6/9/2009

The Suffolk University Alumni Association continues the tradition of honoring outstanding graduates with the Outstanding Alumni Achievement Awards at a special presentation during Alumni Weekend on Saturday, June 13th at the Massachusetts State House.

The 2009 recipients from the College of Arts and Sciences are Arthur Bernard, BA’80, honored with the Alumni Achievement Award, and Steven Skiffington, BA’83 who will receive the Alumni Service Award. The Sawyer Business School will recognize Paulette Renault-Caragianes, MPA’05 with the Achievement Award and Raymond J. Ciccolo, BSBA’59 with the Service Award.  The Young Alumni Awards will be presented to Leonard Adjetey, BS’04, MSPS’07 and Ivette R. Argueta, BSBA’07.  Also this year there will be a Special Recognition Award given to Francis X. Sullivan, BSJ’83.

 

Alumni Achievement Award, College of Arts and Sciences

Arthur Bernard, Esq., BA’80
Cabinet Affairs Secretary, The Executive Office of the Governor
Following his studies in Political Science at Suffolk University, Arthur Bernard continued his interest and passion for politics through a number of high level roles and positions related to state government. Arthur was the Chief of Staff to former Senate President Robert Travaglini for four years, managing operations and functions of the state Senate and served as the primary contact for state senators, the House of Representatives, the Governor’s Office and external organizations with business before the Senate. He then served as legal counsel for the University of Massachusetts before being appointed as vice chancellor for government relations and public affairs for UMass Boston. In this role, Arthur’s expertise in urban outreach, public policy, communications, and government and community relations where leveraged to advance the university’s legislative agenda and secure government support for major university initiatives. Last year Governor Deval Patrick named University of Massachusetts Boston Vice Chancellor Arthur Bernard, as a senior advisor. As Cabinet Affairs Secretary, Arthur is responsible for coordinating policy priorities for the Patrick Administration.

Though Arthur Bernard has physically not traveled far from the campus of Suffolk to the State House, he has enjoyed a remarkable career journey related to his political sciences studies at Suffolk.  Arthur also continues to stay involved as a volunteer and shares his experiences with students and with other alumni.

 

Alumni Service Award, College of Arts and Sciences

Steven Skiffington, BA’83
Regional Vice President, Veolia Transportation
It was exactly a year ago during Alumni Weekend, that Steve led his classmates in celebrating their 25th Reunion.  As the Chair, he brought together a group of 16 committee members from the Class of ’83 as they built the first 25th Reunion celebration during Alumni Weekend. Steve inspired the group to reunite and reconnect as they reached out to other classmates to return back to their alma mater. Not only did Steve drive the outreach and program with great success, but he encouraged many of the committee to continue to stay engaged by attending alumni programs, volunteering, and contributing to the Annual Fund.

As a way to continue to give back to his alma mater, Steve has become committed to offering students professional experience by participating in the Connections Career Fair and Summer Internship Fair through his company, Veolia Transportation. After reconnecting with his former faculty, John Berg, he recently became a member of the Government Alumni Advisory Committee to explore opportunities for Government Alumni to mentor current students.

 

Alumni Achievement Award, Sawyer Business School

Paulette Renault-Caragianes, MPA’05
Health Director, City of Somerville
With her professional work in nursing and health as a foundation, Paulette directed school-based health services for the Lowell Community Health Center (LCHC) within the City of Lowell Public Schools before coming to Suffolk. She subsequently took on the role of Director of External Relations for the Health Center, working with local, state and federal officials to identify and bring resources to LCHC staff and consumers.

After completing her MPA at Suffolk, Paulette served as Director of Community Health and Oral Health Initiatives in the Office of Community Programs at UMass Medical School Commonwealth Medicine. During her tenure, she worked on community health initiatives across the state on behalf of MassHealth.

Paulette recently accepted the position of Health Director for the City of Somerville – taking on this opportunity with the same zest for learning, and a commitment to serve her community that she has applied to everything she does.  This exciting and important appointment allows Paulette to combine her passion and experience in community health policy and practice. In her role as Director, she now leads a dedicated team who provide public health services to the City, effectively maintaining health and wellness of its citizens through policymaking, school and public nursing services, health and wellness programs, vaccine and immunization distribution, emergency preparedness,  public health education campaigns, communicable disease investigation, and public health regulation.

Her knowledge and skills have made an impact on community health policy and practice across the Commonwealth and we are proud to call her an alumnus of Suffolk University.

 

Alumni Service Award, Sawyer Business School

Raymond J. Ciccolo, BSBA’59 
President & CEO, Village Automotive Group
Ray is a great friend of Suffolk University and an inspiration for our students.  He has been returning on a regular basis to campus to teach family business classes.

He has presented a case study on the Village Automotive Group, his family business, and led the discussion challenging students to give him a solution regarding a succession plan for his business, occasionally even including his daughter and son-in-law in the classroom debate.

His energy, enthusiasm and the clever way he teaches make him an exceptional asset to the school and a great example of what one of our graduates can achieve.
Additionally, he has endowed a scholarship so that others can attend Suffolk less encumbered by the need to work than he was – a man who worked and paid his own way through college a Scholarship was, to Ray, the perfect way to give back. “I had the most menial jobs anybody could have,” he says. “I worked at the Ritz-Carlton as a bottle breaker. All I did was break glass whiskey bottles into a big barrel.”
While other students did their homework and got a good night’s sleep, Ciccolo returned home late at night exhausted from his job as a human trash compactor, covered in glass and smelling of liquor. Keeping up in school was a challenge, to say the least—and he hopes his gift will enable someone like him to make it through college. As he once said, “My experience taught me to see the positives in the kids whose circumstances are different.” 

 

Young Alumni Awards

Leonard Adjetey, BS’04, MSPS’07
Bank Secrecy Act Associate, Century Trust Bank Company

Ivette R. Argueta, BSBA’07
Assistant to the Vice President of Marketing, Simmons College
Leonard and Ivette currently serve as co-chairs of Suffolk University’s Young Alumni Advisory Group.  Through their leadership, this group has significantly expanded the program offerings for young alumni, engaging this diverse and dynamic constituency in the exciting times following graduation.  The two of them worked together to introduce the very successful “Life 101” series.  Offered quarterly, this series of practical life skill workshops on home buying, networking, finances, and career management has educated and engaged our alumni who are embarking on many important first steps post-graduation.  In addition, the two have spearheaded social events, including an annual signature event at the MFA-- one of our most well-attended events of the year. Their energy is contagious, and together they have helped ensure that Suffolk’s alumni network only continues to grow. 

 

Special Recognition Award

Mr. Frances X. Sullivan, BSJ’83
Columnist, Bulletin Newspapers
Mr. Frances X. Sullivan, BSJ’83, is also being recognized at this ceremony.  For Frank, we have created a new and unique award for special recognition. What most of you don’t know is, as a young man, Frank took an unusual path to Suffolk. After having been mugged and shot – leaving him legally blind and partially deaf, he found himself unable to peruse his dream of becoming a firefighter. Instead, the Judge hearing the case asked young Mr. Sullivan what he intended to do with his life. The Judge suggested Suffolk. And so began an unexpected life.

Fast forward 25 or so years and you find Frank, who with a bullet still lodged in his head, and after having spent a lifetime in service to his community, jumping to the aid of a fellow citizen and physically intervening to stop yet another vicious attack. This time the attacker was pummeling a young man who, as fate would have it, is a student at Suffolk.

For his generous spirit, a life spent in community service and valor on behalf of a Suffolk University student, we thank you Frank, and honor you.

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