10. Peacock Nation Makes its Debut
Peacock Nation, a membership-based giving society, was initially formed by a group of students as an athletic booster club for Saint Peter’s College. With the College’s new strategic plan calling for an invigorated emphasis on both athletic and academic achievement, this initiative makes a difference in every student-athlete’s life. Boasting 19 NCAA Division I teams, membership in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) as well as a higher graduation rate among our student-athletes than the NCAA national average, the Peacocks and Peahens are off to a running start.
9. Students Attend Inaugural Program in Washington D.C.
Christopher DePizzo ’09 and Edward Hennessy ’09 served as ambassadors for the College at The Washington Center’s Inauguration Program in Washington, D.C., from January 10 through 20, 2009, and attended the historic inauguration of Barack Obama. The Inauguration Program at the Washington Center offers a limited number of students the opportunity to explore the inner workings of the American political landscape, expand their knowledge of politics, and network with nationally and internationally recognized public officials and business professionals.
8. College Celebrates Students, Alumni and Friends With First Hearts & Mind Scholarship Dinner
More than 250 guests attended the first Hearts & Minds: The Saint Peter’s College Annual Scholarship Dinner on April 2. As the College’s signature event, Hearts & Minds honors alumni and members of the College community, both individuals and organizations, who are models of integrity, leadership and generous service to others. Formerly known as the Distinguished Alumni Awards, this annual event supports the College’s general scholarship fund for undergraduate students. The 2009 honorees included Francis G. Ziegler ’63, The Hon. Frank J. Guarini H ’94 and Public Service Enterprise Group (PSEG).
7. Saint Peter’s Participates in the Yellow Ribbon Program for Veterans
The Yellow Ribbon Program is a government benefit that allows military veterans to receive a private, higher education free of cost under the Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2008, also known as the Post-9/11 GI Bill. By committing to the Yellow Ribbon Program, Saint Peter’s now matches the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs dollar for dollar, paying the veterans’ outstanding tuition and fees not covered by the standard Post-9/11 GI Bill. By attending Saint Peter’s, veterans are eligible to enroll in any of the College’s undergraduate or graduate programs, schools or courses.
6. $450,000 Given to Saint Peter’s for PARSE Institute
Funded by a $450,000 private grant, the goal of the Practical Application of Research in Science Education (PARSE) Institute is to develop the next generation of scientists and technologists by offering science teachers in Hudson County the opportunity to perform research. The program, which kicked off in July 2009, strives to create a larger, more highly skilled and highly educated scientific and technological workforce.
5. School of Education Joins Saint Peter’s Academic Portfolio
Developed from the existing education programs at Saint Peter’s, this formal School of Education is an initiative designed to help meet growing education challenges in the state of New Jersey. The School of Education enrolled approximately 450 students in the fall of 2009.
4. President Cornacchia Interviewed for The CBS Evening News with Katie Couric
The CBS Evening News with Katie Couric visited Saint Peter’s to discuss with President Cornacchia the College’s response to the failing economy and its effect on Saint Peter’s students. CBS Evening News Chief National Correspondent and Emmy Award-winning journalist Byron Pitts interviewed the President to learn what the College is doing to help its students. Following coverage of the event in a column by Bob Braun in the Star Ledger, the CBS piece reached an audience of approximately 7 million people around the country.
3. Saint Peter’s Signs Contract to Be Powered by 100% Wind Energy
This fall, Saint Peter’s purchased renewable wind energy to power all buildings on the Jersey City campus for a minimum of one year. Saint Peter’s will be the second private college in the state of New Jersey to purchase green energy as its sole source of electricity. The effort will displace an estimated 3,065 metric tons of carbon dioxide throughout the year, which is the equivalent of planting 2,761 acres of trees or removing 7,697,000 miles of vehicle travel from roadways.
2. Peacocks Play Live at 6:00 a.m. for ESPN’s 24-hour Hoops Marathon
The early morning face-off on the Jersey City campus for the Saint Peter’s Peacocks and Monmouth Hawks was part of ESPN’s second annual College Hoops Tip-off Marathon, which aired 24 hours of live college basketball. During the game, one Saint Peter’s student was eligible to win free tuition for the 2010 spring semester; the Saint Peter’s College Pep Band also made its debut. Saint Peter’s win resulted in coverage in the New York Times, among other top national media outlets.
1. Saint Peter’s College Establishes Center for Microplasma Science and Technology
On Friday, April 17, Mayor of Jersey City Jerramiah Healy joined President Cornacchia in welcoming representatives from the U.S. Department of Defense for the formal establishment of the College’s Center for Microplasma Science and Technology (CMST). A designated National Center of Excellence, the CMST is the nation’s first and only scientific and educational center devoted entirely to the emerging field of microplasma research in the United States. Saint Peter’s Department of Applied Science and Technology was awarded the $2 million in federal funding from the Department of Defense to establish the CMST in October 2008.