Press Releases

May 17, 2004

Southampton College's 38th Commencement to Honor More than 300 Graduates
Outdoor ceremony to be held on Sunday, May 23 at 3:00 p.m.

Contact:
Patricia Conway
631-287-8313

or

Kim Volpe
516-299-2621

Southampton, N.Y.- On Sunday, May 23, at 3:00 p.m., Southampton College of Long Island University will celebrate the achievements of 326 students as University President David J. Steinberg confers 227 undergraduate and 99 graduate degrees. The ceremony will be held on the lawn in front of Chancellors Hall.

This year's festivities will mark the 38th commencement at Southampton College, which opened its doors in 1963. Today, the College is undergoing a transformation that includes $100 million in capital improvements and the launch of a new interdisciplinary core curriculum.

Dr. Daniel J. Rodas, the College's provost, is exceptionally proud of the Class of 2004. "We salute our newest alumni, not only for their academic achievements, but for their commitment to making this world a better place," he asserts. In keeping with the College's cherished ideals of social responsibility, Vaclav Havel, former president of the Czech Republic and noted human rights leader, has been invited to deliver the keynote address at the commencement ceremony. Havel, who also is slated to receive an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree on the 23rd, was raised in Communist-controlled Czechoslovakia. Early in his career, he wrote a series of plays criticizing the totalitarian regime that was in power at the time. Despite mounting pressure from the government- his works were banned and his liberty threatened? Havel remained true to his principles, writing an open letter to then-President Gustav Husak, calling for reform. He went on to co-found Chapter 77, a movement that demanded that the government honor the people's civil, political and economic rights. He also penned the influential essay, "The Power of the Powerless." His outspoken dissent led to several arrests and nearly five years in prison.

In 1989, Havel emerged as one of the leaders of the Velvet Revolution, helping to organize a bloodless overthrow of the oppressive ruling party. He was named president of Czechoslovakia later that year. As promised, he brought free elections to his homeland and was elected to another term in 1990. Three years later, he assumed the presidency of the independent Czech Republic, serving in that capacity until 2003, when he was term-limited out of office.

Don Hewitt, the creator of "60 Minutes," and Warren Schwerin, president and CEO of Related Properties Corporation, also will receive honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degrees.

A trailblazer in the early days of television reporting, Mr. Hewitt devised many now-familiar television conventions such as running printed information at the bottom of the screen and using cue cards and multiple filming angles. He even developed the concept of the "news anchor." Mr. Hewitt also directed the first televised presidential debate between John F. Kennedy and Richard Nixon, and served as executive producer of the CBS Evening News with Walter Cronkite. However, he is perhaps best known for the pioneering role he played in developing the most successful broadcast news program in television history, "60 Minutes." Today, still under his leadership, the program remains the gold standard in television journalism and has sparked imitators the world over.

Mr. Schwerin has built an astonishing career in real estate development and construction. For more than 45 years, he has been a developer-investor and has held executive positions at top companies in the real estate industry, but his contributions are not limited to the scope of his professional success. He generously donates his time, talents and financial resources to a broad array of organizations and causes, including Long Island University. A University trustee since 1996, Mr. Schwerin also is an overseer of Southampton College.

Each year, a distinguished alumnus award is presented to an extraordinary Southampton College graduate. This year's honoree is Ron Manganiello, class of 1971. Mr. Manganiello is managing partner of New Canaan Capital LLC, a merchant banking firm in New Canaan, CT. He began his career on Wall Street as a trainee with Merrill Lynch. Mr. Manganiello joined Lehman Brothers in 1976, rising to senior vice president of the Securities Division. Three years later, he moved to Drexel Burnham Lambert, where he eventually served as a corporate senior vice president. In 1986, he acquired the J.E. Hanger Company, a small family-owned provider of services and products for orthotic and prosthetic rehabilitation. As chairman and CEO of Hanger, Mr. Manganiello consolidated the industry and completed 42 add-on acquisitions, growing annual sales from $7 million to $150 million and making Hanger the largest company in its field. In addition, Mr. Manganiello testified as an expert witness before the United States Senate regarding the Small Business Administration's (SBA) Small Business Investment Company (SBIC) Act.

The College's valedictorian, Danielle Thibault of Salem, New Hampshire, also will address the class. Ms. Thibault completed a B.S. in marine science, while maintaining a perfect 4.0 GPA.

The University's Suffolk County Secondary School Teacher of the Year Award will be presented to Southampton High School English teacher Vincent Zangrillo. Prior to relocating to Long Island's East End nine years ago, Mr. Zangrillo taught a variety of high school English courses in New York City public schools. Recognized for his creativity and for the originality of his curriculum, he is an enthusiastic instructor whose laid-back style and keen intellect set the tone for his students to learn in a progressive environment, sharing diverse ideas and points of view.

Southampton College is distinguished by...
nationally recognized programs in marine and environmental sciences, writing and fine arts; the Friends World Program of global education for social change; and the SEAmester program aboard tall ships. The College recently launched a strategic plan that includes $100 million in capital improvements, a newly designed core curriculum and a substantial investment in scholarships. This small college by the sea prides itself on "caring for students who will care for the world." Drawing on the intellectual stimulation of the Hamptons, it is home to WLIU-FM, the hub of the Long Island University Public Radio Network. Since 1975, 37 Southampton College graduates have won Fulbright awards.