Resplendent in blue and gold, the Koessler Athletic Center was filled to capacity for this year’s graduate and undergraduate ceremonies held on May 16 and 19, respectively. Proud families, friends, faculty and staff were on hand to congratulate members of the Class of 2018.
Canisius alumnae from the Western New York medical community shared their words of inspiration with the graduates.
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- Allegra C. Jaros ’93, MBA ’96, president of the new John R. Oishei Children’s Hospital
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- Norma J. Nowak ᾿79, PhD, executive director of the University at Buffalo New York State Center of Excellence in Bioinformatics and Life Sciences
Allegra C. Jaros ’93, MBA ’96, president of the new John R. Oishei Children’s Hospital, addressed the graduate class on Wednesday evening. Jaros and Rev. Daniel L. Benning, pastor of the Upper Room Church of God in Christ in Buffalo and New York Central Jurisdiction’s Chief Adjutant, received honorary degrees during the ceremony.
Norma J. Nowak ᾿79, PhD, executive director of the University at Buffalo New York State Center of Excellence in Bioinformatics and Life Sciences delivered the undergraduate commencement address.
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- Petey joins in on the commencement celebrations!
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- New graduates show off their diplomas.
Nowak and the following alumni received honorary degrees during the ceremony:
Edward Burke Carey ’69, president of Carey Realty Investments in Columbus, OH and former chair of the Canisius College Board of Trustees; LeRoi C. Johnson ’71, attorney and acclaimed artist; Daniel P. Starr ’58, PhD, professor emeritus of history at Canisius and longtime director of athletics; and Gerald Zon ’67, PhD, director of business development for TriLink BioTechnologies in San Diego, CA, which provides services for educators and academic researchers in gene therapy, chemotherapy and diagnostics.
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- LeRoi C. Johnson ’71 HON ’18, attorney and acclaimed artist, received an honorary degree. To the right is Johnson’s daughter, Deysha, who also received a bachelor’s degree during the undergraduate ceremony.
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- Deysha Ashley Johnson ’18.
The Alumni Association presented the 2018 LaSalle Medal, its highest honor, to Vincent Mancuso Sr.᾿68, MBA ᾿77, retired senior executive vice president, HSBC Bank. The award recognizes outstanding Canisius alumni whose substantial contributions to the college have, over time, advanced the interests and the mission of alma mater.
The Canisius Classes of 1968 and 1958 commemorated their 50- and 60-year reunions, respectively, during undergraduate ceremonies this year. Mancuso celebrated his Golden Jubilee (50-year) reunion.
The Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC) program at Canisius College also commissioned 13 cadets as second lieutenants during a ceremony on May 18.
1st Row (L-R): Malysa Battaglia (UB), Audrey Browne (Canisius), Joshua Cadore (UB), William Cannon (UB), Dylan Cory (Canisius), Anna DeCosta-Klipa (Canisius) and Labis Eyoto (D’Youville).
2nd Row: (L-R) Erich Fleck (Buffalo State), Tyler Gates (Canisius), Hassan Ishtiaq (UB), Tyler Nixon (Canisius), Oscar Orozco (UB) and Joseph Ventresca (UB).
Timothy H. Wadkins, PhD, professor of religious studies and theology, this year’s Kenneth L. Koessler Distinguished Faculty award recipient, led the faculty procession and recession at commencement ceremonies.
Click here to enjoy more photos from this year’s commencement exercises.
Submitted by: College Communications
