Chestnut Hill College Awards the St. Catherine Medal to Staten Island Resident Christopher Ryan

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Christopher Ryan of Staten Island with Chestnut Hill College President, Sister Carol Jean Vale, Ph.D.

PHILADELPHIA, PA (05/23/2012)(readMedia)-- Carol Jean Vale, SSJ, Ph.D, president of Chestnut Hill College, awarded junior Christopher Ryan, a criminal justice major from Staten Island, N.Y. with the St. Catherine Medal at Honors Convocation held on campus in late April.

The St. Catherine Medal of the Kappa Gamma Pi Honor Society is awarded to a sophomore or junior student who "represents the high ideals of a Catholic college education." The recipient is selected on their contribution of leadership and service to the College.

In addition to his studies, Ryan is a member of the student government association, the LINK Club, association of the performing arts, mask and foil drama club, FYI Peer Leader, the SEARCH retreat, campus ministry, and the event planning committee for the Harry Potter Weekend and the Philadelphia Brotherly Love Cup. He is a member of the Alpha Phi Sigma Criminal Justice National Honor Society, Alpha Lambda Delta First Year National Honor Society and has been named to the Dean's List. He also volunteers at St. Mary's by the Sea.

"Chris's quiet demeanor belies the passion that is part of his makeup," says Lauren Barrow, Ph.D., assistant professor of criminal justice and advisor to Alpha Phi Sigma.

"His gentle leadership has been invaluable to the Chestnut Hill College inaugural chapter of Alpha Phi Sigma and his obvious enjoyment of learning has pressed us all to be "more present" in all that we endeavor to accomplish."

About Chestnut Hill College

Chestnut Hill College, a four-year coed Catholic college in the Ignatian tradition, offers a traditional liberal arts undergraduate program as well as accelerated undergraduate degrees, master's and doctoral programs. The College has been rated by US News & World Report as among the best master's universities in the North, as among the best Northeastern colleges by The Princeton Review, and has been classified as selective by The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. Since its inception, the College has offered a rigorous curriculum that provides students with a broad background in the humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences. The goal of Chestnut Hill College has been to prepare students for life's challenges by helping them to grow intellectually, spiritually, emotionally, and