Seton Hall University Celebrated Charter Day

Seton Hall University officials celebrated its Charter Day Convocation on Thursday by honoring several staff and students for their hard work and contributions to the school's overall community spirit. 

University President A. Gabriel Esteban praised the staff and students for their hard work and commended their contributions to the Seton Hall family.

The winners of the Bishop Bernard J. McQuaid Medal for Distinguished Service were Rev. Monsignor James M. Cafone, Department of Athletics Secretary Mary Levante Gross, and Chemistry Professor Wyatt Rorer Murphy Jr. 

The winners of the President's Award for Student Services were College of Nursing Instructor Maureen Byrnes, College of Nursing Secretary Emily Hampton, and WSOU-FM General Manager Mark Maben. 

In addition, 40 undergraduate and graduate students were honored for being Servant Leader Scholars. 

The Bishop Bernard J. McQuaid Medal for Distinguished Service 

The Rev. Cafone, who joined Seton Hall University in 1968, was praised for his extraordinary work over the years. He previously served as spiritual director of the College Seminary of the Immaculate Conception and vice rector and director of Formation of Immaculate Conception Seminary. 

The sacramental minister for the Office of Campus Ministry counsels students, serves as a weekend assistant and local parishes and provides a "unique and special service" throughout the community, Provost and Executive Vice President Larry Robinson said.

Gross, from West Orange, has been an "enthusiastic and spirited" worker for Seton Hall University ever since she joined as a part-time secretary in the College of Nursing in 1985, Robinson said. 

Gross later on worked as an administrative assistant for the School of Graduate Medical Education and the Whitehead School of Diplomacy and International Relations. She also serves as the Local 153 shop steward and serves on the union's labor management committee. 

Murphy, from Madison, joined the faculty in 1984 and he has worked hard to improve chemistry research at the university, Robinson said. Murphy was praised for mentoring many students, securing a variety of grants and funding for scientific research and encouraging the university to hiring female faculty in science and math.

Murphy played a significant role in the hiring of six female faculty members and petitioned for scholarship funds that paid full tuition for 44 students, many of whom went to to graduate school as well, Robinson said. 

President's Award for Student Services

Byrnes, a registered nurse and professor from Newark and West Caldwell, joined the College of Nursing in 2009.

Her students praised her work, especially with the under-served at Saint Raphael's House in Elizabeth, John Shannon, an associate professor of legal studies at the Stillman School of Business, said.

Hampton, of Nutley, joined the College of Nursing as a secretary in 2009. Shannon said she was praised for being a "go-to person" and for being "open, approachable and informative" to the nursing students.

Maben, of Maplewood, joined WSOU in 2004. The radio station general manager was praised for helping Pirate Radio "achieve new heights," new innovations such as streaming and I-Heart-Radio, and for informally counseling students, Shannon said.

Servant Leader Scholars 

The following senior students were named Servant Leader Scholars by Monsignor and Vice President for Mission and Ministry C. Anthony Ziccardi:

Jasmin Acevedo, of Newark, a criminal justice and social work double-major. She will attend graduate school for social work at New York University and she hopes to work with juveniles in detention center. 

Mary Anderson, of Mohegan Lake, NY, accounting major. She will attend graduate school for accounting at Seton Hall and she accepted a job as a financial services auditor with KPMG. As a student, she went on a mission trip to El Salvador.

Nick Carrico, of Kearny, social and behavior science major with psychology minor. He will attend graduate school for occupational therapy at Seton Hall. He was also chosen to serve on the board of Camp Day New HANDS, which he previously was a summer counselor. 

Amanda Genabith, of Watchung, management major and Catholic studies minor. She is the co-founder of the Stillman Management Society. She will attend graduate school in business at Seton Hall. 

Juliet Hughes, of Dunnellen, social work and sociology major. She volunteered at St. John's Soup Kitchen in Newark. She will attend graduate school at Columbia University. 

Timothy LeCras, of Forked River, journalism major. He will work in sports broadcast in Indiana. 

Peter Peregrin, of Plainfield, physician assistant major. He went on mission trips to El Salvador and Honduras. He hopes to become an emergency room physician assistant.

Elaine San Juan, of Garfield, biology major. She went on a mission trip to El Salvador and hopes to become a doctor. She will work for Teach for America and she will do medical mission work in Ecuador over the summer.  

Other Servant Leader Scholars include: 

Kim Bauernfeind, senior, physical therapy major.

Mary Beliveau, sophomore, nursing major.

Christopher Campione, senior, business management major.

Jessica Card, sophomore, physician assistant major.

Nicholas Carrico, senior, occupational therapy major. 

Ninoshka Celi, junior, physical therapy major.

Anthony Cramond, junior, sports management major.

Marilyn Cruz, sophomore, biology major.

Cassie Denbow, junior, diplomacy/international relations major.

Brenna Fleis, freshman, biology major. 

James Fuller, sophomore, English/creative writing major.

Stephanie Gonzalez, sophomore, business major.

Katelyn Hertel, freshman, diplomacy/international relations major.

Moira Kelly, junior, elementary/special education major.

Kristin Kosch, freshman, physical therapy major.

Taylor Latourette, sophomore, elementary/special education/environmental studies major.

Daniela Mallia, freshman, occupational therapy major.

Kalie Marshall, junior, biology major.

Marinna McDermott, freshman, business major.

Marisa Morobito, sophomore, business management major.

Andrew Nguyen, sophomore, political science major. 

Kelly Palma, sophomore, physical therapy major.

Stephanie Pereira, junior, nursing major. 

Nicole Phin, freshman, biology major.

John Procopio, junior, elementary/special education/math major.

Kristen Rusterholz, senior, elementary/special education/fine arts major.

Andrea Sherman, freshman, diplomacy/economics major.

Robert Michael Tisce, freshman, biology major.

Alberto Vergara, freshman, history/Catholic studies major.

Tara Wager, freshman, secondary education/math major.

Jennifer Walker, graduate student, physical therapy.

Kaela Ward, sophomore, nursing major.

and Margaret Wessel, graduate student, physical therapy.

For more photos of the event, courtesy of Seton Hall student Milan Stanic, click here.