CONTACTFALL 2018 VOL. 21 STU’s First Ever Football and Marching Band Programs stu.edu CONTACT is published by the Office of Message from President Philanthropy & Communications St. Thomas University David A. Armstrong, J.D. 16401 NW 37th Avenue Miami Gardens, FL 33054 [email protected] Dear St. Thomas University Alumni and Friends, President This will be an exciting academic year at St. Thomas David A. Armstrong, J.D. University! As the newest member of the Bobcat family, I am looking forward to a productive and exhilarating Vice President of Philanthropy year as we strive to make further headway in realizing & Communications our vision as Miami’s leading Catholic University. Gigi Laudisio I have been entrusted with continuing the Catholic intellectual tradition, and the academic excellence of Writer/Editor this University and enriching student life. In my short Marlen Lebish time, I have gained a deep respect for the university’s Director of Communications students, faculty, staff, and alumni. I have enjoyed the beauty of this campus and the city of Miami. Art Director/Graphic Designer At STU, we are more than a university, we are a close-knit Seven45,LLC community with a mission to provide a value-based education that prepares its students for a successful life and Contributors career. The St. Thomas graduate isn’t just an alumnus, they Marlen Lebish are leaders. We graduate leaders for life. Director of Communications From the knowledge I’ve gained at STU, I can say with the utmost confidence that STU is blessed to have such amazing and supportive alumni who are invested in the University and in its future. Lorena Hidalgo Together, we are raising STU’s profile in the local community, and in the hundreds of communities Alumni Relations Director that you call home. I look forward to meeting as many of you as I can. Phil De Montmollin I’m excited about STU’s future, and what it holds for us as we partner to strengthen and grow our Athletics Information Officer University. I hope you know how important you, as alumni, friends, and supporters, are to STU. None of our accomplishments, past, future and present, would be possible without you. It is an extremely dynamic time to be involved with STU. This year, I am anticipating fresh challenges Kendra Parker and opportunities for us to grow and connect as a community. Law School Communications God Bless and Go Bobcats! David A. Armstrong, J.D. President FALL 2018 VOL. 21 STAY CONNECTED WITH STU ON: CONTACT is also available online at: 2 stu.edu/CONTACTnewsletter SPOTLIGHT St. Thomas University Brings Football and Marching Band to Campus On Wednesday, Aug. 29, history was made at St. Thomas University as the school announced the launch of a football team and marching band for the first time ever. South Florida’s newest football team, the St. Thomas Bobcats, will begin practice in Spring 2019, while building the capacity to play a full season beginning in Fall 2019. The addition of the football team will be the 15th sports program at the school, which competes in the NAIA. “We are coming off a very successful season in STU Athletics history, and I feel the addition of football is the next natural step for our athletics program,” said STU President David A. Armstrong. By adding football and marching band, STU hopes to add upwards of 20 students for football and 10 students for the marching band that would be connected with the programs in Spring 2019. In Fall 2019, the number is expected to grow to 100 football student-athletes and 30 marching band members. The location for an on-campus football facilities, training field, and game-day field are to be determined. The Bobcats, full-time members of The Sun Conference, will compete in the Mid-South Conference in football in The Sun Division. Eric Ward, commissioner of the Mid-South Conference, said he was honored and excited to have St. Thomas University join as the eighth football member in the Sun Division. “Not only will we increase our number to 23 teams in 2019, but will also add to the overall quality of the schools in the conference,” said Ward. “We expect that the STU Bobcats will be competitive quickly in the Sun Division, adding to the overall strength of the schedule across the conference. Congratulations to President Armstrong and the university on their unanimous and enthusiastic acceptance by our Council of Presidents.” At the momentous announcement, special guests included former Miami Dolphins players: Nat Moore, Jason Taylor, O.J. McDuffie, Dick Anderson, Sam Madison, and Larry Little. Also in attendance were: Mitch Morrall and Eric Poms of the Orange Bowl Committee; Dustin Wilke, commissioner of the Sun Conference; Eric Ward, commissioner of the Mid-South Conference; and the Mayor of Miami Gardens Oliver Gilbert III. For more information about the STU Football program, visit: www.stu.edu/football; and for more information about the Marching Band program, visit: www.stu.edu/band. CONTACT is also available online at: stu.edu/CONTACTnewsletter 3 AROUND CAMPUS Q&A With New STU President David A. Armstrong, J.D. Tell us about how some of your prior experiences, What attracted you to St. Thomas University? how do those uniquely prepare you for this role? The weather! I grew up in Cleveland, Ohio, and I’ve had enough winters to last a lifetime. But, more importantly, this is a coastal city The job that most prepared me for being a president was being a head where everything is happening. Miami has great diversity, and STU has football coach. As a head football coach everybody thinks they know a great foundation to build upon. As I learned about the mission, football better than you, they think they can make better calls. And accomplishments, and needs of the university, I believed I could make that is a great way to prepare you to be a president. Having that a difference as president. The prospect of making a difference within experience has been invaluable. And, as a former athlete, I learned an institution that has such a great community footprint is what attracted from my coaches that in order to be successful, you need three things: me to STU. hard work, discipline and a positive attitude. I use those three things every single day as a president. What is it about small, Catholic universities I’ve worked in higher education for more than 30 years, and I’ve been that appeals to you? able to either work in or supervise every single aspect of a college campus, and I’ve had phenomenal mentors and supervisors. Being I am a first generation college student, and a product of a small liberal a second-time president is very interesting because I don’t question arts Catholic college, which is where I met my wife of 27 years and myself as much as I did the first time around. I know what works, and made life-long friends. My parents taught me that education is the I know how to do it. The tough part is convincing everyone else to great equalizer and because of their hard work, I believe I received the believe in what you’re doing. best education that I could possibly get. My goal in life is to make sure that small, Catholic universities not only survive, but thrive. What are your proudest moments in your Coming to STU, what are you impressed by? career thus far? Commencement. Nothing compares to the feeling of seeing students First off, the wonderful people that work here, they are doing God’s walk across the stage and receive their hard-earned diploma. Second work in educating a very diverse student population, which is a proudest moment is the first day of school when I see students coming reflection of the real world. And I want STU to grow so that we are a onto campus. Thirdly, setting enrollment records at every school that bigger part of Miami. We have an excellent undergraduate program I’ve worked in—that’s pretty special. But in the end, the best moment that really supports students and prepares them for success and is when I see a student whose life the university has transformed leadership roles, and we’re a mission-centric institution. because they received an education. 4 AROUND CAMPUS St. Thomas Law Delegation Aid Separated Migrant Families in Texas The humanitarian crisis caused by the separation of migrant children from their asylum-seeking parents has had an effect on everyone that has heard the heartbreaking stories. The St. Thomas Law family answered the call, and headed to Texas to lend their much-needed expertise to assist detained and separated families. This time the effort was launched by the Immigration Law Students Association (ILSA) at St. Thomas Uni- versity, its president, Andrea Valencia, and immediate past president, Diego Sanchez ‘13. The ILSA raised their own funds with the help of generous contributions from our law school faculty members. The group was led by St. Thomas Law professor Lauren Gilbert, who teaches constitutional law, family law, immigration law, and an immigration seminar, the team was comprised of law students, professors and mental health professionals including professor Dr. Judith Bachay ’76, program director of the St. Thomas University graduate counseling programs. In the Aftermath of Maria, Caribbean Students Create Short Story Collection STU students unveiled a rich and diverse short story collection “Stories of Resilience, Courage and Spiritual Transformation” written by Caribbean students displaced by Hurricane Maria. Nineteen students, mostly from Puerto Rico and one from the Dominican Republic, came together to share their stories of resilience and courage before, during, and after the hurricane devastated their homeland.