The Imperiale Family -- Three Siblings to Graduate from C.W. Post on Same Day

Brookville, NY -- Eye and hair color are characteristics you would commonly associate with running in a family. For the Imperiale family of East Yaphank and Rocky Point, it’s C.W. Post.

The three children, Barbara, Christa and Frank will all graduate on Mother’s Day, Sunday, May 13, 2007 when the C.W. Post Campus of Long Island University celebrates its 49th Commencement exercises. Their father, Frank Sr., is a C.W. Post alumnus who graduated with a B.A. in music education in 1971 and a M.A. in educational administration in 1985.

This will be the second time both Barbara and Christa participate in Commencement exercises at the Campus in Brookville. Barbara, who started at C.W. Post in 1996, earned a B.F.A. in photography in 2001 and will receive a master’s in art education; Christa earned a bachelor’s in English in 2004 and will graduate with a master’s in English. Their brother Frank is earning his B.F.A. in electronic media.

“For my art, the campus was lovely – a great inspiration,” said Barbara. “Plus, the program I was enrolled in was well-known and close to the city. That’s why I went back for my master’s.”

The siblings would try to cross paths when they could, despite very busy schedules. Frank Jr., is an intern at MTV and is very involved in Post TV. He would eventually like to work in production or post-production for television. As an undergraduate, Christa was captain of the women’s track team and was ranked 9th in the nation for the women’s 800 meter race. She graduated honors, with distinction. Currently, she is working at Cambridge Publishing in Garden City, as an editorial assistant. Barbara, who also ran track as an undergraduate, is student teaching and substitute teaching in the Longwood school district and also works in a photo studio in Setauket. She would like to earn a second master’s degree or doctorate in art therapy.

“We are very proud,” Christa said. “We all had opportunities to go to other colleges, but we chose Post for different reasons and have felt at home at Post."

After 11 straight years and 7 degrees, the family plans to share a nice meal after the ceremony to commemorate their successes. “We are going to celebrate the journey,” Frank Sr., said. And the fact that the journey ends on Mother’s Day isn’t lost on the patriarch of the family. “It’s poetic justice for my wife,” he laughs. “We keep telling her she needs to go and take some classes now.”

Frank Sr., an assistant principal in the Oyster Bay school district, said his experiences at Post were positive and that an 11-year relationship between the family and the school has proven to be a win-win situation for everyone.

This year marks the 49th commencement ceremony at C.W. Post and will include more than 2,800 graduating students on Mother’s Day, Sunday, May 13, 2007 beginning at 9:30 a.m.  The class of 2007 comprises 964 baccalaureate degree candidates, 1,832 master’s degree candidates, 14 graduates receiving the Psy.D. in clinical psychology and 5 receiving the Ph.D. in information studies.  Among students participating in commencement ceremonies are graduates from Southampton College and the Southampton Graduate Campus of Long Island University.

For more information, visit the commencement Web site at www.liu.edu/cwpcommencement.

Posted: May 11, 2007