LIFETIME LEGACY

More than fifty years after I graduated from Saint Vincent College, I still feel as if I have never left. At Saint Vincent, I received a first-class education that fully prepared me for the world, as I built lasting friendships with my fellow Bearcats and members of the Benedictine community. I remain active at Saint Vincent as a member of Alumni Council, a persistent advocate of the establishment of an Alumni House, a cameo Phonathon caller, and a member of the Class of 1950. The dedication that I feel toward Saint Vincent College has grown because my connection has stayed strong through the years. I’ve watched the College’s successful evolution, its increasingly high academic standards, and its ability to provide an education to all students in all situations.

The students at Saint Vincent are an indication of the positive enthusiasm for the school. Five nights a week, each semester, more than forty students assemble in the Heisel Phonathon Room in Alfred Hall to serve as College ambassadors to its many alumni and friends. These Phonathon callers are students of all classes, majors, and interests. Their enthusiasm for learning, excitement for their futures, and passion for SVC is clearly evident. They can provide a unique view of Saint Vincent; one that cannot be conveyed through a single letter. If you really want to know what is happening at SVC, who better to ask?

As a former and current volunteer caller, I have experienced what the students do each night. Being a Phonathon caller is more than a mere job; it is an opportunity for the students to talk to men and women who walked the path before them and can share stories of Saint Vincent in the “good old days.” From reminiscent tales, to career advice, to job offers (it has happened!), being a caller is a unique experience. All of SVC’s Phonathon callers ardently believe in the mission of the school and can truly convey their excitement to everyone that they speak to. They are the future alumni of Saint Vincent College.

When I first chose Saint Vincent College, many of my friends were under the common impression that I was going to join the monastery and that the Benedictines were the only residents of the College. Now, more than fifty years later, I am proud to say that the College has built a reputation that incorporates high quality teaching, a distinguished faculty, and graduates that are prepared to take on the world. It is an honor to support the College and its mission rooted in Benedictine tradition with values inherent in the liberal approach to life and learning.

I am proud to call Saint Vincent College my alma mater because of the superb education and memorable experiences that I had as a student, the progressive institution that it has become today, and the potential greatness that it will achieve in the future… with our support.

Joseph Rubino, C’50 D’93