ALLEGANY, N.Y. – St. Bonaventure University will award an honorary degree toAlcuin Coyle during the celebration of the feast of St. Bonaventure, July 14-15, here.
Alcuin’s teaching and administrative experience spans 50 years, including serving as dean of students/academic dean from 1964 to 1970 at Christ the King Seminary at St. Bonaventure; chair of the Department of Sacred Science from 1965 to 1975 at St. Bonaventure; academic dean of WashingtoTheological Union from 1970 to 1975; and president of Catholic Theological Union in Chicago from 1975 to 81. Alcuin retired in February after 20 years as director of adult education at St. Francis of Assisi in New York City.
In addition to his bachelor’s degree in philosophy and master’s degree in classical languages from St. Bonaventure, Alcuin earned an S.T.L. (moral theology) and a J.C.D. (Church law) from the Pontificium Athenaeum Antonianum in Rome. He has had a number of articles published in professional journals in the areas of theology, canon law and religious life.
At St. Bonaventure’s 146th Commencement Exercises, scheduled for Sunday, May 14, in the Reilly Center Arena, R. Kerry Clark, vice chairman of the Board of Directors and a director of Procter & Gamble Company, will receive an honorary doctorate and serve as keynote speaker.
Giving people, especially children, around the globe the opportunity to “live, learn and thrive” is Clark’s mission as overseer of P&G’s Family Health business, which is one-third of P&G’s worldwide business.
P&G, says Clark, has two signature projects. The first is making the world’s water safe to drink because more than a billion people in the world lack access to clean drinking water. The second is improving the life of children in developing countries through such projects as the Children’s Safe Drinking Water program.
“If we focus on children now, we can change the future for generations of children,” says Clark.
“Kerry Clark is a global citizen and business leader. He has an important message to share with graduates who will face an interconnected world and who must work and serve as world citizens,” said the university president, Sister Margaret Carney.
Also receiving an honorary degree during the commencement exercises will be William Richter, one of the “The Anniversary Campaign for St. Bonaventure University” leading philanthropists, former trustee and successful businessman.
Through a generous $3 million donation made by William Richter in 2002 in honor of his wife’s alma mater, the Sandra A. and William L. Richter Center, a state-of-the-art $6.2 million recreation facility opened on September 30, 2004. The center offers three basketball courts, a climbing wall, two racquetball/squash courts, an indoor track, locker rooms, an aerobics room and 5,000-square-foot cardiovascular and weight room.
William Richter served on the St. Bonaventure University Board of Trustees from 2002 to 2005, during which time he chaired the investment committee of the board. He continues to consult on investment strategy.