Message From The
Alumni President
Here we are nearing the middle of the 2017 spring semester, wondering where the time goes.
The spring flowers are coming into bloom and the campus is alive; bursting with student
energy, hopes and dreams. It is certainly a wonderful time to be here on the beautiful Kean
University campus, and I invite you to visit and see for yourself the enthusiasm demonstrated
by our students, faculty and staff. The excitement and beauty found on each of the Kean
campuses reflect all of the wonderful things going on here.
Speaking of things going on, the Alumni Association recently held its annual 100 Days Until
Graduation celebration with our graduating seniors, and hosted a dinner meeting with the
college deans at Kean. These events are enriching and informative for the students, the
deans, and our Board members. They give the alumni board an opportunity to interact with
current students, and help to prepare them for life as Kean alumni. They are also wonderful
opportunities for us to learn about all the new and innovative programs taking place, as well
as offer our help to ensure a successful academic year.
It is once again my pleasure to announce this year’s Distinguished Alumni Award recipients.
This spring event is a major celebration that allows us to identify and recognize some of our
most accomplished alumni. The awards committee, led by Maria Luciano ’72, has worked
hard in selecting the nominations from a long list of potential candidates. This year’s list of
Distinguished Alumni includes: George Gilcrest ’70, a former star basketball player for Newark
State and executive security agent; Caroline Jolly ’70 ’93 MPA, an art educator who also
served as Director of Alumni Affairs at Kean for over 30 years; Geraldine Ponto ’76, a partner
at the law firm of BakerHostetler, and the lead attorney for the liquidation of the Bernard
Madoff investments; Scott Schober ’92, president and CEO of Berkeley Varitronics Systems,
a leading provider of advanced solutions for the wireless community; and M. Ann Walko ’60,
a professor and leader in higher education programs, and only the second female president
of UNICO National in its 93-year history. Please join us on Sunday, April 23 to celebrate these
distinguished alumni. Learn more about the event and honorees at
.
org/daa2016.
The following pages share valuable information about upcoming events, including an Athletic
Alumni Reunion, the 50+ Reunion (one of my favorites!), the Recent Alumni Reunion for our
newest grads, and so much more!
There are several other reunions in the planning stages for this spring, so if you have any ideas
or want to help, please contact the Office of Alumni Relations. Our mentoring program is in
full swing, and has proven to be a mutual benefit to both our alumni and current students.
If you are interested in participating in next fall’s program, please let us know. We welcome
your involvement!
Before you know it, commencement will be here, and we will have the pleasure of welcoming
new alumni to our ranks. Once again, I thank you for your continued support and hope to see
you around campus soon!
Ed Esposito ’69 ’72 M.A.
KEANmag
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alumni news
