COMMENCEMENT ROUNDUP
ESPN's Chris LaPlaca: Be Ready for Life's Magic Moments
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ESPN executive Chris LaPlaca told 500 St. Bonaventure University graduates that the watershed moment in his career was a difficult decision he had to make in the same arena he gave his keynote address Sunday morning.
The Bonnies had beaten Villanova on a last-second shot at the Reilly Center in his senior year. His game work for SBU’s sports information office was complete, and a party was about to break out. But the Philly newspapers sent no one to cover the game, so the sports information director from Villanova desperately needed help.
“This conversation raged inside my head for probably 30 seconds but it seemed like 30 minutes,” said LaPlaca, ’79, senior vice president for corporate communications at ESPN, where’s he worked for 37 years. “Help the guy, maybe get a job. We won … there’s beer.”
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Curran, Bryant Named Ideal SBU Students
Two St. Bonaventure University students whose accomplishments span academics, athletics and leadership activities were recognized as the Ideal Bonaventure Students for the Class of 2017.
David Bryant, the Ideal Bonaventure Man, and Julie Curran, the Ideal Bonaventure Woman, were recognized on Saturday, May 13, during the university’s Honors Ceremony, and again Sunday during its 157th Commencement Exercises.
The Ideal Bonaventure Students exemplify the spirit of St. Bonaventure and the ideals of St. Francis through community service and academic excellence. They are selected by a committee that considers nominations from the campus community.
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MEET ALL HONORS CEREMONY AWARD WINNERS
Professors Honored for Professional Excellence
St. Bonaventure University faculty members honored two of their colleagues with awards of excellence at Sunday’s annual Commencement Exercises.
Dr. Charles J. Walker, retiring professor of psychology who began his teaching career at St. Bonaventure in 1973, was presented with a Professional Excellence in Teaching award, while Dr. Xiao-Ning Zhang, associate professor of biology and a faculty member since 2009, received a Professional Excellence in Community Service award.
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ROTC Cadets Commissioned as Second Lieutenants
Graduating seniors who were cadets in the Seneca Battalion of the Army Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) at St. Bonaventure University were commissioned as second lieutenants on Saturday.
The commissioning ceremony, held at the Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts on campus, was followed by the Silver Dollar Salute, a traditional event in which each newly commissioned officer hands a silver dollar to the first soldier who salutes him. Cadets choose someone instrumental in their upbringing, education or training for this honor.
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