Four Saint Peter’s University students are about to embark on an exciting career journey. Accounting majors, Mark Alano ’17, Christian Cano ’17, David Cano ’17 and Yoel Nova Reina ’18 will be participating in KPMG LLP’s prestigious and competitive winter internship program.

“Saint Peter’s University has blessed me with endless opportunities, especially when it comes to my future career. Being accepted to KPMG’s winter internship program is a testament to that. Saint Peter’s University is a wonderful establishment that helps create bonds and careers,” said Alano.

“This internship is a critical part of their professional growth,” said Crescenzo G. Fonzo, M.A., director for senior student career engagement and success at Saint Peter’s.

Support from alumni was instrumental in orchestrating the relationship between Saint Peter’s and the Big Four public accounting firm KPMG. The on-campus interviews were conducted in the Center for Career Engagement and Experiential Learning (CEEL) by Christina Shea ’00, audit partner at KPMG, and Emeka Elenwune ’06, senior manager at KPMG.

For more stories about Saint Peter’s, scroll down:

Saint Peter’s Recognized as One of the Most Environmentally Responsible Colleges
Saint Peter’s University Named to the 2015 President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll

KPMG is an audit, tax and advisory firm, and the students will be working in KPMG’s Short Hills, N.J. location. KPMG believes that company culture has a significant impact on audit quality, and they focus on customer service as well as professional development for their staff. Their approach is to deliver a quality audit that is risk-based, industry specific and tailored to an entity’s operational structure size. KPMG recruits auditors who are able to think critically, communicate effectively and have proven technical ability.

“Our four students accepting the KPMG internship is really a key step in the KPMG partnership and provides those students with the skills they need to grow and flourish in the professional field,” said Fonzo.

The program provides many opportunities such as the ability to explore career options and to receive an inside look at the potential career path of an auditor. The KPMG internship will help the students establish a professional network with a variety of people and connect with mentors. Lastly, the internship offers valuable experience that sets these students apart as they enter the workforce after graduation, even possibly at KPMG.

“I am extremely excited to have four Saint Peter’s students be a part of KPMG’s winter internship program. This will continue the long standing relationship that the University has had with the firm. It is an excellent opportunity for the students to see first-hand what it is like to work in public accounting. They should be very proud of themselves and their accomplishments!” said Shea, alumna and audit partner at KPMG.

Saint Peter’s Recognized as One of the Most Environmentally Responsible Colleges

Saint Peter’s University today announced that it was included in “The Princeton Review’s Guide to 361 Green Colleges: 2016 Edition.” A presence on this list means Saint Peter’s is one of the 361 most environmentally responsible colleges in the United States and Canada, according to The Princeton Review, an education services company known for its test prep programs and college rankings, ratings and guidebook profiles.

“Laudato si’, Pope Francis’ encyclical on the environment and human ecology, calls us to care for our common home and address the issue of climate change,” said Eugene J. Cornacchia, Ph.D., president of Saint Peter’s University. “As the president of New Jersey’s Jesuit university, I have maintained a steadfast commitment to living out Pope Francis’ call to foster green energy and sustainable practices. The University takes great pride in the continued recognition of our efforts in this area from The Princeton Review.”

The Princeton Review chose the schools for this seventh annual edition of its “green guide” based on data from the company’s 2015-16 survey of hundreds of four-year colleges concerning the schools’ commitments to the environment and sustainability. The complete guide can be downloaded at http://www.princetonreview.com/green-guide.

“We strongly recommend Saint Peter’s and the other fine colleges in this guide to the many environmentally-minded students who seek to study and live at green colleges,” said Robert Franek, senior vice president-publisher for The Princeton Review. “Among more than 10,000 teens and parents who participated in our 2016 College Hopes & Worries Survey, 61 percent told us that having information about a school’s commitment to the environment would influence their decision to apply to or attend the college.”

In the guide’s profile on Saint Peter’s University, The Princeton Review highlights the University’s Sustainability Council and the academic programs with an environmental focus. The profile also features sustainability-oriented student groups such as Students Against Violating the Earth (SAVE) and the Junkyard Dogs. The Mac Mahon Student Center, which is a LEED-Silver building, is also highlighted along with previous green projects at Saint Peter’s including the implementation of 100 percent renewable energy generated by wind power as the sole source of purchased electricity and the University’s Climate Action Plan.

Saint Peter’s University Named to the 2015 President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll

Saint Peter’s University today announced that it has been named to the 2015 President’s Higher Education Honor Roll, a national honor roll that recognizes institutions of higher education that support exemplary community service programs and raise the visibility of effective practices in campus community partnerships. Saint Peter’s was recognized in all four categories of the President’s Honor Roll, which include General Community Service, Interfaith Community Service, Economic Opportunity and Education. Saint Peter’s is the only institution in the state of New Jersey to be recognized in all four categories.

“Community service and campus community partnerships are a hallmark of a Saint Peter’s education,” said Eugene J. Cornacchia, Ph.D., president of Saint Peter’s University. “We take great pride in this recognition because it shines a light on the hard work and dedication of the members of our University community who are making an impact on our local community and beyond.”

The General Community Service category recognizes institutions that have made a commitment to improving the quality of life of off-campus community residents, particularly low-income individuals. In this category, Saint Peter’s was recognized for the University’s work with the Saint Peter’s Food and Clothes Pantry; the Emmaus Project, which conducts homeless outreach; and the Junkyard Dogs, a group of students and community members who regularly meet to collect litter around the local community.

The Interfaith Community Service category acknowledges programs that foster meaningful relationships among community members of differing faiths and backgrounds. Saint Peter’s was recognized “with distinction” in this category for programs such as global outreach; which hosts annual domestic and international service trips; the Angel Giving Tree, an initiative to collect gifts for children in need in the surrounding community; and the activities of the multicultural and interfaith student organizations on campus.

The Economic Opportunity category recognizes institutions with service programs that build economic independence, increase family stability and create more sustainable and resilient communities. Saint Peter’s was honored for the University’s work with the Ignite Institute, a Center of Excellence at Saint Peter’s that is poised to harness the energy of the growing entrepreneurial community in the Jersey City area; Small Business Project, a program that enabled students to work with area businesses to examine the effects of gentrification; and Saint Peter’s efforts with immigration reform.

The Education category recognizes institutions that have made a commitment to improving educational outcomes for children and youth in pre-kindergarten through undergraduate education. The programs that were acknowledged in this category are the service learning program, the Big Brothers Big Sisters partnership and the Latino/a Engagement in Education Program (LEEP), which engages students as well as their families for information sessions and mentoring programs.