Rev. Brian J. Shanley, O.P. President | St. John's University website

On a radiant Sunday, St. John’s University held its 154th annual Undergraduate-Level Commencement Exercise on May 19 on the Great Lawn of the Queens, NY, campus. Nearly 1,900 undergraduate degrees were conferred at the ceremony for students attending the Queens, Staten Island, and Manhattan campuses, as well as those earning their degrees through online coursework. The ceremony also marked the final Commencement for the University’s Staten Island campus.

During his welcoming remarks, Rev. Brian J. Shanley, O.P., President of St. John’s, noted that graduates arrived at St. John’s in the shadow of the COVID-19 pandemic. “You didn’t have a proper high school graduation. We hope that this ceremony today that marks a passage in your life will, in some way, make up for the difficult circumstances in which you came here.”

Fr. Shanley recognized the contingent of Staten Island graduates and noted that amassing information is not necessarily the purpose of a college education. “You came to develop your mind, and certain habits of mind, that will guide you for the rest of your life,” he explained.

Commencement speaker Jim Ziolkowski, Founder, President, and Chief Executive Officer of buildOn spoke about his fruitful partnership with St. John's University and how his experiences have shaped his perspective on poverty and education.

During the ceremony, honorary degrees were also conferred upon two alumni: Most Reverend Robert J. Brennan ’84C and Edward A. Caban ’89SVC.

On May 17, graduate degrees were conferred to students from four Schools and Colleges within St.John's University: St. John’s College of Liberal Arts and Sciences; The Peter J. Tobin College of Business; The Lesley H. and William L. Collins College of Professional Studies; and the College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences.

The ceremonies featured addresses from Patricia M. Reilly ’74C, ’75G and Frank Sadlier Dinger, Jr. ’71MBA. Student speaker Angelina Patrice Licor reflected on the unique journeys each student had experienced during their time at St. John's.

Several graduates shared their most treasured memories of their St. John’s experience, highlighting friendships made, relationships with professors, participation in clubs and organizations, and lessons learned from challenges faced.

For more photos of the event, please click here to view the full gallery.