Montclair State University

May 3
2004

In this issue:	- SD&CL does its own Extreme Makeover. This and more in Photo Gallery.	- Baseball coach captures 500th win.
In this issue:	- Four elected to University Senate. This and more in Announcements.	- Who won the semester's final Trivia Contest?

Raising the bar...Construction crews erect the steel frame for the new academic building scheduled to open in the fall 2005. The 270,000-square-foot state-of-the-art facility will house the College of Education and Human Services, the ADP Center for Teacher Preparation and Learning Technology, the Center for Pedagogy, a literacy enrichment center, the Institute for the Advancement of Philosophy for Children, classrooms and lecture halls.

University graduates first doctoral students
For the first time in its history, Montclair State will confer doctoral degrees at commencement. Three of the four graduates--Martha Baklarz Croley, Matthew Victor Schertz and Deborah L. Ives--will participate in the May 21 ceremony. (Full Story and Photo)

Commencement speakers to send messages
of hope and success
Senior speaker Alfred L. Fatale III made the most of his four years at Montclair State. From student trustee and Montclarion writer to a seat on the University Senate, Fatale wants his classmates to know that he shares his success with his fellow classmates. (Full Story and Photo)

Born with a rare eye disorder, David DeNotaris gradually lost his vision until he became completely blind at age 19. Despite his blindness, DeNotaris has lived his life to the fullest--becoming a best-selling author, world champion athlete and motivational speaker. As this year's graduate speaker, DeNotaris is ready to motivate and inspire the class of 2004. (Full Story and Photo)

Graduate enters medical school with dreams
of serving his patients and his country
During high school, while most of his friends were enjoying their lives, Orlando Cabrera was out saving them. Cabrera began volunteering as an emergency medical technician (EMT) at age 14 and in June will enter UMDNJ Medical School on a United States Armed Forces Health Professions Scholarship. (Full Story and Photo)

Carpe Diem Award winners graduate
At this year's Annual Dinner, which celebrated the achievements of Montclair State students, four students were the first to receive the President's Carpe Diem Award. The award was created this year to recognize students who have demonstrated the commitment, passion and determination to succeed by rising above difficult circumstances and/or overcoming formidable challenges to "seize the day" in one or more areas of academic life. Three of the four recipients--Carmen Michael Piccolo III, Carinne Stachelski and Orlando Cabrera--are graduating seniors. Click here to read more about them.

Actor, filmmaker and philanthropists
to receive honorary degrees
Actor Alec Baldwin, filmmaker Kevin Smith, and Joseph and Elda Coccia, founders of the Joseph and Elda Coccia Institute for the Italian Experience in America, will receive honorary degrees from the University. (Full Story)

Click here for the schedule of college/school convocations.

* * * *

A trip down Memory Lane...

We're not exactly sure when this photograph was taken, but we know it had to be pre-1990, the year commencement was moved from campus to the then-Brendan Byrne Arena (now Continental Airlines Arena) in East Rutherford. The last ceremony held on Sprague Field was 1989, when torrential rains prompted the decision to move commencement to an indoor venue.

Columns

Photo Gallery
Around Campus

Masthead

Past Insights

Search | MSU main page

Montclair State University, Montclair, N.J.
Webmaster@Montclair.edu