Nicholas Gangone discovered his natural ability for leadership during freshman orientation at SJC Brooklyn.
Nick Gangone ’21
Gangone, a senior this fall double majoring in business administration and marketing, recalled the event’s speaker passing a microphone around the room, encouraging the incoming students to break out of their comfort zone and speak in front of their new classmates.
“I remember getting up, and instead of talking from my seat with the microphone, I got up and answered the question facing the student body. It felt so natural,” Gangone said. “After I was finished talking, the person who was the SGA president at the time came up to me and said, ‘Oh look, we have a new student leader on our hands!’”
Gangone has flourished at St. Joseph’s College. He got involved, attended events and took part in fundraisers whenever he could. By the end of his junior year this spring, Gangone was elected to be the next Student Government Association (SGA) president.
In his new leadership position, Gangone hopes to inspire students — especially incoming freshmen — to get involved and make the most of their SJC education.
Full of SJC Pride
Gangone was on a mission to get involved as much as possible when he started his academic career at St. Joe’s. He attended field trips with his finance classes, visiting the New York Headquarters of HSBC and J.P. Morgan banks. He is also a familiar face in the Office of Career Preparation and Professional Development, where he seeks advice about taking the LSAT and applying for law schools to attend after graduation.
Nick Gangone ’21
Additionally, he is a member of Students Taking a Role In Positively Empowering Society (S.T.R.I.P.E.S.), the Italian Club, and sat on the judiciary committee of the Student Senate. He also went on Alternative Spring Break trips.
Gangone often volunteers in student fundraisers. Last March, he dressed head-to-toe in a camouflage ghillie suit in SJC Brooklyn’s rendition of “The Masked Singer,” a dub of FOX’s popular reality show. Throughout the common hour event, the audience, along with the judges, tried to decode the identity of each singer. Gangone won the show, helping his peers raise money to go on an Alternative Spring Break service trip in Kure Beach, North Carolina.
“I try to lead by example; I think that’s what people know me for,” Gangone said. “When people ask me to come to an event, I’m usually always there.
“I try to be the energy I want to see in the students,” he continued. “And I want students to know that they can still be a leader on campus if they’re not on the student government or have an official position. I want to foster that idea of encouragement and support.”
Gangone said he is excited to return to campus in the fall and spread his SJC Pride to his peers. In the meantime, Gangone is staying in touch with his peers through texts and social media. He is in constant contact with his fellow members of the SGA — Vice President Drishti Kalia, Secretary Peter Maxham and Treasurer Christopher Saad — discussing their plans for the 2020-21 academic year.
“If I was in front of the student body right now, I would say to stay safe and that I hope everyone is doing well,” Gangone said. “Ultimately, get ready for when school opens. Get ready for when we’re all together again. I promise we’re going to hit the ground running to make up for all the last time, aggravation and anxiety that this pandemic brought upon us. There’s good times ahead.”
