Seton Hall celebrates student, employee service in annual Charter Day ceremony

Seton Hall hosted its Charter Day ceremony to recognize student and employee accomplishments in service on April 8.

New Jersey officially granted SHU its charter in 1861, allowing it to become an official university five years after its founding. Every year, the university hosts Charter Day to commemorate this anniversary.

This year’s Charter Day marks the 50th anniversary of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton’s canonization.

To celebrate, Charter Day activities included trivia in front of Presidents Hall, a resilience panel luncheon with students, and a book signing with Catherine O’Donnell, author of "Elizabeth Ann Seton: American Saint” and a professor of history at Arizona State University.

O’Donnell also delivered the keynote address at the Charter Day ceremony. In it, she discussed how Seton’s life of service directly laid the foundation of SHU’s recognition of servant leadership.

“Mother Seton’s life was one of love, work, and the hard work of love,” O’Donnell said. “It brought out [her] love of encouraging others.”

O’Donnell added that during the saint’s life, Seton “remained grateful for the work, and she dared to do it with love.”

She emphasized that the Charter Day award recipients were being honored because of Seton’s dedication to serving others.

“It wasn’t that good people simply made a good community,” O’Donnell said. “A good community also help[s] people to become good people.”

Rev. Nicholas S. Gengaro, chaplain at Seton Hall Law School, served as this year’s master of ceremonies.

“Seton Hall remains true to the founding principles that we are celebrating here today,” Gengaro said. “It is now and will always be a home for academic excellence that broadens the mind, nurtured by the heart of Seton Hall’s Catholic mission.”

He said that SHU has always been “infused with a spirit that is at the core of servant leadership.”

SHU honored three university employees who demonstrate “dedication to ensuring student success” with the President’s Award for Student Service.

“These administrators were selected based on nominations from students who express their deep appreciation for each one of the honorees,” said university President Msgr. Joseph Reilly, who presented the President’s Award honorees.

Fr. Nicholas Sertich, director of Campus Ministry, was one of the recipients of this award. He discussed what the history of the award meant to him.

“It’s amazing to think how many great people have gone before us and help make this place into the great home it is,” Sertich said. “For all that, in many ways, we’re just carrying out a legacy.”

Tori Nygaard, FOCUS ministry member and Charter Day attendee, said that Sertich’s recognition was the driving factor in her attendance.

“I wanted to show up to support him,” she said.

For Sertich, the award is a confirmation of his contribution to the university community.

“I do want what’s best for [those at Seton Hall], right?” Sertich said. “I am willing to go to whatever length to help them do that. It’s not always easy, and I know I’m not the only one who’s willing to do that. It’s a team effort.”

Sertich was recognized for the President's Award alongside Mary Mueller and Jorge E. Rivera.

Additionally, the Bishop Bernard J. McQuaid Medal for Distinguished Service was awarded to three employees who provide “outstanding service to the university by doing exceptional work in their own position and the larger university community.”

Latisha Porter-Vaughn is one of this year’s honorees. She said she was “shocked” and “honored” to receive the award.

“My background is I’m an advocate for not just deaf and hard of hearing people, but people with disabilities,” Porter-Vaughn said. “That’s what drives me.”

As a member of the hard of hearing community herself, her work representing the community has led her to publish multiple children’s books, as well as advocate for students with disabilities within the SHU community, she said.

“When you put your community first, you align yourself with being a servant leader,” Porter-Vaughn said. “I want to leave behind something. Something important that can always help others.”

Porter-Vaughn was recognized for the McQuaid Medal alongside Alyssa McCloud and John Saccoman.

Lastly, Servant Leader Scholars, which comprised a large group of students, were spotlighted for their achievements. These are students who “epitomize the university's mission and are examples of leadership for the good of others.”

Emily Bruni, a sophomore social work major, was honored among the Servant Leader Scholars for her involvement both on and off campus.

“I am proud about how much I’ve been involved with,” Bruni said. 

Bruni participates in Division of Volunteer Efforts (DOVE) trips and serves in executive positions within Alpha Omicron Pi (ΑΟΠ) and SHU’s Habitat for Humanity collegiate chapter, she said.

Bruni spoke about how servant leadership and community service work together in her life.

“I think that I’ve really been able to synthesize the two,” Bruni said. “Being in Habitat, leadership positions, service clubs…in a way, even if it’s not directly, [they have] impacted and helped me.”

Kelsi Loewen, a graduate student in SHU’s physician assistant program, was also among the recognized Servant Leader Scholars. She said her time at SHU has allowed her to volunteer outside of the university community.

Loewen said she spends her free time at a local food pantry, and every summer and winter break, she is there “without fail.”

“I think it’s just nice that they make a whole big deal out of it and do a Charter Day,” Loewen said. “Because, hopefully, it inspires others to give back a little bit.”

Alexa Haidacher is a writer for The Setonian’s News section. She can be reached at alexa.haidacher@student.shu.edu.