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Gempesaw Accepts $15 Million Donation from Foundation Derrell J. Bouknight Early last Wednesday afternoon, St. John’s University President Conrado “Bobby” Gempesaw teased the hundreds of people who filled Marillac Auditorium during his State of the University address. He told them that an annoucement about a gift to the University would be made in a few hours. His only hint: eight figures. That Wednesday night at a dinner in midtown Manhattan in front of 80 attendees, Gempesaw announced that the University was the recipient of a $15 million donation from the Starr Foundation, a group whose stated goal is to provide financial support to institutions worldwide in educational, medicinal research, healthcare and public policy settings. The gift was lauded as the largest in the school’s 148-year history. According to the University, the gift will establish the Maurice R. Greenberg Leadership Initiative at the School of Risk Management, Insurance and Actuarial Science, which is part of the Peter J. Tobin College of Business. Greenberg, chairman of the Starr Foundation, attended the midtown dinner last Wednesday night when Gempesaw announced the donation. He says his goal was to find students dedicated to their professions, and many from St. John’s impressed him. “Over the years that I have been in the insurance industry, one of the important issues was to recruit intelligent people who were devoted to careers in the profession,” Greenberg said. “Many of the candidates we saw were from the St. John’s School of Risk Management. These candidates were more mature, focused and devoted to making a career in the insurance
industry, and in most instances, making a significant contribution to that end.” Since 1955, the Starr Foundation -- one of the largest private foundations in the United States -- has given away more than $3.3 billion, with nearly two-thirds of the money going to programs and organizations throughout New York City and the rest of the state, according to the University’s website. “At St. John’s University, we know our mission serves to transform the lives of our students,” Gempesaw said during his speech last Wednesday night. “This remarkable gift from The Starr Foundation will further position the School of Risk Management, Insurance and Actuarial Science and our graduates to make an indelible mark on the insurance profession for generations to come.” Half of the the donation will go towards student scholarship awards, 33 percent will help in supporting faculty members and the remaining 17 percent will be set aside for leadership endowment, according to the University. Full and partial scholarships will be provided for students in the School of Risk Management through the Maurice R. Greenberg Leadership Initiative, while new programs, resources and professional development will be targets of the Maurice R. Greenberg SRM Industry Leadership Endowment and Starr Foundation SRM Faculty Support Endowment, respectively. Samantha R. Meneilly, a third-year SRM student who majors in actuarial science, said at the dinner Wednesday night that the school has afforded her opportunities to better her professionally. “To this day, St. John’s continues to exceed my expectations,” she said. “And the person I have become is someone I never could have
TORCH PHOTO/NICK BELLO
The gift is the largest in St. John’s University’s 148-year history
PHOTO COURTESY/ST. JOHN’S NEWS AND MEDIA
President Gempesaw and Maurice R. Greenberg stand together in Manhattan.
imagined when I first walked on campus.” Greenberg added his final thoughts on St. John’s and how students who attended the school have become leaders in the field. “Many of the leaders in the companies we managed were very often graduates of St. John’s and rose through the ranks to positions of importance,” Greenberg said. “As many know, the company I am referring to is
AIG, which operated throughout the world and required knowledgeable people and devoted internationalists, skilled in the profession of insurance whether it be underwriting, product development or leadership. I am pleased that our gift will help the University continue to attract great candidates for our industry, especially for our company.”
Adult Literacy Program Offers Success Stories Anika Seoparson The New York City Department of Youth and Community Development (DYCD) granted the Free Adult Literacy Program at St. John’s University, funding $100,000 for the 2018-2019 academic year. According to the University’s website, funding for the program came from grants allocated by the Verizon Foundation when the program was first created in 2000. Since 2005, funds have been granted from DYCD with the funding amounts increasing each year following the program’s success. The Center for Latin American and Caribbean Studies (CLACS) offers the Free Adult Literacy and English As a Second Language (ESL) Classes and Adult Basic Education (ABE) / High School Equivalency (HSE) programs. The University’s Vincentian mission of service is highlighted through this program, as English language instruction is offered to socioeconomically disadvantaged adults in New York to help them gain better opportunities. The classes are taught in St. John Hall by University faculty four evenings each week throughout the academic year and are open to people of all ethnic backgrounds. Courses are offered at different levels of language ability, structured toward providing basic adult education or high school equivalency
exams. Textbooks and materials are provided for students in subjects ranging from English, mathematics, history and science. Dr. Alina Camacho-Gingerich, Director of CLACS and Chair of the Department of Languages and Literatures, said that due to the high percentage of Queens residents who speak languages other than English, the program is essential for the University. “There is a great need in our community for a program like the one we have at St. John’s,” Camacho-Gingerich said. Community organizations and churches often refer students who would like to improve
“St. John’s University opened its doors right away,” Abreu said. “This program not only teaches us English, but also offers workshops taught by University professors on different topics, from immigration to how to use email correctly.” Students in the program are invited to attend CLACS’ Annual Immigration Conference, where a wide range of scholars, diplomats, and community leaders meet to discuss social justice and human rights, education and healthcare, government policies and immigrant stories and identities in culture. The resources granted to participants are what Camacho-Gingerich calls a “unique advantage.” “We just cannot keep our knowledge and expertise exclusively to the academic community,” Camacho-Gingerich said. She said that the program has a family There is a great need in our communifeel to it, and that students always come ty for a program like the one we have back to visit and share their success stoat St. John’s... ries, including new jobs and improvement in their English skills. Dr. Alina Camacho-Gingerich Each year, the CLACS releases a book of stories and poems written by partictheir English skills to the program. Cama- ipants. In “Breaking Down Walls: The Imcho-Gingerich said that there is an even more migrant Experience” from 2018, participant staggering percentage of Queens residents who Beatriz Sanchez reflected on her time in the are not proficient in English. program. Miguelina Abreu, a participant in the pro“I have found a wonderful group of friends gram, noted how accessible the Free Adult and teachers, from whom I have learned a lot Literacy Program is compared to other courses in the English classes offered in this excellent with waiting periods. Adult Literacy Program.”
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