Scranton Honors Staff Who Serve the Jesuit Mission
The University of Scranton presented Sursum Corda (Lift Up Your Hearts) Awards to four staff members at a convocation held on campus this month. The award recognizes members of the University’s professional/paraprofessional staff, clerical/technical staff and maintenance/public safety staff who have made outstanding contributions to the life and mission of the University. First row, from left, are: Rev. Scott R. Pilarz, S.J., president; Sursum Corda Award recipients Donna Simpson, Bryn Schofield and John Harris. Second row: Patricia Tetreault, vice president for human resources., and Jeffrey Gingerich, Ph.D., senior provost and vice president of academic affairs. Sursum Corda Award recipient Andrea Mantione, D.N.P., was absent from the photo.Sursum Corda Awards were presented to four staff members, and University of Scranton President Rev. Scott R. Pilarz, S.J., delivered his State of the University address at the Spring Convocation, which took place in the McIlhenny Ballroom of the DeNaples Center on Feb. 13. In addition, new staff members who joined the University between Feb. 1, 2019, and Jan. 31, 2020, were recognized.
Sursum Corda (Lift Up Your Hearts) Awards recognize members of the University’s professional/paraprofessional staff, clerical/technical staff and maintenance/public safety staff who have made outstanding contributions to the life and mission of the University. This year’s recipients were: John Harris, electrician; Andrea Mantione, D.N.P., director of the Leahy Community Health and Family Center; Bryn Schofield, administrative assistant to associate dean, College of Arts and Sciences; and Donna Simpson, consultant manager, Small Business Development Center.
In his remarks, Father Pilarz thanked the award recipients “for the real and sacred work” they do for the University, and he extends that thanks “to all those who are here today.”
He read the poem “To be of use” by Marge Piercy, which begins:
“The people I love the best
jump into work head first
without dallying in the shallows …”
In his address, Father Pilarz mentioned the ongoing progress made through the University’s Strategic Enrollment Plan, which he described as “an inclusive and broad-based effort,” and noted, “two new majors added as a direct result of this process – mechanical engineering and business analytics.”
Father Pilarz also discussed the ongoing planning process for the University’s strategic plan, which should be completed in May, and the progress made by the Slattery Center for the Humanities, for which he thanked faculty leaders, working with Center’s executive director, for moving the initiative forward.
In closing, Father Pilarz invited the University community to attend the St. Thomas Gateway celebration on Thursday, Feb. 20.
