Priceline.com CEO Speaks at Dominican College

The Chief Executive Officer of the travel discount website Priceline.com, Paul J. Hennessy, was the guest speaker at the Palisades Institute 25th Anniversary Celebration on October 8, 2015.

Hennessy, a 1992 graduate of Dominican College, was appointed to the position in April after holding a variety of jobs within the Priceline Group over the past 20 years, including Chief Marketing Officer at the very successful Bookings.com. During his speech, he said he has instituted a five pillar strategy at Priceline.com, represented by the acronym CLIMB 鈥� customers, learning, innovation, momentum and belief.

Hennessy explained what he means by belief. 鈥淲e needed to believe in something bigger. We needed to believe that we actually made a difference.听 And we needed to believe that we could make great products at scale and speed,鈥� he said. 鈥淏y the way, we needed to believe that we could operate outside of the U.S.鈥�

That CLIMB acronym has become part of the culture of Priceline.com. 鈥淕uess what? We are starting to turn the corner.听 People are actually starting to believe.听 They are starting to like the new pace.听 They are engaging our customers and everyone feels great,鈥� he said.

Hennessy spoke in the Lawrence Room of Rosary Hall during the evening reception celebrating 25 years since the founding of the Palisades Institute. The Palisades Institute was founded in 1990 as part of Dominican College to assist businesses, government, and not-for-profit groups in applying the principles of quality, leadership and ethics by offering seminars and workshops.

Hennessy鈥檚 father, James E. Hennessy, founded the Palisades Institute with the former Director of Graduate Studies Sr. Beryl Herdt, O.P., and Chancellor Sr. Kathleen Sullivan, O.P.

October 23, 2015

Scholarship Program Supports Biology Students

The 2015 BLISS Scholarship Winners, with their mentors. Pictured back row, left to right: Dr. Thom Nowak Albert Martinez, Kelly Murphy, Darian Fernandez and Dr. Bernadette Connors. Front row: Amanda Saab, Stephanie Denis, and Natalia Perez-Cervantes.

Six freshmen at Dominican College have been awarded up to $10,000 a year for four years as part of the new BLISS (Biology for Low Income Student Scholars) program. This scholarship program was made possible by a $592,688 grant Dominican College was awarded from the National Science Foundation (NSF) .

In addition to financial aid, the program assists these academically-talented biology students 听by providing internships, research experiences, and field trips. The scholarship winners work closely with each other, faculty, and administrators to ensure their success in a biology career.

Bernadette Connors, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Biology, said, 鈥淭his program will help to draw those students who may have financial need, but who are very passionate about learning biology and about gaining an education in all the sciences with a liberal arts background.鈥�

The students accepted this year in the scholarship program are: Stephanie Denis, Darian Fernandez, Albert Martinez, Kelly Murphy, Natalia Perez-Cervantes, and Amanda Saab. Next year, eight scholarships will be awarded.

Interested applicants should contact the Office of Admissions at admissions@duny.edu.

 

October 8, 2015

Winners of the 2015 Spirit of the Founders Award Announced

The Dominican College 2015 Spirit of the Founders Award was presented to seniors Erica Descartes and Brett Mitchell during a luncheon at Granito Center on Thursday, September 24, 2015. The event was one of the highlights of the week-long celebration of Founders Week, the annual Dominican College tradition of celebrating our Dominican heritage.

The Spirit of the Founders Award represents a respect for the values and traditions that have endured for centuries and holds the promise that the Dominican tradition will be carried on. It is presented to students who have great potential as leaders as they leave Dominican College and make their mark in the world.

The winners of the award were selected by a vote of Dominican College administrators, faculty, staff and students. Other nominees for the award included seniors Kiara Rivera and Roberto Roman and juniors Adriannie Ascencio and Joseph Key.

 

September 29, 2015

Dominican College Offers Microbiology Workshop for High School Students

Dominican College is offering a microbiology workshop for high school听students on weekends. The workshop will be held on six consecutive Saturdays, beginning on October 24, 2015, from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Students participating in the program will have the opportunity to perform original biological research while learning techniques in microbiology. The workshop series is open to any high school student who has completed their life science course and has achieved an 85% overall grade in their science and math courses combined. A total of 16 spots are available.

There is no charge for the workshop, which is being offered through a donation from Orange and Rockland Utilities.

Interested students, should complete and submit the form below.听 The deadline to submit an application and a letter of recommendation is October 8, 2015.

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All applicants will be notified by October 15 if they are accepted into the workshop.

 

 

September 29, 2015

Dominican College Offers Microbiology Workshop for High School Students

Dominican College is offering a microbiology workshop for high school听students on weekends. The workshop will be held on six consecutive Saturdays, beginning on October 24, 2015, from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Students participating in the program will have the opportunity to perform original biological research while learning techniques in microbiology. The workshop series is open to any high school student who has completed their life science course and has achieved an 85% overall grade in their science and math courses combined. A total of 16 spots are available.

There is no charge for the workshop, which is being offered through a donation from Orange and Rockland Utilities.

Interested students, should complete and submit the form below.听 The deadline to submit an application and a letter of recommendation is October 8, 2015.

Oops! We could not locate your form.

All applicants will be notified by October 15 if they are accepted into the workshop.

 

 

September 29, 2015

Students Participate in National Day of Service and Remembrance

Dominican College students paid tribute to the victims of the 9-11 attacks by volunteering on September 11, as part of the National Day of Service and Remembrance.

The volunteering efforts were organized by Melissa Grau, Director of Community Engagement and Leadership Development. 鈥淚 think the purpose of the attacks on September 11th was to break the American spirit and the reason that service has become such an important part of today, especially at Dominican College, is to show that it didn鈥檛 break our spirit and we still live and love in our community,鈥� she said.

Some students volunteered at Jawonio in New City, playing board games and working on craft projects with adults who have special needs. 鈥淭hey just brighten up our consumer鈥檚 day. They bring joy to their faces,鈥� said Jawonio spokesperson Dana Ferraro. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a nice environment because they chose to be here and it really shows. We just love to have them.鈥�

Also on September 11, students volunteered in the Granito Center, making handmade greeting cards that will be delivered to veterans and seniors who are homebound.

Congress designated September 11 as a National Day of Service and Remembrance in 2009 to unite Americans in service in the same way so many came together following the attacks. At Dominican College, there is a commitment to community service year-round, so that students learn as much outside of the classroom as they do in it.

 

September 14, 2015

Former Charger Basketball Star Signed to Professional Team

Former Dominican College men’s basketball star Nick Smith has signed a professional contract with the Solna Vikings Basketball Club in Sweden.

While at Dominican College, the 2015 graduate was named the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Co-Player of the Year and was a member of Dominican College鈥檚 1000 Point Club. Among his many accomplishments, Smith was a member of the first men’s basketball team in College history to receive an at-large bid to the NCAA East Regional in 2013.

“I am very appreciative that the Solna Vikings Basketball Club believe in me and are giving me the opportunity to play professional basketball. I am going to continue to keep growing and never settle for anything less than my absolute best,” said Smith. 鈥淎lso, there are many people who have been there for me along this long and tough journey. They all played a huge part in my growth as both a person and a player and to them I am truly thankful.”

Chargers Head Coach Joseph Clinton described Smith as an extremely talented young man. 鈥淭he entire College wishes him only the best moving forward,” he said.

Nick will be travelling to Solna, Sweden to begin training with his new coaches and teammates for the upcoming season.

 

 

 

September 1, 2015

News 12 Covers Move-In Day

Dominican College was in the spotlight when our Freshman Move-In was featured on a local newscast. If you missed it click on the image below:

August 30, 2015

College Unveils New Logo

The College’s New Logo

College President Sr. Mary Eileen O鈥橞rien, O.P., Ph.D, unveiled a new Dominican College logo at the College-Wide Conference in Granito Center on August 26, 2015. The new logo combines the name of the school with an icon that includes stylized versions of the Dominican shield and the Dominican cross.

The logo is designed to be eye-catching, timeless and distinctive, and captures the heritage of the College as well as the promise of the future. 鈥淭he Dominican Shield, reflecting the College’s 800-year tradition of pursuing and conveying truth is an important part of the logo,鈥� said Sr. Mary Eileen, addressing administrators, faculty and staff at the conference. 鈥淲e trust that you will grow to take pride in this new symbol of our identity.鈥�

The logo was custom-designed by Paskill, Stapleton & Lord, based in Philadelphia, as part of a comprehensive branding initiative undertaken by the College.   Among the many project components, was the development of a brand rationale and brand platform that speaks to the many positive attributes associated with the College. 鈥淭hey focus on rich heritage, challenging classes and exceptional faculty, proximity to New York City and all it offers, career preparation, the critical role of liberal arts, formation of an accountable and responsible student body, and convenient graduate programs for working adults,鈥� said Sr. Mary Eileen.

The new logo will appear on Dominican College merchandise, campus signs, business cards and publications.

August 28, 2015

Alum Rebuilds Homes Damaged By Hurricane Sandy

Mackenzie Riley,’14, installs wood flooring in a Howard Beach home that was flooded during Hurricane Sandy.

Long after most of the volunteers to help victims of Hurricane Sandy have disappeared, Dominican College Alumna Mackenzie Riley, 鈥�14, is working with AmeriCorps to finally finish rebuilding homes almost three years after the October 2012 storm.

Riley is now finishing up a 10-month term with AmeriCorps and is assigned to work with St. Bernard Project and Friends of Rockaway in Queens, NY. Since November, she has worked as a site supervisor in about 20 homes, overseeing volunteers and pitching in with demolition, framing, installing drywall, putting on trim, and painting.

Riley said many of the homes she is working on suffered damage from flooding inside, but don鈥檛 show any damage outside. 鈥淲e take a lot of pride in our work and we want it to be nice for our homeowners because they鈥檝e gone through so many issues since Sandy,鈥� said Riley. 鈥淧eople have kind of forgotten that Rockaway and all these places were hit so hard because you can鈥檛 see the damage.鈥�

Riley said it was at Dominican College that she first 鈥渇ell in love with service鈥� on an Alternative Spring Break Trip to Mississippi as a freshman. She later co-founded and served as President of the Dominican College Chapter of Habitat for Humanity.

 

August 18, 2015

Sixty Student Leaders Honored

Congratulations to 60 student leaders who were honored for their outstanding contributions to student life at Dominican College.

Ralph Felix
The Sr. Mary Eileen O鈥橞rien Award for Citizenship and Service to the College

Emma Fortunato and Samuel Alabre
The Fr. Ronald Stanley Award for Service to the Community

Yaritza Huertas
The Sr. Barbara McEneany Award for Spirited Involvement in Campus Life.

Jenna Balsamello, Jonathan Cho, Erica Descartes
The Dohn Harshbarger Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Life of the College

Kayla Lyder
The Hennessy Family Scholarship Award in Honor of the Dominican Sisters of Blauvelt.

Jeffrey Carroll
Ana Rojas Memorial Award

May 15, 2015

Inaugural Liberal Arts Senior Scholars Presentation

Congratulations to the 30 Dominican College students who completed capstone projects and presented posters last Tuesday at the Inaugural Liberal Arts Senior Scholars Presentation.

These are students have mastered their disciplines and through their poster presentations, they showcased the skills and intellectual ability they acquired through their Liberal Arts education.

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April 24, 2015