$1 million awarded to Cabrini

Chris Jones

President Antoinette Iadarola celebrated her10 year anniversary with a black-tie affair on Friday, Oct. 18. To honor Cabrini’s first lay-president, the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus donated one million dollars to the new science building.

The sisters have been very generous to the college since 1957, when Sister Ursula Infante founded the school. They also donated one million dollars to the school to help build the Dixon Center. The sisters have been able to contribute to the school because of their simple lifestyle.

The one million dollars will be added to the fund to build the new science building. The building is not expected to bring more students to the college, as it is just to bring a higher percentage of science majors.

Iadarola has been working on building up the college from the beginning. Since her start at Cabrini, Iadarola has seen the enrolment double, the residence population nearly triple, new residence halls, the Dixon Center, and the Hamilton Foundation wing completed. “I work with people who dream great dreams: students, alums, faculty, trustees and staff who operate from passion, who believe in the mission, who believe in what they are doing with a vision,” Iadarola said at the function.

Iadarola was presented with many gifts to honor her ten years of service to Cabrini. Superior General Sister Lina Columbini, MSC, of Rome, sent a personal letter to the president congratulating her.

The president received a key to Radnor Township, given to her by the Radnor Township Manager, David Bashore. The gold key was presented as a surprise to the president. The board of trustees gave a presidential robe, handmade by J. Whipple and Company in England. The company makes robes for the most elite institutions of higher learning, such as, Oxford University one of Iadarola’s alma maters.

President George Bush sent a congratulatory letter and Pope John Paul sent a blessing for the evening’s festivities. Republican Pennsylvania congressman Curt Weldon allowed a capitol flag to be displayed in the mansion throughout the evening. Nikki Giovanni wrote a special poem for Iadarola which appeared in a commemorative book featuring the achievements of Iadarola during her 10 years.