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Alumni Spotlight on Michael Dragotta ’01
Throughout New York State, only 18 other veterans have received this honor, and, for Mr. Dragotta, this honor was a testament to two of his foundations for his success: the U.S. Navy and St. Joseph’s College. According to Mr. Dragotta, his service to his country is a driving force in his success to date. “It was in the Navy that I learned the value of hard work and how things worth doing do not come easy.” It was his experience in the Navy that prepared him for college. “When I was 18, there was no way I would have succeeded in college,” he said. “The encouragement I received from my shipmates and the pride I took in my work made me realize that college was a very real possibility for me.” Following the completion of his enlistment, Mr. Dragotta enrolled at Nassau Community College, but later transferred to St. Joseph’s College. He earned a bachelor’s degree in child study in 2001, and two years later he earned a master’s degree in reading with honors from Long Island University. Upon graduating, Mr. Dragotta was quickly hired by the Three Village Central School District, where he received tenure as soon as he was eligible. While working toward his bachelor’s degree at St. Joseph’s, Mr. Dragotta was an active member of St. Joseph’s Child Study Club and also helped to raise nearly $4,000 to benefit a classmate who was tragically paralyzed. In addition to his extracurricular activities, he was an excellent student who made the dean’s list on several occasions. When asked about his time at St. Joseph’s, the first memory that came to mind was what drew him to the College. “Originally, I enrolled at Nassau Community College in the hopes of becoming a police officer,” he explained. “Some of my professors thought that I’d be better off in another profession that was just as rewarding—teaching, [but] since I knew nothing about teaching or kids, I dismissed it out of hand. ”A college open house, however, changed his mind. “While at a college fair, I came across a St. Joseph’s recruiter,” said Mr. Dragotta. “We started talking about the teaching program and I came away really impressed. I got a personal tour of the campus, and, man, was I hooked.” He quickly took to the program and was a natural fit. “The whole program—my peers, my teachers, the cooperating teachers—they were all so passionate about their work and I knew that I found the place where I belonged.” |
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On March 3, 2008, St. Joseph’s alumnus Michael Dragotta ’01 was inducted by the Council of Independent Colleges and Universities into their Alumni Hall of Distinction for dedicated service to his country as a U.S. Navy 3rd Class Petty Officer, as well as for his academic achievements and his post-service contributions to the community.