By Steve Mosco
Thousands of guests and graduates are expected to pack the Great Lawn at St. John’s University in Jamaica Estates this Sunday during the school’s 143rd commencement.
The procession of graduates is scheduled to start at 10 a.m., rain or shine.
St. John’s announced U.S. Rep. Peter King (R-Massapequa Park) would deliver the commencement address, while FDNY Commissioner Sal Cassano will preside over the Staten Island campus ceremony this Saturday.
“A theme of this year’s commencement exercises is the remarkable collaborative efforts of New Yorkers in times of distress in the wake of Hurricane Sandy. We are fortunate to have our class of 2013 hear of the valiant efforts of two major contributors to that recovery effort, as Congressman King addresses our students in Queens and Commissioner Cassano is honored at our Staten Island ceremony,” said university President the Rev. Donald Harrington, who will resign as head of the school this summer.
King, a Republican, is serving his 11th term in the House of Representatives, while Cassano is the 32nd fire commissioner in the 145-year history of the FDNY and was appointed by Mayor Michael Bloomberg in 2010.
Reach reporter Steve Mosco by e-mail at smosco@cnglocal.com or by phone at 718-260-4546.
