Magazine - summer 03 - St. John's College

50
{Alumni Association News}
From the Alumni
Association
President
Last night I saw Martin
Scorcese’s Shine a Light, a
concert film of the Rolling
Stones at New York City’s
Beacon Theatre. The final
image of the film is a photograph
of Ahmet Ertegun, class of 1944;
the film is dedicated to his memory.
Mr. Ertegun, co-founder of Atlantic
Records, was backstage at the Beacon on
the first night of this concert, October 29,
2006, when he suffered the fall that led to
his death later that year.
Seeing that tribute from a remarkable
filmmaker to a legend in the recording
industry made me think about the ways in
which we honor people. St. John’s, unlike
most other colleges and universities,
doesn’t grant honorary degrees to the
distinguished individuals who speak at
Commencement each spring. However, the
Alumni Association, since 1949, has
honored people in two ways: granting the
Award of Merit to our alumni “for distinguished
and meritorious service to the
United States, or to his/her native state,
or to St. John’s College; or for outstanding
achievement within his/her chosen field,”
and granting Honorary Alumnus/a status
to people who have had such close involvement
in the St. John’s community that we
want them to join us as “permanent
members of the college.”
Ahmet Ertegun, who shaped the careers
of so many amazing musicians and cofounded
Rock ’n Roll Hall of Fame, was
proud to come to Homecoming in 1994 to
accept his Award of Merit. (Mr. Ertegun
continues to contribute to our community
through the Ahmet Ertegun Education
Fund; Led Zeppelin reunited to raise
money for scholarships on the Annapolis
campus as well as several European
schools.)
Our Award of Merit winners represent a
broad spectrum of alumni in many
different fields. Also in the music industry,
there’s Jac Holzman (A52), who started
Elektra Records in 1950 when he was a
student. In journalism, Ray Cave (A48),
editor of Time magazine; in filmmaking,
screenwriter Jeremy Leven (A64) and
cinematographer Tom Stern (SF69), whose
many films include Unforgiven, American
Beauty, and Mystic River; Annapolis tutor
Howard Zeiderman (A67), was honored in
2002 for his work with the Touchstones
Discussion Project. He shared the podium
that year with classmates including
Candace Brightman, who created the light
shows for the Grateful Dead. Our alumni
have also made tremendous contributions
in government, industry, and in not-forprofits
and non-governmental organizations
as well as significant contributions
to the future of St. John’s. We recognize
these at the Homecoming Dinner on
Saturday night.
Our Honorary Alumni are welcomed
into our community each year during the
All-alumni Gatherings held during the
day on Saturday of Homecoming. These
are individuals who have demonstrated
an outstanding commitment to our
educational program and the community.
Last year, we gave the award to two
members of the Annapolis community,
Robert Hunt and Alton Waldron, each of
whom has participated in the college’s
community seminars for 50 years. Often,
we honor retiring tutors and long-time
staff members, recognizing their
These are individuals
who have demonstrated
an outstanding
commitment to our
educational program
and the community.
Jason Walsh (a85)
ST. JOHN’S COLLEGE
ALUMNI ASSOCIATION
All alumni have automatic membership in
the St. John’s College Alumni Association.
The Alumni Association is an independent
organization, with a Board of Directors
elected by and from the alumni body. The
board meets four times a year, twice on each
campus, to plan programs and coordinate the
affairs of the association. This newsletter
within The College magazine is sponsored by
the Alumni Association and communicates
association news and events of interest.
President – Jason Walsh (A85)
Vice President – Steve Thomas (SF74)
Secretary – Joanne Murray (A70)
Treasurer – Richard Cowles (SFGI95)
Mailing address – Alumni Association,
St. John’s College, P.O. Box 2800, Annapolis,
MD 21404, or 1160 Camino Cruz Blanca,
Santa Fe, NM 87505-4599.
impact—people like Barbara Leonard
(HA55) and Brother Robert Smith (HA90).
Last year, we again honored Jeffrey Bishop
(HA87), the long-time vice president of the
college, who died last July. Jeff was one of
the very few Honorary Alumni to also be
recognized with an Award of Merit,
presented posthumously, for his great
contributions to the college.
This year at Santa Fe Homecoming, the
Alumni Association will also single out a
special group for recognition: the Class of
1968, the first students to graduate from
the campus. These men and women
were bold enough to be the pioneers
of an emerging campus and they deserve
recognition.
Complete lists of our Award of Merit
recipients and Honorary Alumni are on
the Alumni Association Web site. Go to
the St. John’s Web site at: www.stjohnscollege.edu,
and click on Alumni. If you would
like to nominate individuals for the Award
of Merit or as Honorary Alumni, contact
the Alumni office on either campus: Jo Ann
Mattson in Annapolis,
jamattson@sjca.edu; or Michael Bales in
Santa Fe, michael.bales@sjcsf.edu. The
Nominations Committee of the Alumni
Association will be pleased to consider
your suggestions.
Jason Walsh (A85)
Alumni Association President
{ The College • St. John’s College • Summer 2008 }