131st Charter Day Convocation
M AY 1 — As St. Francis College celebrated its right to award degrees, a right decreed by New York state in 188 4,
the College honored its top students and a handful of Brooklyn’s education, community, and business leaders.
D
uns Scotus Honor Society President David Lönnberg ’15 welcomed
the new class of Duns Scotus members while the college’s new
CIO, Madalyn Hanley ’80, awarded the National Grid Scholarship
and Internship to three St. Francis students. This is the 10 th year
National Grid has offered this award. More than 10 0 St. Francis
graduates have gone on to work at National Grid, including Hanley who
worked there for 3 4 years, most recently as Global Vice President for IT.
Frank DeRosa, who spent more than 30 years as Director of
Communications for the Diocese of Brooklyn and Queens, was the
Frank De Rosa with Chairman of the Board of
Trustees John F. Tully ’67 and Board of Trustees
member Monsignor John J. Bracken.
keynote speaker and an honorary degree recipient.
An honorary degree was also awarded to Madeline Scotto, a lifelong
educator who, at age 10 0, is the Math Bee coach at St. Ephrem’s
Elementary School in Dyker Heights where she taught full time for
6 0 years.
Andrew Kimball, the CEO of Industry City received the St. Francis
College Entrepreneurship Award.
For more photos and a full list of awards and honors from Charter
Day go to the St. Francis website. ●
Lou Pastina ’79 and Professors Robert Wu and Dennis Anderson
presented Andrew Kimball with the Entrepreneurship Award.
L E F T T O R I G H T:
Madeline Scotto.
Duns Scotus Honor Society Members.
A Rare Glimpse into the World of St. Francis
By Alexandria Egler
I
n collaboration with the Franciscan Brothers of Brooklyn and Brooklyn
Words featured hagiographic manuscripts about Francis, including pieces
Borough President Eric L. Adams, St. Francis College presented Frate
by Thomas of Celano and Bonaventura da Bagnoregio, the two most famous
Francesco (Friar Francis): Traces, Words, Images last winter at Brooklyn
biographers of Francis. This area also contained a copy of the Fioretti or Little
Borough Hall, an exhibit of original documents from the Middle Ages. It was
Flowers, perhaps one of the most well-known writings on St. Francis composed
the first time in more than 70 0 years that these rare manuscripts, some
at the end of the 14th century, 15 0 years after Francis died.
from the 12th and 13th centuries, were publicly displayed.
Images dazzled visitors with illuminated manuscripts that showcased creative
The artifacts offer a glimpse into the rich history of St. Francis and
and artistic renderings of Francis’ spirituality and life including a cantoriunus
the development of the religious order he founded. Focusing on Francis
(a musical piece dedicated to Francis).
as a friar rather than as a saint, the exhibit
More than 2,0 0 0 people viewed the
highlights a man who was comfortable
month-long exhibit, which was arranged
conversing with popes and sultans as well
in cases made from recycled material,
as lepers and beggars.
a thoughtful nod to the patron saint of the
The exhibit divided the documents into three
environment. Professors from St. Francis
segments: Traces, Words, Images.
College offered daily lectures and answered
Traces featured original documents including
questions on a number of subjects including art
letters from Pope Honorius III and Pope Gregory
history, medieval studies, literature, the
IX. Most significant is a copy of Francis’ poem,
Franciscan tradition, and Francis himself. ●
“Canticle of Brother Sun,” perhaps one of
To see more, follow St. Francis College History
the earliest pieces of literature, if not the first,
Professor Bro. Geoffrey Clement, OSF as he
to be written in Italian. Francis, blind from
toured the exhibit for Currents TV.
an eye disease, is believed to have dictated
An illuminated manuscript from the exhibit.
it to his fellow friars.
ST. FRANCIS COLLEGE TERRIER | FALL 2015 | 7