East DFW News

A pair of St. John’s University graduate students were recently honored during New York Islanders home games as recipients of new scholarships from UBS Arena and the team.

The scholarships were introduced in December 2021 during the first-ever college basketball game played at UBS Arena—a contest between the Red Storm and the Kansas Jayhawks men’s basketball teams—and are part of a partnership between St. John’s, UBS Arena, and the Islanders. Each scholarship is worth $25,000.

Ryan King, a Homeland Security and Criminal Justice Leadership graduate student in The Lesley H. and William L. Collins College of Professional Studies, was recognized at an Islanders home game in late October. Katerina Yiasoumi, who is pursuing her master’s degree in Business Analytics in The Peter J. Tobin College of Business, was recognized at a game in early November.

“We are so proud of Ryan for being such a great student, and grateful to the Islanders and UBS Arena for supporting our best students with generous scholarships,” said Luca Iandoli, Ph.D., Interim Dean and Professor, Division of Computer Science, Mathematics, and Science, The Lesley H. and William L. Collins College of Professional Studies. “Ryan is also a proud Islanders fan, so it was a joyful experience to be at the arena with him and his family as he was recognized on the jumbotron with the St. John’s banner in the background.”

Through this partnership, UBS Arena and the Islanders will provide several internships on an annual basis for Tobin and Collins College students, as well as host an annual career fair with St. John’s at UBS Arena.

“It’s a great honor for me to receive this scholarship,” said Katerina. “I am humbly thankful to the Tobin College and the faculty who selected me for this award. They motivate me to reach the highest level of performance.”

Katerina was joined by Norean R. Sharpe, Ph.D., Dean, Joseph H. and Maria C. Schwartz Distinguished Chair, and Professor of Decision Sciences, at the ceremony. “We are proud that one of our talented graduate students has been awarded the UBS/Islanders graduate scholarship,” said Dr. Sharpe. “It is through partnerships such as these that we strengthen our relationship with organizations and firms in the greater metropolitan area.”

Dr. Iandoli added, “We plan to expand our collaboration through site visits and internship opportunities so students can learn about the diverse professional skills and profiles needed to effectively run a venue of such complexity and importance."

Original source can be found here.