Holocaust survivor and Catholic bishop to be honored at SXU's 2011 Winter Commencement

Sidney Finkel and the Most Reverend Moses B. Anderson will attend Dec. 17 ceremony

Chicago (Dec. 6, 2011) Saint Xavier University is pleased to announce that Holocaust survivor, speaker, and author Sidney Finkel will deliver the University's 2011 Winter Commencement address on Sat., Dec. 17. Finkel and the Most Reverend Moses B. Anderson, S.S.E., '68, retired Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Detroit, will receive honorary degrees at the ceremony, which will take place at 10 a.m. in the Shannon Center at the University's Chicago campus, 3700 W. 103rd St.

Finkel is one of the few living Holocaust survivors. At the age of seven in 1939, Finkel's family was separated and he was taken to the Buchenwald concentration camp where he was forced to work as a slave laborer. He learned to survive on his own until his liberation in 1945, when he and 700 other Jewish children found refuge in England. He began speaking of his lost childhood to the horrors of the Holocaust only within the past 20 years. Once he began to share his testimony, he discovered telling the story brought healing. Finkel in 2006 published his memoir, "Sevek and the Holocaust: The Boy Who Refused to Die," which is used in classrooms across the country. A full accounting of Finkel’s exceptional public service is located on his website, www.holocaustspeaker.com.

Bishop Anderson is a member of the Society of Saint Edmund and served as Auxiliary Bishop of Detroit from 1983 until he retired in 2004. He was appointed to serve Region One within the Archdiocese, which included 63 churches, 250 priests, three colleges, a university, a hospital, a boy's home and several schools. In 1992, he also was appointed pastor of Precious Blood Parish in Detroit in addition to his other responsibilities.

Bishop Anderson began a landmark interracial tutorial program at Saint Catherine's Parish in Elizabeth City, N.C., where he served as pastor from 1961 to 1964, and was an advocate of educational and civil rights issues for young African-Americans with the New York-Vermont Youth Project. He holds a B.A. in philosophy and an M.S. in sociology from Saint Michael's College and an M.A. in theology from Saint Xavier University. He received the Shield of Saint Xavier, SXU's highest honor, in 1997.

For more information about SXU's 2011 Winter Commencement, please visit www.sxu.edu, keyword: commencement or contact commencement@sxu.edu.

-SXU-

Media Contact:
Karla Thomas, Executive Director of Media Relations
(773) 298-3937 or kthomas@sxu.edu

SXU raises more than $28,000 for study abroad scholarship named for beloved alum

Study abroad scholarship commemorates life of Angelo Bonadonna, Jr. '08

Chicago (Dec. 1, 2011) Saint Xavier University and the surrounding community recently raised more than $28,000 to support a new scholarship named for a beloved deceased alumnus.

The Angelo Bonadonna, Jr. Study Abroad Scholarship provides SXU students with the opportunity to receive support for study abroad programs. A benefit to endow the scholarship was held earlier this year at Gilhooley's Grande Saloon and the first scholarship is expected to be awarded for the Fall 2012 semester.

Angelo Bonadonna, Jr. ’08 was a dynamic young man who was deeply involved in the SXU community. He was an honors student in psychology and communications, and was commended with a 2007 Illinois Student Laureate Award by the Lincoln Academy of Illinois. He was passionate about broadcasting and producing programs for SXU’s student-run radio station WXAV and received many accolades, including the 2007 Illinois Broadcast Association “Best Sports Broadcast” award. Angelo loved adventure and traveled across the world, including Europe, Africa, India and Mexico. He passed away in Thailand, where he was working as a teacher.

The University extends a heartfelt thank you to the benefit planning committee and to the individuals and corporations who helped support the benefit, including: April Showers Candle Designs, Bartolini's, Beth Bellantuono, Cake Poppery, Cavatappi Restaurant, Chartwells, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Cooper's Hawk Winery and Restaurant, Couture Hair and Nail Salon, Direct Mobile, Dr. Stephen Adams, Fantastic Sam's, Gilhooley's Grande Saloon, Gina Pantone and Annie Kelly, Jill Kempner, Hog Wild, Intelligentsia Coffee, Kate and Marty Kelly, Kenwood Liquors, Lia Sophia, Lindy's Chili, Marotte's Bar and Grill, Nora Gawlik, Now Healing, Oak Lawn Florist, Oak Lawn Hilton, Palermo's, Papa Joe's, Rosebud, Sheila Kendryna, Smoke's Club, South Side Irish Imports, Stars and Stripes Chicago, Suzanne Kendryna, Tom Kinasz, Valarie Matera, Wagner's Seafood, Whitney's Restaurant, Windy City ThunderBolts, and Wojo's.

Learn more about the Angelo Bonadonna, Jr. Study Abroad Scholarship or make a donation at http://angelofund.org.

-SXU-

Media Contact:
Karla Thomas, Executive Director of Media Relations
(773) 298-3937 or kthomas@sxu.edu

SXU's Service Through Action Team volunteers at Greater Chicago Food Depository

Students and alumni assisted in packing almost 800 boxes of food for local families

Chicago (Dec. 1, 2011) Saint Xavier University's Service Through Action Team once again brought alumni and students together to combat hunger in the community. Nearly 20 S.T.A.T. members recently visited the Greater Chicago Food Depository to package nearly 800 boxes of goods for some of Cook County's less fortunate families.

S.T.A.T. volunteers worked alongside Depository staff members as well as other volunteers to pack boxes of food supplies containing enough provisions to feed a family of four to five people for four days.

“I am always happy to give back to the community,” said alumnus Glen Rylko ’03, ’06, of Oak Lawn, a frequent supporter of S.T.A.T. initiatives. “With so many people in need, I can’t wait for the next S.T.A.T. project.”

S.T.A.T. also has prepared and donated more than 3,500 bagged lunches to local shelters since its inception in December, 2009.

For more information about S.T.A.T. and its upcoming service projects, please contact The Office of Alumni and Parent Relations at (773) 298-3316 or alumni@sxu.edu.

-SXU-

Media Contact:
Karla Thomas, Executive Director of Media Relations
(773) 298-3937 or kthomas@sxu.edu