Manhattan College gets a new trustee chairman

The namesake for Manhattan College’s business school Tom O’Malley has been named interim chairman of the school’s board of trustees.

The former PBF Energy chief executive replaces William Dooley, who is stepping down from his chair after 15 years. O’Malley had been chair from 2005 to 2012.

The 1963 alumnus, who now lives in Palm Beach, Florida after running the  privately owned oil refining company PBF Energy, made a $25 million gift to the college’s business school in 2018.  O’Malley’s contribution is the largest in the college’s history.

The interim chairman was a recipient of Manhattan College’s De La Salle Medal in 1994. He was also awarded an honorary degree from the college in 2012.

The National Conference of Christians and Jews gave him the Humanitarian Award, and the Mercantile Exchange gave him the Director’s Award for Global Vision.

Student earns UA degree

Greater Riverdale resident Tristan Cruz received his bachelor of science in commerce and business administration from the University of Alabama during its summer commencement on Aug. 6.

The university awarded more than 1,400 degrees during the ceremony.

The university, which was formed in 1831, offers students a premier educational, cultural, and social experience with more than 200 undergraduate, graduate, and professional programs.

Student heads to College of the Holy Cross

A greater Riverdale student has started his freshman year at The College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Massachusetts,

David Medina, Class of 2026, is among the school’s largest class ever at 904 students. It includes students from 575 high schools, 14 countries and four continents.

A quarter of the total class are students of color and international students. There are also 24 languages spoken, and 50 members hold dual citizenship.

Nine students live within a mile of campus.

These newly minted Crusaders have distinguished themselves through community service, leadership roles, and diverse participation in areas like the arts, music and athletics.

“Holy Cross is built for broad, deep and meaningful education and that says something very important about the kind of student who matriculates here.

“Our classes are small and there is nowhere to hide — in the best possible sense,” President Vincent Rougeau said.

The freshmen arrived on campus and moved into the residence halls on Saturday, Aug. 27, where they were welcomed to Mount St. James by an enthusiastic purple crew of current students, staff, faculty and alumni.

Fall classes began on Aug. 30.

The college is among the nation’s leading liberal arts institutions. A highly selective, four-year, exclusively undergraduate college of 3,100 students, Holy Cross is renowned for offering a rigorous, personalized education in the Jesuit, Catholic tradition.

Since its founding in 1843, Holy Cross has made a positive impact in society by graduating students who distinguish themselves as thoughtful leaders in business, professional and civic life.

National Guard deployment, honor

Greater Riverdale’s Ryan Diaz, a combat engineer assigned to Alpha Company, 1st Battalion’s 69th Infantry Regiment, was one of the few recognized for outstanding performance in the New York Army National Guard.

The young soldier received the Army Achievement Medal and was recognized for his outstanding performance during pre-mobilization training at Fort Drum earlier this year.

The 1st battalion, 69th Infantry’s history goes back to World War I and World War II, Civil War, and both wars in Iraq and Afghanistan in more recent years.

The battalion is often known for the Irish folk song “The Fighting 69th.”

It was called to active duty earlier this year and is preparing for an overseas security mission.