FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
ST. JOHN'S UNIVERSITY HOSTS 131st ANNUAL COMMENCEMENT EXERCISESLabor Secretary Elaine Chao, Senator Mitch McConnell among honorees
Jamaica, NY (May 10, 2001) -- The Honorable Elaine L. Chao, United States Secretary of Labor in the Bush Cabinet, and her husband, United States Senator Mitch McConnell, will be among the recipients of honorary degrees and awards at the 131st Annual Spring Commencement Exercises at St. John's University on Sunday, May 20, 2001, in Alumni Hall on the Queens campus. The day will be marked by two ceremonies, at 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Approximately 1,070 undergraduates will receive their diplomas at the day's events.
At the 10 a.m. ceremony, honorary degrees and awards will be presented to:
* Richard E. Lapchick, Ph.D. '67C, Founder and Director of the Center for the Study of Sport and Society and son of legendary St. John's University Men's Basketball Coach Joe Lapchick. Mr. Lapchick will receive the Degree of Doctor of Humane Letters.
* Most Reverend John P. Foley, Archbishop and President of the Pontifical Council for Social Communications, Vatican City. Rev. Foley will receive the Degree of Doctor of Humane Letters.
The commencement address will be delivered by Rev. Donald J. Harrington, C.M., President of St. John's University.
At the 4 p.m. ceremony, honorary degrees and awards will be presented to:
* Thomas E. McInerney, General Partner, Welsh, Carson, Anderson & Stowe and a member of the St. John's University Board of Trustees. A 1964 graduate of St. John's, Mr. McInerney will receive the Degree of Doctor of Commercial Science.
* The Honorable Mitch McConnell, United States Senator, Kentucky. Senator McConnell will receive the Degree of Doctor of Laws.
* The Honorable Elaine L. Chao, United States Secretary of Labor. Secretary Chao will receive The Gold Medal, the highest honor the university can bestow upon a non-alumnus. Secretary Chao received an honorary degree from St. John's in 1991.
Secretary Chao will also deliver the commencement address.
Secretary Chao's parents, both St. John's Alumni, will be in attendance for the 4 p.m. ceremony.
Founded in 1870 by the Vincentian community, St. John's University has six schools and colleges. It offers associate, baccalaureate, master's, doctoral and professional degrees. The University enjoys an enrollment of approximately 18,600 students and operates four campuses: in Queens, Staten Island and Eastern Long Island, New York, and in Rome, Italy.
For more information, please contact Jody Fisher, Director of Media Relations, at 718-990-6185.
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