Top Manhattan College Students Inducted Into Prestigious Epsilon Sigma Pi Honor Society

RIVERDALE, N.Y. –Manhattan College recently inducted its top students into Epsilon Sigma  Pi, the oldest college-wide honor society.  Students, mainly seniors, were recognized for their academic achievement during the College’s annual Fall Honors Convocation, held on Sunday, Oct. 15 in the Chapel of De La Salle and His Brothers.

Membership in Epsilon Sigma Pi is considered the highest scholastic honor that can be earned by a Manhattan College student.  Only students who have earned a 3.5 average (on a 4.0 scale) for six consecutive semesters with no academic failures are inducted into Epsilon Sigma Pi.  Students who have achieved this status typically are inducted in the beginning of their senior year.

During the ceremony, an honorary Doctor of Laws degree was awarded to alumnus John F. O’Brien ’73, the dean of New England School of Law since 1988. 

In his acceptance speech, O’Brien shared the factors he believes lead to professional success.  He underscored the value of hard work, achievement and the idea that students should strive in their careers to be part of the decision-making process.

“When issues are being discussed and decisions are being made – either in your company, your community or the world – you’ll want to have a say in how things come out,” O’Brien said.  “If you don’t want choices to be made for you but rather want to participate in the processes, you need to excel so people will listen.”

O’Brien has the longest continuous service at a single institution of any law school dean in the country. He joined the faculty of New England School of Law in 1985, teaching Constitutional Law and Federal Income Taxation, and served as associate dean for two years before being named dean.  Under his leadership, the school received widespread recognition by attracting a broad range of distinguished speakers, including U.S. Sen. John Kerry, Attorney General Janet Reno and several members of the U.S. Supreme Court.

From 1977 to 1985, O’Brien was a senior attorney in the Office of the Chief Counsel of the Internal Revenue Service, heading the Northeast region’s tax shelter program.  He received his J.D. in 1977 from New England School of Law, and his LL.M. (Masters in Law) in taxation in 1980 from Boston University School of Law.

Founded in 1853, Manhattan College is an independent, Catholic, coeducational institution of higher learning offering more than 40 major programs of undergraduate study in the areas of arts, business, education, engineering and science, along with graduate programs in education and engineering.  For more information about Manhattan College, visit www.manhattan.edu.

Manhattan College Students Inducted Into Epsilon Sigma Pi
Fall Honors Convocation 2006