Alumni Medical Mission Heads to Haiti
Three alumni doctors and three students journeyed to Haiti on the Medical Alumni Council’s annual medical mission in January. Once again, the team worked with Rev. Richard Frechette, C.P., D.O., a Passionist priest and physician, as well as a 2007 honorary degree recipient from the University. He is the director of St. Damien Hospital, a pediatric facility in the country’s capital city of Port-Au-Prince.
Led by Hartford, Conn., maxillofacial surgeon Richard Bevilacqua, D.M.D., M.D. ’83, the team spent one week providing much-needed medical care to the underserved people of Haiti. Joining Dr. Bevilacqua and the students on the trip were Pamela Taffera, D.O., M.B.A. ’02 and Chris Andres, M.D. ’89.
‘DC Law Day’ a Success
The Council of Alumni Lawyers and the Pre-Law Society hosted “DC Law Day” last fall for current pre-law students at the University. Students traveled to the nation’s capital to hear from alumni lawyers who are currently practicing law in Washington D.C., both for the federal government and in private practice. The alumni lawyers described their career paths and professional experience practicing law. The day concluded with a networking reception that provided the alumni and students an opportunity to get to know one another and talk in detail about their interests in the legal profession.
Alumni Society Names New President
Thomas J. Grech ’84 was installed as the 27th president of the Alumni Society on Feb. 25. Since graduating from the University, Grech has been actively involved for many years at both the alumni club and board levels. He is founder and principal of The Peritus Group, LLC, a sales development and marketing consulting firm, and is currently a managing director at JJT Energy, a natural gas and electric energy supplier. Grech is also an adjunct professor at Farmingdale State College, East Farmingdale, N.Y. Grech resides in Malverne, N.Y., with his wife, Janet, and their two children, Ashley and Thomas.
Alumni Society Welcomes Class of 2012
In conjunction with the 2012 class committee, the Alumni Society is organizing summer welcome parties for the Class of 2012. The parties are designed to welcome recent graduates to the Alumni Society and introduce them to alumni in their region. Dates and locations will be set in late May. For more information, visit scranton.edu/welcomeparties.
Reconnecting at Reunion 2012
Three special constituent groups will gather during Reunion Weekend 2012. On Saturday, June 9, nursing alumni will have an opportunity to convene with one another and members of the Nursing Department. SJLA alumni will also gather to reminisce about their experiences as students. Lastly, alumni of the Bands and Singers program will spend time “Hangin’ out in Houlihan” with Director Cheryl Boga. Alumni can register for these events, along with other reunion activities, at scranton.edu/reunion.
Theatre Reunion Set for Aug. 11
The Office of Alumni Relations, the Department of English and Theatre and the University Players are planning a reunion! The event is scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 11. We are working on compiling a list. Please email alumni@scranton.edu if you are a theatre alumnus/alumna.
A Winter Full of Scranton
More than a thousand Scranton alumni gathered in their hometowns for various alumni events and activities this winter. From our annual Christmas parties in December to our late-February alumni tour in California and Florida, and lots of places in between, our alumni volunteers planned plenty of fun for the Scranton graduates in their regions. To see photos from this winter’s events, visit scranton.edu/alumniphotos.
Beyond the Commons Bring Students, Alumni Together
Throughout the spring semester, members of the Class of 2012 had the opportunity to dine with alumni at a venue in downtown Scranton through our “Beyond the Commons” events. The program, coordinated by the senior class committee and the Alumni Society, brought alumni and more than 200 seniors together for casual conversations on several topics, including how to get a job, surviving life in the big city, and relationships after college. Several dinners also focused on what to expect in a certain career field, graduate school or service organization. To learn more about how you can help a senior go “Beyond the Commons,” visit scranton.edu/btc.
Day of Service Returns!
The annual Alumni Day of Service will take place on Saturday, April 14. This year, the University is helping to lead the National Jesuit Service Initiative, a pilot program with several other Jesuit universities. Through the initiative, alumni from any Jesuit college will be able to participate in the service programs of pilot schools. The project is being coordinated in cooperation with the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities. We invite you to participate in this meaningful endeavor. For more information, visit scranton.edu/dayofservice or call the Alumni Office at 1-800-SCRANTON.
Connect with Us on LinkedIn
Give your professional network a Royal boost by joining the Alumni Society’s LinkedIn group. Become a member and connect with more than 1,000 Scranton graduates to recruit and apply for job opportunities, post internships and discuss your career path. To start networking, visit scranton.edu/alumniLinkedIn.
Travel with Us in 2012!
The Alumni Society is offering several exciting travel programs in the coming months, including trips to Ireland, Tuscany, Italy, and the Islands of Antiquity Cruise. For more information, visit scranton.edu/alumnibenefits.
Send Us Your Class Notes & Pictures!
Did you celebrate a milestone recently? Would you like to share your good fortune with alumni and friends? Send your wedding and birth announcements, as well as other class notes and photographs, to alumni@scranton.edu and we will publish them in Royal News and The Scranton Journal.
A Photo Worth Sharing
Talk about a picture-perfect graduation photograph! It’s no wonder why the family of Emily Curran ’11 used this image as its Christmas card this year. In a thank you note to the University’s Admissions Office, Curran’s mother, Eileen wrote, “To me, (the photo) represents that although she is one of many, she is still an individual. This is what Scranton has done for her. She charted her own course in an academic environment that enabled her to do so.” Emily Curran is currently completing an internship with the Mayo Performing Arts Center in Morristown, N.J.
