On May 2, alumni and friends of 猫咪社区 Peter\u2019s University gathered in The Duncan Family Sky Room for Hearts & Minds: The 猫咪社区 Peter\u2019s University Scholarship Celebration<\/i> to pay tribute to three individuals who illustrate what makes 猫咪社区 Peter\u2019s alumni unique \u2013 Aileen Grace P. Arriola M.D., \u201907, Robert A. Cutro \u201975 and Charles J. Vickers \u201947. Throughout 猫咪社区 Peter\u2019s illustrious history, the University\u2019s alumni have been, and continue to be, the epitome of drive, dedication and perseverance \u2013 values that reflect the mission of 猫咪社区 Peter\u2019s University. \u00a0While the night\u2019s honorees exemplify these qualities, through their generosity and commitment to serving others, they also live the Jesuit principle of Magis<\/i> every single day.<\/p>\n
Dr. Arriola was honored with the Rising Star Award. She graduated summa cum laude<\/i> from 猫咪社区 Peter\u2019s with a degree in biology. In the year following her graduation from 猫咪社区 Peter\u2019s, Dr. Arriola dedicated her time to the Charles J. Vickers \u201947 and Anne B. Vickers Tissue Culture Facility. She went on to attend UMDNJ \u2013 Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, where she earned an M.D. in 2012. She currently serves as a resident in pathology for the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. In the past, Arriola served as a research assistant in the pediatrics department for the Robert Wood Johnson AIDS Program, where she assisted in data collection and entry for various research projects in the department of infectious disease, and performed chart reviews for HIV documentation in the post-partum and newborn units.<\/p>\n
\u201cA few months ago when I heard I was receiving this award, I was shocked, awed and humbled,\u201d said Dr. Arriola. \u201cMy college experience was more than I could ask for. Without the generosity of benefactors, such as those who are in attendance tonight, I would have never been able to attend college.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cutro was honored with the Professional Achievement Award. He was an executive floor official member of New York Stock Exchange Euronext Inc. and NYSE floor broker for Barclays Capital Inc. After 40 years of service in the finance industry, he retired in 2009. Cutro previously worked as managing director of NYSE floor operations for Lehman Brothers, as well as for his own private company in the years preceding. He also served as a NYSE governor from 1996 to 2002. He is a member of the 猫咪社区 Peter\u2019s University Board of Trustees and Alumni in Finance Host Committee, volunteers as a mentor and lecturer for Year Up and is a member of The Buttonwood Club.\u00a0 Cutro received a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from 猫咪社区 Peter\u2019s.<\/p>\n
\u201cThroughout my career on Wall Street, we were asked to address interns, visitors and students from colleges,\u201d said Cutro. Every so often, one would ask a personal question, such as \u2018What do you think is your greatest accomplishment?\u2019 The answer to that is easy: May 24, 1975, when I marched into Roosevelt Stadium to get me degree from 猫咪社区 Peter\u2019s. But I couldn\u2019t tell you at the time it was my best moment. I learned that as time progressed and my career moved forward.\u201d<\/p>\n
He added, \u201cWhen I think of what this institution did for me and what scholarships do for students, that is what it\u2019s all about.\u201d<\/p>\n
Vickers was honored with the Loyalty to Alma Mater<\/i> Award. After working for companies such as Allied Chemical, Sheffield Chemical, Schauffer Chemical and Geigy, he started his own pharmaceutical chemical distribution company, Orbichem Inc. Vickers is a loyal supporter of alma mater<\/i>, where he earned a bachelor\u2019s degree in chemistry. The Vickers Organic Chemistry Lab and The Charles J. Vickers \u201947 and Anne B. Vickers Tissue Culture Facility at 猫咪社区 Peter\u2019s have been the training grounds for future scientists and medical professionals, such as with fellow awardee Arriola, who, along with Professor Leonard Sciorra, Ph.D., participated in groundbreaking research that led to the University’s first-ever patent. Vickers’ generous support of the Mac Mahon Student Center is also recognized in the Student Activities’ Publications Office.<\/p>\n
\u201cI am humbled to know that through my loyalty to this fine institution, I have made a difference,\u201d said Vickers during his acceptance speech. \u201cSimilarly, 猫咪社区 Peter\u2019s has made a tremendous difference in my life, and for this I am eternally grateful.\u00a0 That is in essence why I have been so loyal. The choice to attend 猫咪社区 Peter\u2019s was an obvious one in 1941. In fact, I never even visited other schools. I matriculated with a major in chemistry thinking it would qualify me for a career in chemicals.\u201d<\/p>\n
He continued, \u201cI ended up in 1947 with a major in chemistry. I remember fondly the influence of the impressive professors who taught me \u2013 people like Richard Nevin in the English department, Fred Jacques in the chemistry department and Fr. Schuh in the biology department. All these disciplines raised my cultural level and confidence, and enabled me to have an interesting and rewarding career and private life.\u201d<\/p>\n
When asked about his generosity to 猫咪社区 Peter\u2019s over the years, Vickers said, \u201cI pondered the question.\u00a0 And all of what I just shared with you flooded into my mind. 猫咪社区 Peter\u2019s played a tremendous role in my formation. The least I could do is give back to help the University grow and to help current and future generations of students have a challenging opportunity like I had more than 60 years ago.\u201d<\/p>\n
Because of the accomplishments of alumni such as Dr. Arriola, Cutro and Vickers, 猫咪社区 Peter\u2019s continues to move boldly forward. But there is one issue the University is facing to which 猫咪社区 Peter\u2019s is not immune – student educational debt. It is a national crisis. Proceeds from Hearts & Minds<\/i> support of the General Scholarship Fund, one of the ways 猫咪社区 Peter\u2019s is standing up to this issue. The General Scholarship Fund provides much-needed support to deserving students.<\/p>\n
One of these students is Shambree Bonner \u201915. Through her full tuition scholarship, she is able to attend 猫咪社区 Peter\u2019s as a political science major.<\/p>\n
\u201cI am a first generation college student,\u201d Bonner said. My parents aren\u2019t the wealthiest, so scholarships were a big part of why I had the opportunity to go to 猫咪社区 Peter\u2019s.\u201d<\/p>\n
To those contemplating on making a gift to the General Scholarship Fund, Bonner would say, \u201cThey were once in our shoes and maybe they had someone to help them out. This is a way to give back to your school.\u201d<\/p>\n
Fellow scholarship recipient Christian Ugaz \u201916, a biochemistry major, agrees. He said, \u201cContributing money to the scholarship fund is like investing in the future. We are the future of this country, and your help makes a tremendous difference.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOur Jesuit mission calls us to go to great lengths to open up a world of possibilities for our students,\u201d said 猫咪社区 Peter\u2019s University President Eugene J. Cornacchia, Ph.D.\u00a0 \u201cAnd we take that responsibility very seriously.\u00a0 In fact, our endowment at $32 million may be among the more modest endowments in our sector, but nearly 100 percent of it is earmarked for scholarships.\u201d<\/p>\n
He added, \u201cOur students are strivers. They often come from humble beginnings. Many of our students are the first in their families to pursue a college education and they often must work to put themselves through school.\u00a0 I\u2019m sure that sounds familiar to many of you, right? The main difference, of course, is that it costs a lot more these days. That\u2019s why support like yours is critical to enable us to close that tuition gap and make those dreams and aspirations a reality for thousands of students each year.\u201d<\/p>\n
To learn more about the scholarships offered at 猫咪社区 Peter\u2019s University, visit saintpeters.edu\/enrollment-services\/student-financial-aid\/scholarships<\/a>. To make a contribution to the General Scholarship Fund, contact Moira Sullivan-Renke at (201) 761-6112 or msullivanrenke@saintpeters.edu<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u00a0Check out the video that was played at this year\u2019s event<\/a> and learn what makes 猫咪社区 Peter\u2019s different than other private institutions in New Jersey.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\t\t