Tarmac Online

By Colin Cooney ’28

On Wednesday, October 29, sophomore students in Mr. Salecker’s AP Literature Seminar class had the exciting opportunity to visit St. John’s University for a day of exploration, learning, and inspiration. AP Seminar, one of Chaminade’s newest AP courses, combines traditional English instruction with interdisciplinary research. Throughout the school year, sophomores enrolled in the class complete research papers and presentations on topics of their choosing.

The morning began in the center of campus at St.Thomas More Church, where we prayed and set our intentions for the rest of the day. Afterward, we took a tour of the Queens campus. Our guide shared insights into campus life, academics, and the strong sense of community that defines St. John’s.

We visited several academic buildings, including St. Vincent Health Sciences Center, where students gain hands-on experience using state-of-the-art medical simulation models. We also explored the Cyber and Homeland Security Lab, where technology and security students study cybersecurity, criminal justice, and emergency management using advanced systems. Another highlight was the Esports and 3D Printing Lab, which showcased how St. John’s integrates innovation and gaming into academics. Interestingly, St. John’s is ranked among the top universities in the country for Esports.

In addition to the academic stops, we toured the dorms with current students, visited Carnesecca Arena, home of St. John’s basketball, and had lunch together in the main cafeteria.

Declan Serkes ’28 shared, “It was really cool to see what actual college dorms look like and get a sense for what it will be like to live on campus.”

Throughout the day, faculty and administrators spoke about the wide range of opportunities available to undergraduate students at St. John’s, including global study programs, research initiatives, and community service projects. One of the most memorable sessions focused on research and academic integrity in the age of Artificial Intelligence. We discussed the responsible ways to use AI for brainstorming while emphasizing the importance of finding and verifying our own sources to maintain academic honesty.

 “The session on AI really made me think about how important it is to do your own, careful research,” remarked Andrew D’Argento ’28. 

At the end of the research panel, each of us received a St. John’s basketball hat as a keepsake from the university.

“The day was eye-opening and made me excited for college and all the opportunities ahead,” shared Kazuma Clarke ’28.

Both St. John’s University and Chaminade share a strong commitment to Catholic education focused on service and helping others. St. John’s follows the Vincentian tradition, which emphasizes compassion for those in need, while Chaminade is rooted in the Marianist tradition of forming students to be witnesses to Christ and servants in their communities. This shared focus on faith, academics, and making a positive impact in the world made the visit feel like a natural extension of what we experience at Chaminade every day. Over the years, many Chaminade graduates have attended St. John’s and a good number of St. John’s graduates have taught at Chaminade.

The trip was both informative and inspiring, offering a glimpse into college-level academics and campus life. It was an invaluable experience for the AP Seminar students to see not only what St. John’s University has to offer, but also to imagine the possibilities that await them in their own academic journeys.