith-Based Education for the 21st Century: Challenges and Responses. The keynote speaker was Father David Tracy, a Greeley Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Catholic Studies from the University of Chicago. Attendees also heard from several other distinguished speakers, including our own Dr. Michael Higgins. By all accounts, the conference offered a wealth of information and a successful exchange of ideas. Congratulations to Dr. Michelle Loris and her team for an exciting and well-run event.

This week also saw the inaugural event for Sacred Heart’s Center for Urban Policy and Action. The Center opened with a conference entitled A Call to Action: Keeping the Promise to Connecticut’s Children. Special guest Governor Dannel Malloy shared his vision of education reform. Other attendees included several state commissioners, educators and politicians. The mission of the Center is to provide a mechanism for systematic study and analysis of education, public health and economic policy issues confronting urban communities and for developing practical, creative solutions to these issues. This is the first of many events the Center will sponsor. Kudos to Dr. Ed Hendricks, director of the Center, and his interdisciplinary team who worked so hard to ensure a successful launch.

We celebrated Opening Day at the new state-of-the-art Pioneer Park with a barbecue and a doubleheader against Yale. The women got their first win and first loss in the new stadium out of the way as they split the two games with a 7-4 win in the first game and a 3-0 loss in the second. I encourage you all to make plans to enjoy a game in this wonderful new facility.

I imagine the students, faculty and staff who braved the dunk tank on Wednesday would have preferred the near-90 degree temperatures we had on Monday. Nonetheless, everyone had a great time, and the event raised $280 for the Class of 2014.

This was Volunteer Week both nationally and here at Sacred Heart. Our first-ever Volunteer & Service Learning Week incorporated a variety of activities, including faculty excursions to area nonprofit organizations, cleanup of our community gardens, a recyclables collection and a campus-wide cleanup. I’m hopeful this will become an annual event.

The Theatre Arts program’s production of Spring Awakening opened last night to rave reviews. I saw it last night, and it is not to be missed. Congratulations to an extremely talented cast and a crew that did not miss a beat. You can still catch one of the three remaining shows over the weekend.

We could hardly have asked for a more beautiful day to dedicate our new student commons. I hope those of you who came out for the celebration enjoyed it as much as I did. It was wonderful to have Linda McMahon and her family with us as we dedicated the building in her honor. She is a strong believer in the importance of lifelong education and has done a lot for Sacred Heart. A special thanks to the members of the brass ensemble, the Four Heart Harmony choral ensemble and, especially, the students who kept our secret and participated in our surprise flash mob performance.  To view additional photos from the dedication, CLICK HERE.

Congratulations to Interim Dean Rupendra Paliwal and the entire faculty of the Welch College of Business on their recent reaccreditation by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB). AACSB International, the longest-serving global accrediting body for business schools that offer bachelors, masters and doctorate degrees in business and accounting, has accredited fewer than five percent of business schools worldwide.  To maintain accreditation a business program must undergo a rigorous internal review every five years, at which the program must demonstrate its continued commitment to the 21 quality standards relating to faculty qualification, strategic management of resources, interactions of faculty and students, as well as a commitment to continuous improvement and achievement of learning goals in degree programs.  A great deal of work goes into preparing for the site visit. We can all be very proud that our Welch College of Business stands up to such intense scrutiny.

Congratulations to Dr. Lucjan Orlowski, Dr. Abu Amin and Dr. Kwami Dunbar. Their preliminary research outcome was extremely well received at the CME Group Foundation seminar at NYMEX in New York City. Their work on the institutional transformation of financial futures markets received kudos from both the Foundation and the audience of prominent academics and Wall Street professionals. CME organizers were also impressed by the strong showing and active participation from SHU, so thanks to Dr. Russell Engel, Professor Ralph Lim and student research assistants Brian Benson and Bryan Harmon for their attendance and participation. Next the group will present their research at a seminar in Luxembourg on May 18.

Dr. Robert McCloud recently received confirmation that his research on how to teach computer programming to talented young people (students who score in the 99^th or 99.9^th percentile on standardized tests) in Albania has been funded for a total of $1.8 million through the Education Equity and Excellence Program. Bob has several partners on this project, including former SHU student Kelly Leather who is currently in Albania working on her Fulbright Scholarship research.

Earlier this week, Sacred Heart hosted high school students from several neighboring towns as part of Dr. Jack de Graffenried’s 20^th Art & Design Expo. The students had a chance to view the Sacred Heart student art show in the Gallery of Contemporary Art and then heard from guest speaker Wendell Minor who has done book covers for many well-known authors, such as Pat Conroy, David McCullough, Jodi Picoult, Howard Fast, Toni Morrison and many more. He encouraged the students to follow their dreams, noting that he never thought he would go from drawing fuzzy bunnies for Hallmark cards to the career he has today.

Congratulations to the dance team on their fifth-place finish at the NDA Collegiate Championships. We wish them the best of luck when they compete in the hip hop category tonight. Congratulations also to the women’s bowling team. Although they were eliminated from the NCAA tournament after back-to-back losses this morning, they did a great job winning the Northeast Conference championship.

A few weeks ago, when I looked back at what I had written, I found that much of the blog focused on our talented students. Similarly, today I have written mostly about our talented faculty. What a great community we have here at Sacred Heart!

Enjoy the weekend.

As I watch the campus empty for the break, I am again reminded what a special time of year this is. This truly has been a holy week, beginning with Palm Sunday and ending with the celebrations of Passover and Easter. As we celebrate God’s miracles – Moses leading the Israelites out of slavery and the resurrection of Jesus – I hope you will take time to appreciate your family and friends and to enjoy the beautiful spring weather we have been promised. I wish all of our Jewish brothers and sisters a joyous Passover, and to Christians, a blessed Easter. May you all have happy holidays, relaxing and enjoyable times with your family and a welcome break before the final weeks of the semester. 

 

There was a lot going on here on campus last weekend starting with a wedding in the Chapel of the Holy Spirit Saturday afternoon. It’s a beautiful venue for a wedding, and I am thrilled that alumni take advantage of it.

Our annual Relay for Life event took place Saturday evening. This is always a moving event, beginning with the Survivors’ Lap. We run the gamut of emotions as we remember loved ones who succumbed to cancer while celebrating the survivors – many of whom turn out for the event. Perhaps most impressive was that it was a student-run event. It was well-organized, well-attended and raised a stunning $41,000 for the American Cancer Society. Congratulations to the Student Events Team and the Relay for Life committee for an incredible job well done.

More student talent was on display Saturday evening and Sunday afternoon with performances by the University’s six choruses on Saturday and the University Band on Sunday. I attended both concerts and came away feeling respect and awe for the skill and craft that I witnessed. I am well aware that it took a lot of hard work to get to that point, and I offer heartfelt thanks and congratulations to both the students and their teachers for such spectacular performances.

The Fourth Annual Communion Breakfast at the Chapel of the Holy Spirit in University Commons was a great success with approximately 160 in attendance. Catholic University of America’s Dr. Maryann Cusimano Love’s presentation on how educators can build a better world was well received as were remarks from Archbishop-elect William E. Lori. During the event, co-sponsor Centesimus Annus Pro Pontifice (CAPP) of Fairfield County presented its inaugural Education Leadership Award to Jo-Anne Jakab, principal of Kolbe Cathedral High School in Bridgeport for the past 17 years. She is a well-deserving recipient, who received Sacred Heart’s Bishop Curtis Award in 2006.

I want to take a moment to congratulate Bishop Lori on his recent appointment as the 16th archbishop of Baltimore. Although he will be sorely missed here in Bridgeport, the promotion is well deserved. I want to thank him for his support of Sacred Heart University and his personal friendship to me.

Yesterday, we had the great pleasure of hosting Jeffrey A. Asher, executive director of the Connecticut Health and Educational Facilities Authority (CHEFA), and David Wasch, government programs manager of CHEFA. They were here to present the check for the $75,000 grant that CHEFA awarded to us for the purchase of a state-of-the-art SimMan 3G patient simulation system. They had a chance to view the new SimMan 3G, which will be used for clinical nurse training. The patient simulators allow nursing students to practice and improve their clinical reasoning skills in the lab as the SimMan reacts to the care provided and can display vital signs that include breathing, sweating, temperature, dilation of the eyes, and more.  

The Relay for Life Event last weekend also kicked off Greek Week. With greater participation in the Greek community here at Sacred Heart, the event expands this year from a weekend of activities to a full week. The Greek students are participating in a variety of events and competitions this week from a Family Feud tournament and skit contest to the Greek Olympics that will close Greek Week on Sunday. The week of activities is designed to build unity among the nearly 450 students who participate in SHU’s Greek life. It will also benefit the community as canned goods will be collected for the St. Charles Food Pantry during a barbecue on Saturday.

Congratulations to the Sacred Heart Winter Guard on their seventh-place finish at the Winter Guard International Regional competition in New Jersey this past Sunday. We wish them the best of luck as they compete at UConn this coming weekend to retain their championship title.

Kudos also to the women’s bowling team on its second NEC crown in three seasons. The title came with a dramatic 4-3 win over top-seeded Fairleigh Dickinson in the finals Sunday afternoon. The prevailing theme of this week’s blog seems to be that there is incredible student talent here at SHU no matter where we look. We can all be very proud to be part of this community.

We begin Holy Week on Sunday with the celebration of Palm Sunday and Christ’s triumphant entrance into Jerusalem. As we enjoy Easter break, I hope we also take time to remember His sacrifice for us and the joy of His resurrection.  Have a relaxing, safe and blessed Easter break.