Catholic U. Honors Aaron Neville

By Mary McCarthy
HERALD Staff Writer
(From the issue of 10/24/02)

Past graduates from Catholic University gathered Oct. 19 to celebrate the achievements of 10 alumni and to honor this year’s recipient of the James Cardinal Gibbons Medal.

President of Catholic University, Father David M. O’Connell, presented the Gibbons Medal to the four-time Grammy winning gospel and blues singer Aaron Neville, "a man whose life has been of great witness of living out the Catholic faith," said Father O’Connell. "His music, as an expression of his faith, has made a real difference in the world."

Emilie Deady, president of the Catholic University Alumni Association, said they chose Neville because, "A lot of it came down to his example. He’s in an industry that doesn’t always have the same values and he must have done very well to have succeeded in this."

The Gibbons Medal is given to individuals, who have not necessarily attended Catholic; but have served the United States, the Catholic Church or Catholic University. Past recipients include President John F. Kennedy, Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia, Alumnus and Washington Cardinal James Hickey, Bishop Fulton J. Sheen and theologian Cardinal Avery Dulles, S.J.

Neville said that upon hearing that he would receive this award he was honored and excited, especially after reading the names of those who had been honored in the past.

Neville’s music has inspired many, and he is often told stories of individuals who have been particularly touched by his voice.

The story of a five year-old autistic child was told to him after a concert. The child had to live in a padded room to keep from injuring himself, but when he listened to Neville’s music, he would be calm. "It was God in me touching God in him. It makes me more sure there is a God," said Neville.

For 20 years, Neville has worn an earring fashioned out of a St. Jude medal. He wears it to remind him, "no matter how impossible things may look, there is — there has to be — a way."

After his acceptance speech, Neville spoke of the Catholic U. students who made him feel so welcome. Neville took the time to sign the guitar of one of the students. The students asked him if he would sing, so before he left the stage, he sang the Lord’s Prayer, and received a standing ovation.

Among the alumni who were given awards was Angela Capobianco Santomero, B.A. 1990, who received the Young Alumni Merit Award. Santomero is the co-creator of the popular Nick Jr. show, "Blue’s Clues," which is now in its seventh season and is has over 8 million viewers weekly.

After receiving her degree in psychology at the university, Santomero knew she wanted to reach kids, and wanted to reach thousands of them at a time. The show was created to teach preschool children. Blue, the puppy and main character, was created to be a lot like the preschoolers that Santomero wanted to reach. The show is very literal, the animated characters names reflect what they are; Salt and Pepper, the salt and pepper shakers; Mailbox, the mailbox; and Blue, the blue dog.

Santomero also wanted the show to involve interaction with the children. The characters in the show talk directly to those watching, and pause, so the children can respond. Santomero wanted to go beyond an educational cartoon, so they decided to have a live host who interacts with Blue and the audience. The show encourages kids to learn, by turning simple lessons into a game.

Nine alumni were also honored for their accomplishments with the Alumni Achievement Award. Among these was Thomas A. Scully, a resident of the Arlington Diocese.

Scully is a 1986 graduate of the Catholic University School of law and received an achievement award in the field of government and politics. He was appointed by President George W. Bush in 2001 to serve as the administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, the largest health insurance organization in the world. Scully was previously chief executive officer of the Federation of American Hospitals, representing 1,700 privately owned and managed community hospitals and health systems. Scully is a former partner of Patton Boggs, LLP, a law firm in the District. He attends Blessed Sacrament Church in Alexandria.

Also receiving Achievement Awards were C. R. George Dove, for his achievements in the field of architecture; Charles O. Heller, for his achievements in business and finance; Mary Anne Gibbons, for her achievements in law and the courts; Diane Nester Kresh, for her achievements in library science; Denes Striny, for his achievements in music; Joyce E. Johnson, for her achievements in nursing; James Youniss, for his achievements in research and scholarship; and Carol A. Nacy, for her achievements in science.

The Alumni Achievement Award is given to alumni who are chosen by the Alumni Achievement Committee. During the year, they solicit alumni, professors, and each of the schools at Catholic U. for information about outstanding alumni. Patricia Sullivan, a 1960 graduate and the Chair of the Achievement Committee remarked on how easy it was to get information on those nominated this year. She said, "We’ve got a lot of good folks out there."

Father O’Connell said to the awardees, "We have honored you, because you honor us."

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