Dec 08, 2016 | Amanda Saeli, a marketing major from Orchard Park, N.Y., will deliver the student address at St. Bonaventure University’s December Recognition Ceremony to be held at 6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 17, in the University Chapel.
The annual event recognizes undergraduate and graduate students who are completing degree requirements this semester.
Saeli, who will receive a Bachelor of Business Administration degree with honors, has also earned a minor in Spanish. A Presidential Scholarship recipient, she has been a dean’s list student, with distinction, every semester of her academic career.
She has been inducted into three national honor societies: Alpha Delta Sigma, a national advertising honor society; Beta Gamma Sigma, which honors academic achievement in business; and Phi Eta Sigma, which recognizes academic excellence among first-year university students.
Saeli is an active member of Embrace it Africa, a nonprofit organization started by St. Bonaventure students that addresses issues of poverty, education and public health in the Rakai district of Uganda, Africa. Saeli has served the organization as marketing director and chapter president, making annual service trips to Uganda and helping to raise thousands of dollars for improvement projects in the region. Under her direction, Embrace it Africa was named the university’s Organization of the Year for 2016.
Saeli has also served as the social media director for Kwerkworks, a student advertising agency that competes against other students in a national marketing and advertising competition.
Saeli spent her summers putting her education to work. She served internships at Corning, Inc. of Corning, N.Y.; at Cypress North of Buffalo; and for SupportPay Inc, of Santa Clara, Calif. Two internships developed into paid positions: at Corning, where she was hired as a digital content specialist; and at Cypress North, where she was hired as an internet marketing associate.
The daughter of Robert and Susan Saeli of Orchard Park, Saeli said she is awaiting final confirmation of her plan to serve oversees as a volunteer with a service organization following graduation.
Also at the recognition ceremony, Dr. Michael Chiariello, professor of philosophy, will give the faculty address. A member of the Department of Philosophy at St. Bonaventure since 1970 and a former dean of Clare College, which oversees the university’s core curriculum, Chiariello is director of the university’s Franciscan Heritage Program, an undergraduate study abroad program at the Umbra Institute of Perugia, Italy.
University President Dr. Andrew P. Roth will welcome graduates and their families. Dr. Joseph Zimmer, provost and vice president for Academic Affairs, will serve as master of ceremonies.
Dr. Nancy Cunniff Casey, dean of the School of Education and of Graduate Studies, will present the graduate students while Dr. David Hilmey, dean of the School of Arts & Sciences, will present the undergraduate students.
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