Celebrate 50 Years Women Iona

Senate Resolution No. 2017 BY: Senator MAYER COMMEMORATING 50 years of women at Iona College to be celebrated with a Kick-Off Reception in September of 2019 WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to recognize and commend those exemplary institutions of higher education within the State of New York for their enduring commitment to the pursuit of academic excellence; and WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to commemorate 50 years of women at Iona College to be celebrated with a Kick-Off Reception in September of 2019, and continuing with a myriad events throughout the year; and WHEREAS, This campus wide celebration will include lectures, exhibitions and special events hosted by the LaPenta School of Business, the School of Arts & Science, the Hynes Institute for Entrepreneurship & Innovation and various campus organizations; these special programs will highlight women and their contributions to the College and the larger society; and WHEREAS, Located in New Rochelle, New York, Iona College is a caring academic community, inspired by the legacy of Blessed Edmund Rice and the Christian Brothers, which embodies opportunity, justice, and the liberating power of education; and WHEREAS, Iona College's purpose is to foster intellectual inquiry, community engagement, and an appreciation for diversity; and WHEREAS, In the tradition of American Catholic Higher Education, Iona College commits its energies and resources to the development of graduates recognized for their ethics, creativity and problem-solving abilities; their independent and adaptable thinking; their joy in lifelong learning; and their enduring integration of mind, body and spirit; and WHEREAS, Iona College is a college of choice for motivated students seeking to better their lives and the lives of others, using their education for the common good; their success is facilitated by a committed and talented faculty and staff, who inspire students to prepare for full lives and productive careers in a liberal arts based and a technology-rich, collaborative learning environment which emphasizes critical thinking and creativity; and WHEREAS, Developing the whole person, Iona College facilitates leadership development, promotes community engagement and service learning, encourages enrichment through diversity, and capitalizes on its proximity to New York City with its wealth of learning and employment opportunities; and WHEREAS, Established in 1940 with nine Christian Brothers and six lay faculty greeting the first class, Iona College's goal was to open new paths to economic and social advancement for the sons of New York's working class; and WHEREAS, The name Iona was selected after a small island off the west coast of Scotland where St. Columba founded an abbey in 563; as did the monks of St. Columba's time, Iona's founders believed in the power of education to move the world; and WHEREAS, America's entry into World War II caused Iona College's small enrollment to decline; only three members of the entering class went on to receive Bachelor of Arts degrees in August of 1944; despite this, the life of the college survived and student groups such as the newspaper, sports teams and service clubs were active; and WHEREAS, After the war, returning veterans, helped by the GI Bill and attracted by Iona's practical majors, soon stretched the College to capacity; in 1948, 71 men graduated and by 1950, the number increased to