DaVinci Society Awards Scholarships at Spring Luncheon

Wagner College’s DaVinci Society held its annual Spring Luncheon on Monday, April 10, 2006 in the recently renovated Faculty Dining Room. Fifty attendees were graciously welcomed by the Society’s co-chairs, President Richard Guarasci, and former Staten Island Borough President Hon. Ralph J. Lamberti.

 

Dr. Anne Love, Dean of the College, described the Honors Program and the “City –as-Text” Travel Scholarship. This year, scholarships were awarded to Honor Program Seniors: (from left to right) Elisabeth Cardiello ’06, Staten Island, NY;  Tracy Dickinson ’06, Staten Island, NY; Laura Pike ’06, South Portland, ME; (Honors Program Director Dr. Miles Groth); Jessica Friswell ’06, Natick, MA; Megan Brandt-Meyer ’06, Freeport, ME; and Jennifer  Wiech ’06, Egg Harbor Township, NJ.

Scholarship Recipients Representative, Jennifer Wiech ’06, expressed her gratitude to the Society’s members and spoke of the anticipation about the upcoming trip. “It is an honor to speak on behalf of my fellow scholarship recipients in expressing our deepest gratitude to all of you for this incredible opportunity to enjoy and explore the rich and beautiful city of Venice.”

The students will travel to Venice, Italy, May 21-29, 2006, with a day’s excursion to Florence, for a week of study and immersion in the Italian Culture with Honors Program Director Dr. Miles Groth.  “It will be my pleasure again in my sixth year as faculty host to accompany six of Wagner's outstanding graduates to Italy in the ‘City-As-Text’ experience, sponsored by the DaVinci Society at Wagner College,” said Dr. Groth.

As in past years, the scholarship recipients will return to campus in the fall during Italian Heritage month to recount their experiences.

The Society also honored Julia Barchitta ’64, Dean of Learning Communities, for her dedication to the DaVinci Society's Programming, especially its Viva Italia - Italian Heritage and Culture Month. Provost Devorah Lieberman acknowledged Julia as an outstanding leader at Wagner and quoted Martha Washington when describing her personality.

“I am determined to be cheerful and happy in whatever situation I may find myself, Dr. Lieberman read. “For I have learned that the greater part of our misery or unhappiness is determined not by our circumstance but by our disposition.”

Bruce Liozzi’64, chair of the DaVinci Society Programming, presented Julia with a plaque awarding her with “Lifetime Membership” in the DaVinci Society. He noted her “tireless dedication and commitment in promoting the mission of DaVinci Society through its educational programming and its efforts to immerse the campus and Staten Island communities in the richness of Italian-American culture and heritage.”

To learn more information about the DaVinci Society, please contact Betty McComiskey at 718-420-4014 or email emccomis@wagner.edu.