Emerging from a field of outstanding entrants in a unique University competition, a 21-year-old biology major will serve as the “face of St. John’s” in a feature in Seventeen magazine this summer.

The winner, Janine Flores ‘12C, “embodies everything St. John’s stands for,” said Beth M. Evans, Vice President of Enrollment Management. The office held the contest in January to choose the student who will be featured in a full-page ad promoting the University in the June/July metropolitan issue of Seventeen.

Seventeen finalists were chosen from more than 180 students who participated in the contest. Representing the Queens, Staten Island and Manhattan campuses, the students submitted photos and responses to a detailed questionnaire. Student and administrative groups helped Evans to weigh the responses.

“Narrowing down these outstanding contestants was hard to do,” said Evans. “They all reflect the Vincentian heritage of excellence and service at the heart of our University.”

“This is a wonderful way to end my senior year at St. John’s,” said Janine. “I feel even more ready to take on the world.” She is the first person in her family to attend college.

In 2010, Janine was among the first students named Obama Scholars. Funded by President Obama’s Nobel Peace Prize, the awards went to outstanding Latino students nationwide. She also represented St. John’s at the first Bronx Education Summit, held in August, 2011.

Janine plans to attend medical school. A member of the McNair Scholars Program, which prepares underrepresented students for graduate studies, she served as a research assistant in the Brain/Gut Initiative at Columbia University; a volunteer at a rural hospital in Ecuador; and an intern with Global Potential, in the Dominican Republic.

“My fascination with medicine,” said Janine, “stems from the fact that it promises to cure, care and comfort. Through service at St. John’s, I developed something crucial for a doctor — a sense of what it means to be part of the fabric of humanity.”

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James Finnegan is a resident student from Washington, New Jersey, a rural town of roughly 5,000 citizens. He selected St. John’s from a pool of twenty universities, based on the strength of its accounting program and location in New York City. A Presidential Scholar and member of the Honors Program, James is pursuing a B.S/M.S degree in accounting, to be completed in 2013.

As the second oldest of ten children, James demonstrates a natural attentiveness to community service and the needs of others. On campus he has taken an active role in Campus Ministry, participating in Midnight Runs, St Nick’s Men’s Shelter, and Students for Life. He is also the treasurer for Circle K International, a campus minister student assistant, and serves as an overnight host/tour guide to incoming freshman. He has spent many summers in Spain, Mexico, and the Bronx helping to combat illiteracy among children, while devoting numerous winter breaks to ongoing recovery efforts in New Orleans, LA. Needless to say, he has taken the Vincentian call to action to heart in his efforts to serve his family, school, and community.

In his downtime, James enjoys playing trumpet in the Pep Band and attending New York Yankee games. He plays intramural softball and tennis, in addition to umpiring for Little League Baseball. James also takes full advantage of St. John’s proximity to Manhattan by exploring the multi-cultural museums, restaurants, parks, and landmarks that offer internationally acclaimed places of leisure to the adventurous college student. In his freshman year in particular, James attained a vast wealth of knowledge regarding in the ins and outs of the city, thanks to the weekly walking tours offered by his Honors Discover New York class.

Asked to share some of his favorite activities, James cited attending a performance of Il Barbiere di Siviglia (sponsored by the Honors Program), the 2009 playoffs at Yankee Stadium, and a night spent at a local homeless shelter with campus ministry as ‘defining memories of the incredible college experience offered by a Vincentian and Metropolitan University nestled in the heart of the greatest city in the world.’ He encourages incoming freshman to ‘immerse themselves in the wonderful social, service, and academic extracurricular opportunities present at St. John’s.’ As part of an on campus society or metropolitan organization, ‘students naturally develop professional leadership, communication, and social skills that translate directly to the workforce.’

James hopes to find future employment with a Fortune 500 company in the New York area and plans to make the most of his final years with the Red Storm. No matter the employer or city however, James has one simple directive when it comes to an occupation; as Abraham Lincoln so succinctly stated, ‘whatever you are, be a good one.’

Rob Kerns had always planned to be a New Jersey native for life. Plans changed when he received a full scholarship to St. John’s University, and proceeded to love the campus and the proximity of Queens to the city. He recalls, “I visited campus on a rainy and overcast day in January. When the tour was over, I told my parents that this was still the school for me.”

When he first told his father that he wanted to go to school in New York City, his dad told him, “New York will eat you alive.” Little did either of them know that New York City would prove to be a perfect fit. Not only is it the perfect distance from home, but it also allowed him to delve into the metropolitan aspect of the city.

St. John’s University also lead Rob to the Honors Program, which he says enhanced his experience in college. “The Honors Program really helped me to create a basis for friendship. Everybody was so welcoming. It truly becomes like a little community. There are people in the Honors Program that I will know for life. Hands down. I can’t say that about many people, but I know for sure that I’ve met people this year who I will always know.”

Rob has always done extremely well in Biology. His interest in science, in addition to his skills in working with people, led him to the pre-med program at St. John’s. “I am a Biology major, prospective government/politics minor, and in pre-med. This, in addition to the amount of extracurriculars that I’ve tried to immerse myself in, has really kept me busy.”

Rob made sure to take advantage of all extra-curriculars that the Honors Program offered him. In his freshman year alone, he partook in attending operas, ballets, Broadway plays, museum trips, and concerts. “The Honors Program offered me free opportunities to do things that most people never get to do. Once-in-a-lifetime experiences in a city that’s literally right here.”

The Honors Program also offered him and his peers a private “Honors Commons.” This proved invaluable during finals week, where quiet is much-needed.

In addition to the Honors Program, Rob has become involved in LEAD, Residence Life and Campus Ministry. “I was always involved in high school in such things as Operation Smile and Youth Ministry. When I transitioned to college, I wanted to keep that involvement going. St. John’s made it easy.”

In his first semester at St. John’s, Rob took the Honors Discover New York course and loved it. “A segment of the class was dedicated to walking tours of Manhattan. I would much rather personally witness the city than listen to a lecture about it. To me, there’s no comparison.”

In addition to learning about New York, Rob is also planning on studying abroad to learn about Europe. “St. John’s gives me a chance to experience life overseas. They have offered me so much in such a short time. I have learned so much here that I plan to implement for the rest of my life. I will never say no to them. I owe them a great college experience.”

Two adjectives best describe Carla Marian: industrious and compassionate. Even as she has maintained a perfect academic record, she has extended herself to support others. Throughout high school she helped her struggling classmates with test preparation, organizational skills, and study habits. She has tutored in mathematics and has worked with at-risk elementary school children in this capacity. Since entering St. John’s in 2010, Carla has used her trilingual ability (Romanian, French, and English) to work with Eastern European international students to improve their spoken and written English.

Carla’s industry is also evident in her work outside of school. She is personable, outgoing, and an excellent representative of any organization for which she works, whether a local physician or a local restaurant.

A New Yorker from Sunnyside, Queens, with family origins in Romania, Carla attended Archbishop Molloy High School and was a member of the National Honor Society, a winner of Molloy’s Academic Achievement Award for comprehensive excellence throughout her high school years as well as the national Congressional Recognition Award for 2010. She also received the designation “AP Scholar for 2010” upon graduation from high school.

Carla entered St. John’s in the fall of 2010 as a management major and Presidential Scholar in the Tobin College of Business. She made herself a presence on campus almost immediately and continues to work in a number of service-related projects on campus as well as in the Writing Center.

Though Business is the area in which Carla’s organizational skills really shine, she excels in everything she attempts. She enjoys reading and was a superstar in her core honors literature course writing literary criticism with the skill of someone twice her age. Carla appreciates the smaller classes and personal attention the Honors Program offers her. She notes that were it not for her honors classes, she would probably not have made so many friends across all the colleges of the University. We in the Honors Program feel very fortunate that she is one of ours.

Studying abroad is not new for Staten Island campus student Kay Mordeno. During her third year in high school, she was sent to Japan as a Filipino Youth Ambassador in a year-long student exchange program. Together with several other participants from different Asian countries, Kay immersed herself in Japan’s unique culture and traditions while she studied Japanese and Biotechnology like an ordinary high school student. She lived with a host family throughout the program and learned how to be fully independent from her real parents and siblings back in the Philippines. Gaining such a wonderful and memorable experience of studying abroad, Kay was enthralled when she learned that St. John’s University offers Discover the World, an opportunity of studying in three different European countries in one semester. Moreover, during her Honors orientation as an incoming freshman, she found out that there are numerous opportunities of studying in other countries around the globe through St. John’s network and affiliations with other universities and institutions.

Surprisingly, Kay did not expect that her dream of setting foot on a foreign land would be realized once more during the winter intersession of her freshman year. She became one of the participants in a two-week service learning experience and trip to Rome that has recently been created and offered to freshmen Honors students. During her stay at St. John’s campus in Italy, she was exposed to the Eternal City’s lifestyle and culture, and was awestruck by the architectural wonders and historical remnants of the ancient Roman Empire. She was able to know more about the history of Rome and exercise her Christian core values by volunteering in soup kitchens around the city. Although the program only lasted for a short while in contrast to her year-long experience in Japan, she gained a lot of precious memories with her fellow Honors students and definitely enjoyed the campus life abroad.

Back in Staten Island, Kay actively participates in various activities and academic lectures offered by the school. She contributes articles to the StormFront Newspaper, and takes advantage of the free Broadway shows and other musical performances at the Lincoln Center, which are made possible through the Honors program. She has even attended two conferences in the United Nations in Manhattan through St. John’s Multicultural Affairs and regards this event as one of the most important academic experiences she has ever had as a college student.

Aspiring to become a Certified Financial Analyst in the future and eventually work at World Bank, Kay feels that studying at St. John’s University and becoming a part of the Honors Program bridges the gap that once existed between her and her dreams. As a well-rounded student with exceptional talents in writing, drawing, singing, and acting, Kay aims to attain academic excellence as well as hone her other abilities through participating in numerous activities and programs offered by the university. Now that she is studying at a school, which is situated in the financial capital and most diverse city in the world, she believes that she would be able to expand her horizons and develop her character even more as she spends her remaining years of college life at St. John’s. Having recently migrated from the Philippines with her family, Kay also hopes to learn more about New York City and at the same time, discover the world through her own eyes as she gains various perspectives about life.

“Close enough to visit often, but far enough to live on campus” is how Alyssa-Rae Hug, Class of ‘13, describes her home in Farmingdale, on Long Island. Always a motivated student, her reason for applying to college was to continue learning. She had enjoyed, utilized and exhausted high school, and it was time to move on to a school that would offer that extra challenge.

“I originally never planned on applying to St. John’s, but fate led me down the right path.” Offered a Presidential scholarship and a place in the Honors Program, Alyssa-Rae visited campus, and immediately could feel herself there, living, working, playing. She shadowed an upperclassman, and met with professors in her varied fields of interest, such as French, Linguistics and Government & Politics, but the most influential part of her day was her private tour with Dr. Forman, Honors Director. “I could see that the University offered something more than an education,” she said. “There was a personal attention I felt from the professors, especially Dr. Forman, and an enthusiasm from the school in general.” She sat in on Dr. Forman’s Core Global Literature class, and felt that this was the challenge and passion she was looking for.

Alyssa-Rae entered St. John’s as an undecided major in September, 2009: “It’s not that I don’t know what I like; it’s that I like too many subjects!” says Alyssa-Rae. St. John’s proved to be a perfect fit for her desire to learn “everything about everything.” The core curriculum offered her a chance to take courses for the first time in philosophy, theology, rhetoric, and more. And, with the guidance of the Honors program and the Freshman Center, she found herself in classes focused on other interests, too. In her year here, she has narrowed her interests to English, Government, French and Rhetoric, and continues to determine the make-up of her degree. “All four programs are so great—the professors are so helpful and knowledgeable, the classes fascinating, and the other students, especially those in my Honors courses, are amazing. And a double major is so possible!”

Alyssa-Rae has also taken advantage of the many extra-curricular activities offered on campus at St. John’s. In addition to participating in numerous Honors Program events, such as Dr. Forman’s Tea and Sympathy, Uncommon Hours, and more, Alyssa-Rae has also joined such organizations as Debate Society, Donovan Residence Hall Council, Student Government, Inc., French Club, LEAD and Women in Leadership. She has also enjoyed the community service opportunities available at St. John’s, such as University Service Day, when she volunteered at the Special Olympics with her Honors Discover New York class, and a weekly high school tutoring program at nearby Lourdes Academy.

Though living on campus took a bit of adjustment from home, Alyssa-Rae loved the experience of living in the Honors Housing. She was able to live alongside those she was learning with in the classroom, and build friendships and bonds with her fellow Honors students. As Alyssa-Rae exuberantly stated of the Honors Housing in her speech at the Honors Program’s Admissions Dinner in April, “We are a strong support system of hardworking students and caring friends, who share a love for our books and each other.”

Tamara (known to all as Tami) Terzian, a life-long resident of Queens, New York, has looked forward to attending St. John's University since she entered high school at St. Francis Prep. The close bond between the two schools made St. John's the perfect next step in continuing her education, and when she received the offer of a Presidential Scholarship, her decision was clear. As salutatorian of her high school class, Tami gave the opening speech at her graduation ceremony which, appropriately enough, was held in Carnesecca Arena. She had no inkling of the myriad of opportunities that lay in store for her in her first year at St. John's.

The two years Tami spent as editor-in-chief of St. Francis Prep's newspaper, The Seraph, sparked her interest in journalism, leading her to enter the College of Professional Studies, in which she has learned much about the field. She is currently exploring her interests in journalism and public relations, hoping to make use of and foster her skills and passion for writing and working with people.

To her delight, Tami immediately found many extracurricular activities at St. John's similar to those she had participated in at St. Francis Prep. Happy to discover something similar to the liturgical ensemble she had sang in at the Prep, she joined the Music Ministry Choir, and now sings for the student masses at St. Thomas More Church on campus on Sunday evenings. She is grateful for the spiritual growth she has experienced this year and for the Christian community she has found through St. John's Campus Ministry and InterVarsity Christian Fellowship.

When she became one of the first flutes accepted into the St. John's Pep Band this year, Tami gained a new appreciation for sports and more specifically the St. John's athletic tradition. Playing in the Pep Band has broadened her horizons from a high school auditorium stage to the world-famous Madison Square Garden. She even got to travel with the band this past March to play in Oklahoma and California during the Women's NCAA Basketball Tournament, watching St. John's history in the making as the women made their first "Sweet 16" appearance.

Tami considers the Honors Program an invaluable part of her St. John's experience. She is grateful for the opportunities it has provided her, both inside and outside the classroom. Whether it was developing relationships that would span beyond the semester with honors students and professors in her first semester speech, theology, and Discover New York classes; attending various honors social events, such as "Tea and Sympathy" meetings with Dr. Forman, the Honors Freshman Welcome luncheon, and the Valentine's Day cookie decorating party; or taking honors trips such as the one where she learned about marine wildlife with fellow students aboard a schooner on Oyster Bay, Tami feels the Honors Program has deeply enriched her education from all angles. As a student worker in the honors office, she is happy to be a part of what she considers "the heart of the program," constantly meeting new honors students and benefiting from the guidance of the Honors Program administrators.

Tami is eager to begin her newly received student ambassador position in the fall, so she can give tours of the campus and show future students all of the opportunities St. John's has to offer them, just as it has offered her.

Olivia Cunningham is a Presidential Scholar majoring in journalism. She is a member of Chamber Music Society, the LEAD student leadership program, and a copy editor at the Torch newspaper. This list of extracurricular involvements would be enough to keep anyone busy, but somehow Olivia also finds time to devote to assisting at the Office of Alumni Relations and Student Support Services.

Oddly enough, the qualities that make St. John’s distinctive—its location in New York City and its strong Catholic and Vincentian identity—were exactly what Olivia wasn’t looking for, but these are the things that she has most come to love about her time here. She has enjoyed the spiritual aspects of St. John’s, regularly attending mass and campus ministry events at St. Thomas More Church on campus and spending her first spring break on a service trip to Appalachia. She plans on completing a minor in theology.

Going to school in New York City means than an adventure is always just around the corner. Olivia has explored Manhattan through various University and Honors Program events, including Dr. Forman’s walking tours, the annual Discover New York trip to Ellis Island, and guided tours of the Metropolitan Museum of Art conducted by several different faculty members.

Olivia knows that she will never forget her time at St. John’s University, no matter where she ultimately decides to direct her talents (perhaps marketing, print journalism, or homeschooling her children). Olivia will always appreciate the positive impact that St. John’s and the University Honors Program has had on her.

Environmental Studies
St. Johns College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

“I read about the environmental degradation in the Aegean Islands and their problems with toxic waste entering the water supply, so I’ll be composing a management plan for each of the islands. I took a class on Resource Management last year, and I want to apply that knowledge in a particular way. I’m more excited as September draws near, and hopefully working with underprivileged communities, which St. John’s has encouraged, is something I can do throughout my career.”

Sociology
St. John’s College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

“This is a dream come true. I wanted to do something bigger—something outside my comfort zone. When I am doing my studies in Ukraine, I want to gather as much information as possible, reaching out to universities, consulates and embassies that can help me. I want to establish a presence there and show them that an American-Ukrainian has returned to build bridges.”

History
St. John’s College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

“In order to truly appreciate and familiarize myself with the culture of the people of Bangladesh, I wish to step into the shoes of a typical Bangladeshi and participate in all of the cultural festivals and holidays, including Ekushey February, Pôhela Boishakh and Bijoy Dibosh. Another goal of mine is to learn more about the politics, history, sociology, and economy of Bangladesh. As a Bangladeshi American, both of my cultural identities and nationalities are equally important to me.”

History

St. John’s College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

“I was looking for a sense of adventure before graduate school. I wanted to go somewhere I never would otherwise and experience the language and culture of that place. I’ll be teaching English to university students in Bahrain. To prepare for that, I’m studying Arabic. I hope I’ll be conversational by the time I arrive. The competition for Fulbright is fierce, and receiving one is a great honor.”

Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages
(TESOL) (K-12)
The School of Education

“I’ve been fascinated by people, languages and cultures of Africa since I was young. My heart is there. There are 45 different indigenous cultures in Kenya, and I want to study how they interact culturally and linguistically in schools there. How does their curriculum approach that kind of diversity? I plan to bring that data back to the United States and apply it to a city like New York, where there is incredible diversity in every public school. I’m so grateful for the opportunity.”

Childhood Education and TESOL (K-12)
The School of Education

“Upon my return to the United States, I look forward to sharing what I have learned in my time in Malta—not only with my future students, but also with my colleagues. I am excited about the idea of sharing a truly global perspective on teaching that could be beneficial to me as well as an entire educational community.”