Sister Margaret Carney, OSF, announced her decision to step down as St. Bonaventure University president at the end of the academic year. (Patrick McPartland/Staff Photographer)

St. Bonaventure University officials announced a series of activities and commemorations of Sister Margaret Carney's 12-year term as president.

Sister Margaret, OSF, announced in January her plans to step down from the presidency on July 31, 2016. Her announcement spawned an outpouring of gratitude and well-wishes from university constituents the world over.

"We are organizing several different occasions to provide as many people as possible the opportunity to participate in a celebration," said Emily Morris, vice president for University Relations. "We are also attempting to honor the hectic spring and early summer event schedules by combining some of the activities with existing events."

The centerpiece of the events will be a "Celebration of Discovery, Community, and Individual Worth" on Thursday, May 5. The event will illuminate the university's values, and will culminate with a presentation by Sister Margaret on the Franciscan value of individual worth.  Campus and regional community members are invited to attend this event which will include an adult reception. To assist with planning, RSVP at www.sbu.edu/RSVPcarney.

Other events include the dedication of a tree in Sister Margaret's honor on Arbor Day (Friday, April 29) and special presentations at events such as Commencement in May and SBU's Alumni Reunion in early June.

An SBU #CarneyStrong team has been coordinated to participate in the annual Ride for Roswell as a way to show solidarity with Sister Margaret as she undergoes treatment for multiple myeloma, a diagnosis she received after announcing her intention to step down from the presidency.

"While it is impossible to adequately recognize and thank Sister Margaret for all that she has done for the university, we are delighted by the creativity and love the Bonaventure family has shown in the creation of this series of tributes," said Robert J. Daugherty, Board of Trustees chairman.

"In addition to these events, the Board is planning a special tribute to Sister Margaret as part of the June Board meeting, which will be her last as university president," he said.

For a full list of the events and activities, visit www.sbu.edu/carneystrong. Some events require registration. For additional information, contact Morris at emorris@sbu.edu.