LOUDONVILLE, N.Y. — Nearly 400 members of the Siena College community gathered last month to celebrate the new Fr. Kenneth P. Paulli ‘82, O.F.M., Ed.D. Scholarship. A Mass at St. Mary of the Angels Chapel was celebrated Oct. 7 by Kenneth Paulli, OFM, the college’s chief of staff, and was followed by a reception in the new residence hall.
“People seemed pleased to rally around both the scholarship and the friars,” Ken said.
During the Mass, at which Ken preached, Fr. Michael Farano, of the Diocese of Albany, N.Y., spoke about the contributions of the Franciscans to the area. “He said that what the friars do at Siena is tremendous and what they offer in the capital district is very valuable,” said Ken, who helps at St. Pius X Church in Loudonville where Fr. Farano is pastor.
Several people spoke at the reception, including Siena president Kevin Mullen, OFM, John Nigro, chair of the honorary committee that established the scholarship, Siena student Michelle Campbell, and Ken’s parents.
The scholarship, which has already raised more than $300,000, is designated for students in financial need who value Catholic education. Ken, who teaches class in addition to serving in his administrative role, is known as a student-centered and challenging teacher. He is an advocate of collaborative and thorough work, is compassionate to students, and exemplifies the Franciscan educational values.
“It was heartwarming to see so many people,” said Ken, referring to Siena faculty, staff, administrators and his parents, who traveled from Tennessee. “My relatives came from as far away as Arizona and Florida.”
Members of the scholarship honorary committee, in addition to Kevin Mullen, include previous Siena presidents,Kevin Mackin, OFM, William McConville, OFM, Hugh Hines, OFM, and Matthew Conlin, OFM.
The scholarship honors Ken’s 25 years as a friar and the 20th anniversary of his ordination this year. When the scholarship was announced last summer, Ken requested that it specifically honor his grandparents, Alfred and Lena Albano and Paul and Josephine Paulli, who were advocates of education, although none attended school beyond the eighth grade. It was their commitment to education that encouraged him to earn a doctorate in education, he said, in a September issue of HNP Today. — Jocelyn Thomas is communications director for Holy Name Province. Wendy Healy contributed to this article.
The scholarship, which has already raised more than $300,000, is designated for students in financial need who value Catholic education. Ken, who teaches class in addition to serving in his administrative role, is known as a student-centered and challenging teacher. He is an advocate of collaborative and thorough work, is compassionate to students, and exemplifies the Franciscan educational values.