FORE! John Jay’s FIRST-EVER Golf Outing!

All alumni and friends are invited to John Jay College’s Inaugural Alumni Golf Outing taking place on Monday, June 9th at the Inwood Country Club. Golfing slots are still open and the deadline to register has been extended until June 2, 2014!

The will be jam-packed full of activities starting with brunch, raffles, BBQ lunch, putting contests, prizes, cocktail reception and dinner. That’s a full day of meals, open bar and 18 holes of golf for as little as $375. All proceeds raised support scholarships for John Jay Students. CLICK HERE TO REGISTER.

This is the work of John Jay’s Alumni Campaign Committee chaired by Richard Koehler, ’73. The committee is made up of alumni committed to “educating for justice,” and creating opportunities for John Jay Students. Help make this event a success and golf! If you aren’t a golfer, there are a number of sponsorship opportunities available. For more information, contact Stephanie DiBrienza at 212-237-8579 or email sdibrienza@jjay.cuny.edu.

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2014 Alumni Reunion was a Sellout – and a Rousing Success

Hundreds of alumni from throughout John Jay’s long, proud history returned to their alma mater on April 24 for a festive annual reunion that featured a “Founding Generation” symposium and another spirited after-party hosted by former John Jay student and now Latin music entrepreneur Johnny Marines.

The full day of events also included a presentation by noted political consultant Hank Sheinkopf (MA ’79), along with building tours and pre-dinner receptions.

At the dinner in the new student dining hall, the Alumni Association saluted Michael F. McCann (BS ’74), who recently stepped down after 10 years as the association’s president. McCann, whose oft-heard catchphrase as alumni president was “If not for John Jay. . .,” was honored with a standing ovation for his tireless efforts to reinvigorate the Alumni Association and enhance its presence within the John Jay and professional communities.

In his honor, the annual alumni endowed scholarship has been renamed the Michael F. McCann Alumni Scholarship, and Shantoi Shaw, a sophomore Honors Program student majoring in Computer Information Systems, was announced as the first winner of the rebranded scholarship.

Succeeding McCann at the association’s helm is Shauna-Kay Gooden (BA/MPA ’04), the assistant general counsel in the office of New York City Comptroller Scott Stringer (BA ’86). Gooden is formerly an Executive at Large on the Alumni Association’s board, and served as President of the John Jay Student Council as an undergraduate.

The Outstanding Young Alumnus Award, created in 2013, was presented to Andrew Schweighardt (MS ’99, PhD ’12), a criminalist with the Office of the New York City Chief Medical Examiner. Schweighardt spoke of his good fortune to be working in “one of the greatest labs in the world,” where some 30 John Jay alumni are on the staff of his department.

“John Jay is the Ivy League of criminal justice, and I’m so proud to say that!” Schweighardt said. “Long live John Jay!”

Professor Alisse Waterston, a member of the Department of Anthropology since 2003 and chair of the John Jay Faculty Fund, which supports the Rising Star Fellowships, received the 2014 Distinguished Faculty Award. The President-elect of the American Anthropological Association, Waterston said of John Jay, “We are a public institution, and that’s one of the reasons I’m here — to support public education.

The recipient of the annual Distinguished Alumna Award, LaBrenda Garrett-Nelson (BA ’75), who recently retired after a distinguished legal career, was saluted for her work as a prominent taxation law specialist. She has worked for the blue-chip law firm of Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobsen, served on the staff of the Joint Congressional Committee on Taxation, founded the boutique law firm of Washington Counsel PC, and concluded her career as a principal for the accounting firm of Ernst & Young LLP.

“I know what this school has meant in my life,” said Garrett-Nelson, who is an active supporter of the John Jay Pre Law Institute. “and I want to see it continue to have such meaning for others.”

On a beautiful spring evening, alumni and other guests wrapped up the reunion with an after-party in the Anya and Andrew Shiva Gallery in the New Building. Guest DJ Camilo of Hot 97 radio provided the party’s entertainment, setting the tone for an evening of wall-to-wall music and dancing.

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The Michael F. McCann Alumni Scholarship goes to Shantoi Shaw, ‘16

“This scholarship will help increase my confidence and competence in my chosen field,” that is what Sophomore Shantoi Shaw said when she received her scholarship during the Alumni Reunion last month.

The Michael F. McCann Alumni Scholarship, previously known as the Alumni Endowed Scholarship was renamed last month to honor the contributions as service of Michael F. McCann, ’74 during his tenure as President of the Alumni Executive Board. The scholarship is awarded to one student completing his or her sophomore year with a GPA of 3.2 or better. This scholarship is given to support the student's continued study at the College. Shaw, a Honors Program student majoring in Computer Information Systems, was announced as the first winner of the rebranded scholarship.

Shantoi, a Peer Ambassador and CUNY service corps member, describes herself as “passionate” about her status as John Jay College of Criminal Justice student. Her role as a Peer Ambassador allows her to communicate regularly with diverse groups of people, and her service as a CUNY Service Corps member has provided “real work experience, outside the college in a non-profit company.” In the future, she hopes to gain significant experience in the Cyber Security field. Shantoi’s long term goals are to use her knowledge to protect individuals in the online environment and enforce laws which protect Internet users the 21st century.

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John Jay on the Road: Harlem

Hosted by Commissioner Jeanique Greene BA'93, Greene and Alumni Executive Board President Shauna-Kay Gooden BA/MPA'04 welcomed fellow alumni and professional colleagues in NYC for a discussion, "Hard Choices: Safety or Health,” presented by Professor Janice Johnson Dias, Department of Sociology.

Jeanique Greene, ‘93 was nominated to serve as a Commissioner of the New York State Liquor Authority in June of 2008, and is the third African-American woman and the first of Puerto Rican descent to serve as a Commissioner.

For more information on future John Jay On the Road events, visit the alumni events calendar.