Matthew Seklecki of Oak Bluffs earns top award & graduates from Saint Michael's College

Deloitte Touche HR Exec James Wall tells graduates the Liberal Arts were never more important.

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Matthew Seklecki of Oak Bluffs receives top academic & service award from Saint Michael's College, presented here by SMC President John J. Neuhauser. Photo by Andy Duback.

COLCHESTER, VT (05/27/2011)(readMedia)-- Matthew MacDonald Seklecki, son of Daniel and Catherine Seklecki of Oak Bluffs, earned a bachelor's degree in political science and in history, cum laude, from Saint Michael's College, a liberal arts residential Catholic college located in the Burlington area of Vermont. Mr. Seklecki was also awarded the Father Prevel Memorial Award, which goes to the top male Saint Michael's graduate every year.

James Wall, a 1974 graduate of Saint Michael's, and now global managing director of human resources for Deloitte Touche Tomatsu, a multinational corporation with 2,000 partners and over 100,000 employees, was the featured speaker at the Saint Michael's College 104th commencement. "The value of a liberal-arts education at Saint Michael's College has never been more relevant than it is today – never," he declared. "My Saint Michael's experience taught me how to learn. Nothing is more important in today's world." Wall served on the college's board of trustees for 12 years, four of those as chairman. Some 435 undergraduates received bachelor's degrees at the ceremony as well as 95 graduate students who earned master's degrees.

Matthew Seklecki wins top award

Matthew Seklecki was cited for being immersed in campus life and for always working on improving the quality of life for students and the community. "Matthew demonstrates a broad and deep commitment," said Saint Michael's College President John J. Neuhauser. Mr. Seklecki was sited for serving as vice president of his class for two years, for serving as secretary of programming for the student government, for his work as an organizer of LEAP religious retreats, for being an RA (resident assistant) for three years and thereby for superb mentoring of his peers.

Mr. Seklecki also served as a tour guide through the Founders Society, went on a number of extended service trips over college vacation periods, and always put his superb organizational skills to use for a wide range of campus activities. "He was always a role model to his peers," President Neuhauser said.

Mr. Seklecki was named to Who's Who among Students in American Universities and Colleges, and was inducted into two honor societies: Phi Alpha Theta, the history honor society, and Pi Sigma Alpha, the political science honor society.

Learn What Matters at Saint Michael's College, The Edmundite Catholic liberal arts college, www.smcvt.edu . Saint Michael's provides education with a social conscience, producing graduates with the intellectual tools to lead successful, purposeful lives that will contribute to peace and justice in our world. Founded in 1904 by the Society of St. Edmund and headed by President John J. Neuhauser, Saint Michael's College is located three miles from Burlington, Vermont, one of America's top college towns. It is identified by the Princeton Review as one of the nations Best 371 Colleges, and is included in the 2011 Fiske Guide to Colleges. Saint Michael's is one of only 280 colleges and universities nationwide, one of only 20 Catholic colleges, with a Phi Beta Kappa chapter. Saint Michael's has 1,900 undergraduate students, some 500 graduate students and 100 international students. Saint Michael's students and professors have received Rhodes, Woodrow Wilson, Pickering, Guggenheim, Fulbright, and other grants. The college is one of the nation's top-100, Best Liberal Arts Colleges as listed in the 2011 U.S. News & World Report rankings.