In honor of the college’s sesquicentennial, a celebration of the 150-year-long story of Canisius University, the Office of Alumni Engagement asked alumni to share their Canisius memories.
Ellen (Wierzba) DellaPenna ’94
“I first stepped foot onto the campus in 1990 as a young 17 year old entering an unknown world as the first in my family to earn a college education. Upon entering the fifth floor of Frisch hall, I found a family of friends who are some of my best friends to this day. Throughout my four years, I met countless professors who helped me find myself in that unknown world; namely my mentor, the late Dr. Marilyn Watt, who encouraged me to add communication studies to my political science major.
But it was during the Quad Party in my junior year that I made my favorite memory: it was the day I met my soulmate and fellow Griff, Matthew DellaPenna ’94. We were married in Christ the King Chapel on June, 1, 1996. On July 7, 2001, our daughter, who was three years old at the time, chose to name her little brother Griffin. Griffin is currently a freshman at Canisius and loves his life as a Golden Griffin. And as his parents, we could not have felt more at ease pulling away from Frisch Hall on freshman orientation day knowing that he has found his new home away from home under the Golden Dome.”
Canisius University is a place that makes memories for our students, faculty, staff and alumni. Share your story here and help us celebrate all that Canisius University means to you and our community.
