Undergraduate
American studies and accounting graduate receives The 2009 Rev. Gerald Dupont Award
Stephen O'Neil recognized for "outstanding contributions to the Saint Michael's community"
Contact Information:
Buff Lindau, Public Relations
802.654.2536
blindau@smcvt.edu
Stephen Anthony O'Neil, son of William and Diane O'Neil of Lancaster, Mass., earned a bachelor of arts degree in American studies and in accounting from Saint Michael's College at commencement ceremonies May 14, 2009.
Mr. O'Neil received the Rev. Gerald Dupont Award, presented to individuals who "demonstrate dedication to the ideals of courage, vision, devotion and faith upon which Saint Michael's College was founded" in the tradition of Father Dupont. The award is given "in recognition of outstanding contributions to the Saint Michael's community."
"Steve O'Neil has given so much of his time and energy over the past four years to the college ... in a giving spirit of dedication to others," said David Hiltz, Student Association President. "He as spent four years giving back to fellow students, faculty and staff through involvement in numerous activities," said Hiltz.
O'Neil was cited for working in the residence halls to build community, and for participating in student government, serving as president of the class of 2009 for two years, and for serving on the executive board as co-secretary of programming, and in 2008-2009 for serving as president of the Student Association.
Mr. O'Neil was cited further for working as an orientation leader for three years, for serving on the POW (pre-orientation weekend) team for two years, as coordinator for one, helping orient new students during the summer. He also served campus ministry, working on LEAP retreats numerous times, as a candidate, team member and KC rector, "helping foster spirituality and community building on the retreat."
Commencement Speaker
U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan was the featured speaker at the Saint Michael's College 102nd commencement. Closely identifying his personal experiences serving Chicago's poor with the prevailing ethos of service at Saint Michael's, Duncan exhorted graduates to be active agents of accessible education, which he called "the civil rights issue of our time." Describing the Obama administration's ambitious agenda, Duncan said, "You wouldn't scale back your ambitions. You wouldn't cut your dreams in half - and you shouldn't. And neither will the president." Noting that nearly three-fourths of Saint Michael's students engage in some service activity before graduation, the Secretary said, "Your founders established a legacy of working with people in need and today, Saint Michael's is a national model for responsibility and citizenship, producing not just smart people, but good people, too."
Saint Michael's College, founded in 1904 by the Society of St. Edmund and headed by President John J. Neuhauser, is identified by the Princeton Review as one of the nation's Best 368 Colleges. A liberal arts, residential, Catholic college, Saint Michael's is located just outside of Burlington, Vermont, one of America's top college towns and less than two hours from Montreal. As one of only 270 institutions nationwide with a prestigious Phi Beta Kappa chapter on campus, Saint Michael's has 2,000 full-time undergraduate students, some 500 graduate students and 200 international students. In recent years Saint Michael's students and professors have received Rhodes, Woodrow Wilson, Guggenheim, Fulbright, National Science Foundation and other grants, and Saint Michael's professors have been named Vermont Professor of the Year in four of the last eight years. The college is currently listed as one of the nation's Best Liberal Arts Colleges in the 2009 U.S. News & World Report rankings.
Photo caption: Student president David Hiltz, left, presents Rev. Dupont Award to Lancaster resident Stephen A. O'Neil
Photo credit: Andy Duback
Buff Lindau, Public Relations
802.654.2536
blindau@smcvt.edu
Stephen Anthony O'Neil, son of William and Diane O'Neil of Lancaster, Mass., earned a bachelor of arts degree in American studies and in accounting from Saint Michael's College at commencement ceremonies May 14, 2009. Mr. O'Neil received the Rev. Gerald Dupont Award, presented to individuals who "demonstrate dedication to the ideals of courage, vision, devotion and faith upon which Saint Michael's College was founded" in the tradition of Father Dupont. The award is given "in recognition of outstanding contributions to the Saint Michael's community."
"Steve O'Neil has given so much of his time and energy over the past four years to the college ... in a giving spirit of dedication to others," said David Hiltz, Student Association President. "He as spent four years giving back to fellow students, faculty and staff through involvement in numerous activities," said Hiltz.
O'Neil was cited for working in the residence halls to build community, and for participating in student government, serving as president of the class of 2009 for two years, and for serving on the executive board as co-secretary of programming, and in 2008-2009 for serving as president of the Student Association.
Mr. O'Neil was cited further for working as an orientation leader for three years, for serving on the POW (pre-orientation weekend) team for two years, as coordinator for one, helping orient new students during the summer. He also served campus ministry, working on LEAP retreats numerous times, as a candidate, team member and KC rector, "helping foster spirituality and community building on the retreat."
Commencement Speaker
U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan was the featured speaker at the Saint Michael's College 102nd commencement. Closely identifying his personal experiences serving Chicago's poor with the prevailing ethos of service at Saint Michael's, Duncan exhorted graduates to be active agents of accessible education, which he called "the civil rights issue of our time." Describing the Obama administration's ambitious agenda, Duncan said, "You wouldn't scale back your ambitions. You wouldn't cut your dreams in half - and you shouldn't. And neither will the president." Noting that nearly three-fourths of Saint Michael's students engage in some service activity before graduation, the Secretary said, "Your founders established a legacy of working with people in need and today, Saint Michael's is a national model for responsibility and citizenship, producing not just smart people, but good people, too."
Saint Michael's College, founded in 1904 by the Society of St. Edmund and headed by President John J. Neuhauser, is identified by the Princeton Review as one of the nation's Best 368 Colleges. A liberal arts, residential, Catholic college, Saint Michael's is located just outside of Burlington, Vermont, one of America's top college towns and less than two hours from Montreal. As one of only 270 institutions nationwide with a prestigious Phi Beta Kappa chapter on campus, Saint Michael's has 2,000 full-time undergraduate students, some 500 graduate students and 200 international students. In recent years Saint Michael's students and professors have received Rhodes, Woodrow Wilson, Guggenheim, Fulbright, National Science Foundation and other grants, and Saint Michael's professors have been named Vermont Professor of the Year in four of the last eight years. The college is currently listed as one of the nation's Best Liberal Arts Colleges in the 2009 U.S. News & World Report rankings.
Photo caption: Student president David Hiltz, left, presents Rev. Dupont Award to Lancaster resident Stephen A. O'Neil
Photo credit: Andy Duback
