Jacqueline Avola
  • Organizational Communication
  • Class of 2018
  • Westborough, MA

Jacqueline Avola, of Westborough, Recognized for Academic Excellence at Assumption College Honors Convocation

2017 Apr 21

Assumption College honored 76 students with awards for academic excellence during the 33rd Annual Honors Convocation, held on April 19 in the Chapel of the Holy Spirit. Awards ranged from departmental honors to special recognitions, to Augustine Scholarships, the College's highest academic honor.

During the ceremony, Jacqueline Avola, of Westborough, and a member of the Class of 2018, received the Omer & Laurette Boivin Scholarship in French or Foreign Languages.

"Every year at the Honors Convocation, Assumption College celebrates those students who demonstrate exemplary academic achievements and embody the mission and spirit of the College," said Louise Carroll Keeley, Ph.D., provost and vice president for academic affairs. "This annual recognition provides the College community-faculty, staff, friends and family-an opportunity to honor these students and their accomplishments. From the Augustine Scholars to the many who earned departmental and special awards, these students are sterling examples of the benefits of a liberal arts education."

Each year, the College invites a distinguished alumnus to address the honorees on the value of a liberal arts education. This year's keynote speaker was Carl Cafaro '98. Cafaro graduated cum laude with a major in political science and minors in history and U.S. issues and policy. In true liberal arts fashion, his economics coursework while at Assumption led him to pursue a career in financial services, first with Fidelity Investments, then with Merrill Lynch, where he leads The Cafaro Group in managing more than two billion in assets.

"Every day, my clients rely on me to know so much more than what is happening in the economy," said Cafaro, emphasizing how his liberal arts education-having an understanding of not just economics, but number of topics like history, sociology, philosophy, and psychology-is an important key to his success. "Leave here with desire to never stop learning," he urged the students. "You will quickly find that life in and of itself is a liberal arts education, and by attending Assumption, you got a head start."

Cafaro has continued to stay connected to the College over the years, serving as class agent, Alumni Association Advisor Board member, President's Council and Development Committee member, and currently serves on the College's Investment Committee. In concluding his remarks, Cafaro announced that he and his wife were creating the Crimaldi Family Endowed Scholarship Fund in honor of his grandparents, who were immigrants from Sicily and worked hard to provide opportunities for their family. The scholarship will be awarded annually to a first or second generation immigrant student.