Former NFL Player Joe Klecko to Deliver Commencement Speech and Receive Honorary Degree at Caldwell College
Chairman Emeritus of CommonHealth USA To Also Receive Honorary Degree
Graduation Weekend at Caldwell College will culminate with the commencement speech by former New York Jets Player Joe Klecko on Sunday, May 18, 2008 at 11:00 a.m. in the Newman Center on the College Campus.
Caldwell College President Sister Patrice Werner, O.P., Ph.D. will present honorary degrees to Mr. Klecko and to Mr. Thomas Ferguson, former chairman and CEO of CommonHealth USA, the world's leading healthcare communications firm.
Klecko is one of the most popular Jets of all time. He was selected by the New York Jets in the sixth round of the 1977 NFL draft and led the league's rookies that season with eight sacks. He was the first member of what would become one of the most feared defensive front fours in the history of the NFL, the "New York Sack Exchange." He was the first NFL player to be named to the Pro Bowl at three different positions and he was the NFL Defensive Player of the Year. On December 26, 2005, the New York Jets honored Klecko when they retired his jersey, Number 73. He became only the third New York Jet to have his number retired, joining Hall of Fame Quarterback Joe Namath and Hall of Fame Wide Receiver Don Maynard.
Today, Klecko is a member of Catholic Athletes for Christ, an organization with a mission to serve Catholic athletes and share the Gospel of Christ in and through athletics. He speaks at events and rallies about manhood and faith in today's culture.
Joe's son Dan Klecko is an All American football fullback and defensive tackle for the Philadelphia Eagles.
Tom Ferguson is former Chairman and CEO of CommonHealth USA, the largest health care communications firm in the world. He is a Trustee Emeriti for Caldwell College and has been a significant benefactor for over 20 years.
Long active in community affairs, Mr. Ferguson served the Tri-County Scholarship Fund for the Diocese of Paterson from 1983 to 2003. He also served three terms on the Caldwell College Board of Trustees and played a major leadership role in Caldwell College's Capital Campaign.
Mr. Ferguson is Chairman Emeritus of the Epilepsy Foundation of New Jersey, having served on the Board since 1982. He has also served as a member of the Board of Governors of the New Jersey Chapter of the National Conference of Christians and Jews. Ferguson is a member of the Board of Advisors for the Legal Center for Defense of Life, Inc. He was Founder and Chairman of the Advisory Board for Birth Haven, an independent, non-profit organization for pregnant women in Newton, NJ.
Mr. Ferguson is a Knight of the American Association of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta, and a Knight of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem. In 1993, Pope John Paul II named Mr. Ferguson a Knight of Saint Gregory the Great.
Caldwell College President Sister Patrice Werner will confer degrees on the Caldwell College Class of 2008. The president will present undergraduates with their Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Fine Arts degrees. Those receiving degrees include full-time traditional, adult undergraduate and graduate students. Students enrolled in graduate studies will receive either their Master of Arts or Master of Business Administration degrees.
A Baccalaureate Mass, Hooding and Honors Convocation will take place Saturday, May 17, 2008 at 4 p.m. in the Newman Center at Caldwell College.