President’s Medallion Awarded to Three for Outstanding Service to Felician College
Denise Ponte, Peter J.  Ventimiglia and Sister Mary Hiltrude Koba

Denise Ponte received the President’s Medallion for her extensive volunteer work with Felician College and for her role as President of the Alumni Association since 1994.  She is the first Felician graduate to receive this award.  “For the past 15 years she has been the ‘energizer’ of our Alumni Association,” remarked Sister Theresa during the award ceremony.   

That same energy was apparent during Ponte’s years as a student.  A 1980 graduate of Felician College, she served as president of a number of student organizations and was honored as “Student/Graduate of the Year.”  Shortly after graduation, she earned her certification in Computer Programming and was recruited to serve as Assistant to the Dean for Student Affairs at Felician College where she developed an impressive peer support system for students that still thrives today.

Currently a teacher at St. Elizabeth Interparochial School in Wyckoff, Ponte has received a number of awards over the years for her commitment to teaching and volunteerism.  In 1993, she received the Newark Archdiocesan “Outstanding Educator Award.”  In 1992, she was nominated to the Felician College Alumni Hall of Fame, and in 1985, Felician awarded her with the Alumni Recognition Day Award.  “There is no doubt that her presence makes a significant difference wherever she happens to be,” said Sister Theresa.  “She is one of those rare human beings whose largess of heart is bigger than life and whose sense of loyalty and commitment can never be matched.” 

Peter J. Ventimiglia received the Felician College President’s Medallion for “his academic prowess, unblemished character, personal integrity, belief in the Power of Learning—and belief in the potential of Felician College.”  Ventimiglia is a member of the Trustee Committee on Academic Affairs at Felician College, and has been a member of the college’s Council of Regents for seven years.  He not only “brings his personal expertise, leadership, and commitment to Felician, he brings the insights, strength, and educational agenda of Verizon where he serves as Vice President for External Affairs,” said Felician College President Sister Theresa Mary Martin.  An advocate for education, Verizon has been a supporter of Felician College’s mission over the years and recently awarded a grant towards the development of a teacher education computer technology center at the college. 

A graduate of Fordham University, Peter J. Ventimiglia holds a Doctorate in English and is a published Shakespearean Scholar.  In addition to his role at Verizon, Ventimiglia has served as Assistant Professor of English at the Rutgers University Newark College of Arts and Science, and at Felician College.  He was Executive Director of the Quality Education Commission and authored the Commission’s report entitled:  “All Our Children:  A vision for New Jersey’s Students in the 21^st century.”   

In addition to his volunteer work with Felician College, Ventimiglia is President of the McCarter Theater Board of Trustees, and a Trustee of the New Jersey Independent College Fund and the Newark Museum.  He also chairs the Cultural Advising Committee for New Jersey Network, and the Rutgers Newark Development Council.  Additionally, Ventimiglia is a member of the Executive Board of the Newark Education Partnership and co-chair of the Technology Committee of the Business Coalition for Education Excellence.

Sister Mary Hiltrude Koba received the President’s Medallion for her dedication of 43 years of service with Felician College.  Sister Mary Hiltrude served as the college’s first Director of Admission, Registrar, and Academic Dean prior to serving as President from 1977-1984. She navigated Felician’s transition from a Junior College to a four-year Liberal Arts College, spearheaded Felician’s First Middle States accreditation, and launched its first capital campaign.   In 1986, Sister Hiltrude implemented the first “Christmas at Felician” celebration for alumni, donors and friends of the college, and later assumed the leadership of the “Older is Better” lecture series for senior citizens. “She is a pillar of strength whose uncompromising fidelity, faith, and clarity of purpose are a source of inspiration and cause for much joy and gratitude,” said Felician College President Sister Theresa Mary Martin.

As a tireless volunteer, Sister Hiltrude coordinated volunteer leadership activities for the Lodi Blood Bank, the Girl Scouts of Bergen County, and the Lodi Chamber of Commerce and, in 1983, Mayor Chris Paci proclaimed March 27 as Sister Hiltrude’s day throughout the Borough of Lodi.  

A Magna Cum Laude graduate of Seton Hall University, Sister Mary Hiltrude earned baccalaureate and graduate degrees in Educational Leadership and received a Medal of Distinction as the outstanding student of her graduating class.  She went on to earn a Doctorate in Educational Psychology at Fordham University where she received the prestigious Fordham University Graduate Scholarship.