Terrier Volume 81, Number 1 | Page 15

20 Years of the Thomas J . Volpe Lecture Series

When a Nobel Peace Prize winner dances with a St . Francis College student , you know that your guest , no matter how many awards and accolades they ’ ve won , has become a member of the St . Francis College family .

Former Polish Prime Minister and leader of Solidarity , Lech Walesa , did just that after his talk for the Thomas J . Volpe Lecture Series in 2002 .

For more than 20 years , world leaders in business , politics , journalism , human rights , and entertainment have been engaging with SFC students on a similar deep and meaningful level . From selfies with astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson ( Cosmos ) to inspirational messages with Mariane Pearl ( wife of slain reporter Daniel Pearl ), the variety of speakers has made a huge impact of the entire community .
The benefactor of the series , Thomas J . Volpe , now Chairman Emeritus of the Board of Trustees , has an almost 50 year association with the College . His motivation to start the program began “ when I joined the Board in 1971 and witnessed the dynamic energy of the students , many the first in their families to attend College , and the singular and dedicated mission of St . Francis College , its leadership , its faculty , and its values .”
Volpe , a former Senior Vice President of Financial Operations for The Interpublic Group of Companies , Inc ., helps select the speakers based on their ability “ to challenge the students to listen and to reflect
upon aspects of contemporary and professional life that they have never before considered .”
The first lecture , held in 1997 featured former Secretary of Defense , Caspar Weinberger and has showcased a range of people that includes reporter Andrea Mitchell ( NBC News ), author Sir Salman Rushdie ( Midnight ’ s Children ), and the first female assistant coach in the NBA , Becky Hammon .
Students also learned about leadership and the early days of hip hop from Def Jam creator Russell Simmons , the truth behind Hotel Rwanda from the man who saved more than 1,200 people from genocide , Paul Rusesabagina , and the creative process from novelist E . L . Doctorow ( Ragtime ).
“ The last two lectures were of particular relevance and importance ,” added Mr . Vople . “ Namely to meet and hear Justice Sonia Sotomayor ( see page 12 ) and to learn of the heroes of My Italian Secret who played a selfless role during the Holocaust in Italy .” ●
For
videos , stories , and photos about many of the Thomas J . Volpe Lecture Series speakers , please go to sfc . edu / volpelecture
Lech Walesa with Alexandra Munteanu ’ 04 in 2002 .
Becky Hammon with SFC volleyball player Saleesha Matthews ’ 15 .
Neil deGrasse Tyson with Lea McCarthy ’ 14 in 2013 .
Sir Salman Rushdie in 2009 with Tom Volpe and Brendan J . Dugan ’ 68 .
Award winning architect Jeffrey Beers on creativity and innovation in 2016 .
My Italian Secret : Forgotten Heroes of the Holocaust
As millions of Jews were being led to their deaths in concentration camps during the Holocaust , many Italians , including a Tour de France winner , were secretly hiding and helping thousands escape the clutches of the Nazis .
This story is now being told in the movie , My Italian Secret : Forgotten Heroes , produced by Vincent Marmorale ( pictured , above-left ) and Vincent DeGiaimo ’ 72 ( above-right ). They screened the film April 24 and talked about the movie and the heroism of the Italians who saved thousands of lives during the Holocaust .
The screening was also part of the College ’ s annual Yom HaShoah — Holocaust Remembrance Day commemoration . ●
Mariane Pearl in 2008 .
Brendan J . Dugan ’ 68 , Anita and Tom Volpe with New York Times Columnist Frank Bruni in 2012 .
Video : https :// youtu . be / wR82RDj85p8
ST . FRANCIS COLLEGE TERRIER | FALL 2017 | VOLUME 81 , NUMBER 1 13