Daniel McGinley ’10

When Daniel McGinley took his first tour of Saint Joseph's University, he knew.

“It was the perfect fit for me,” says McGinley. “ I felt like I could be someone here, instead of just a number.”

This welcoming atmosphere was just one aspect of Saint Joseph's that placed it ahead of the competition. A graduate of Archbishop Wood High School in Warminster, Pa., McGinley began his college search with an open mind. “I looked at many different schools, from as large as Penn State to as small as the College of New Jersey and Saint Joseph's,” says McGinley. “Although I had a certain idea of what I was looking for in a college, I wanted to make sure I left my options open.” As he explored these options, it became clear that his top priorities could be found on Hawk Hill.

“One thing that was high on my list when looking at colleges was the faith-based element. I had been attending a Catholic school since kindergarten and I really enjoyed being able to learn more about my faith in the classroom as well as being able to practice with my classmates,” says McGinley. “I knew Saint Joe's provided great opportunities to learn more about the Catholic faith as well as other types of religions. In the end, Saint Joe's was an easy choice.”

And just in case McGinley needed one more reason to attend Saint Joseph's, he found it – in the form of the John F. Connelly Scholarship. The Connelly Scholarship offers tuition support to graduates of Philadelphia Archdiocesan high schools, and McGinley is grateful to be reaping its benefits. “It allowed me to pursue the academic opportunities provided by the University that might not have been financially possible without it.”

Now a junior at SJU, McGinley is making the most of this opportunity. He majors in Management with a track toward Entrepreneurship, participates in the Management Society, and keeps an eye out for internships. “I'm still not sure what I want to do right when I leave college, so I haven't decided on an internship yet,” says McGinley. “The Career Development Center has been a big help throughout the whole process.”

Though McGinley is mindful of the future, he isn't waiting until graduation to make his mark. “I've recently been elected as a Senator for the class of 2010 on the University Senate,” says McGinley. “Although I'm just starting out this semester, I've really enjoyed my leadership role. Senate has provided great ways for me to get involved and give back to the student body and the local community.”

Even with his new responsibilities, McGinley makes sure to take time out for some fun.

“I participate in many of the intramural sports programs, and softball's my favorite,” says McGinley. “I always loved baseball growing up, and the softball intramural program is a great way to continue playing competitively and have fun with the sport.”

To see him now, it's hard to tell that the Senator was once hesitant to branch out. “When I was a freshman I was a little timid about getting involved in different organizations. Now that I'm a junior and I'm a lot more involved, I regret not doing it earlier.” McGinley urges new students not to make the same mistake. “Involvement in the organizations at Saint Joe's has made my SJU experience even better. I've been able to meet so many great people and create new friendships that will last forever,” says McGinley. “Saint Joe's has organizations and clubs to fit all different types of people. Finding the right fit for you early will allow you to get the full experience of what it's like to be a Hawk.”

For McGinley and many like him, this Hawk experience can be found in one of SJU's greatest claims to fame. “When people are unfamiliar with Saint Joe's, the first thing I tell them is that we were the small school with the basketball team that was ranked #1 in '03 – '04 and made it to the Elite 8!” McGinley is a faithful follower of SJU basketball, and doesn't plan to quit any time soon. “Every time I go to a Saint Joe's basketball game, I feel like I'm part of the SJU community. I hope to continue attending many Saint Joe's games after I graduate.”

In addition to maintaining his role as a fan, McGinley also hopes to take on another title someday – donor. “I'd like to give back to the school in some way,” says McGinley. “My long term goal is to open up my own business, so hopefully I will be able to offer jobs to some future Hawks! Being a scholarship recipient has allowed me to understand the importance of alumni relationships, and giving back to the school that has given its students so much.”