Sacred Heart University seniors now have the opportunity to apply for the President’s 63 Senior Year Experience, a prestigious senior-year experience designed to help students reflect on their Pioneer Journey and prepare for life after graduation. The program includes five themed dinner conversations and a series of personal challenges tied to SHU’s foundational pillars. Applications are open to all seniors and are due Jan. 10.
Source: Daniel Passapera, Sacred Heart University
According to Dr. Charles Gillespie, director of the Pioneer Journey and associate dean of the School of Performing Arts, the initiative was created to fill a gap in the student experience.
“The President’s 63 was designed to help seniors make meaning of their Pioneer Journey,” said Gillespie. “It gives students space to reflect on who they’ve become and how their SHU experience has prepared them for life after graduation.”
The program, often referred to as P63, brings together 63 seniors for 63 minutes in SHU’s 63’s dining hall. The dinners, appropriately starting at 6:03 p.m., encourage students to engage in conversations led by a faculty or staff facilitator. Gillespie said the dinner format is intentional, both for symbolism and for skill-building.
“Learning how to have big conversations over a meal is one of the skills students need moving forward,” said Gillespie.
Each of the five dinners aligns with one of SHU’s Pioneer Journey pillars—knowledge, faith, integrity, service and community. Students also complete a corresponding challenge throughout the semester, such as reflecting on their academic foundation or engaging with a spiritual tradition. While the challenges don’t carry academic credit, Gillespie said the program offers something different.
“Seniors actually get something better than a grade,” said Gillespie. “They receive recognition at graduation, including an honor cord.”
Senior Alex Rosario said the reflective aspect of the program is one of its biggest strengths.
“The President’s 63 gives seniors a real chance to look back on our time at SHU, especially those early foundational semesters that shaped who we’ve become,” said Rosario. “It’s interesting to think about how those moments influenced the paths we’re on now.”
Rosario looks forward to the unpredictability built into the program.
“I’m honestly most excited for the mystery of the challenges,” said Rosario. “I don’t know what they involve yet, but that makes it even more enticing.”
Senior Matthew Vene shared similar feelings about the program’s reflective component.
“The President’s 63 has helped me realize all the great memories I have made at SHU,” said Vene. “I’ve made many lifelong friends, and the program has helped me think about how I will grow those friendships in the future.”
Unlike Rosario, who is drawn to the challenges, Vene said he is most interested in the group discussions.
“I am more interested in the dinner conversations as a way to further deepen my experience with the President’s 63,” said Vene.
Vene also hopes to gain a deeper understanding of his college experience as a whole.
“I hope to personally gain more insight on my Sacred Heart experience and how SHU has shaped me as a person,” said Vene.
Both students plan to apply for the program.
“It seems like a wonderful opportunity to connect with other seniors who’ve been positively impacted by their time at Sacred Heart,” said Rosario.
According to Gillespie, the program continues to grow following last year’s unexpected success. In its first year, the program received exactly 63 applications for the 63 available spots. With increased awareness this cycle, the selection process is expected to be more competitive.
The program is open to all seniors graduating in May 2026, as well as December 2025 graduates who plan to walk in May. Students can apply online through the university’s website before the Jan. 10 deadline.
The President’s 63 aims to become a long-term tradition, with hopes of expanding to multiple cohorts in the future.
“The real goal is to build a culture where being a Pioneer doesn’t end at graduation,” said Gillespie.
