St. John's University has over 161,000 alumni, 82% of whom reside in the New York metropolitan area. Some of the most recognized alumni are former New York Governors Hugh L. Carey and Mario M. Cuomo, former California Governor George Deukmejian, U.S. Congressman Charles Rangel, New York City Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly, and former Secretary of the U.S. Department of Commerce Ronald H. Brown.

Like any successful establishment there were many events and milestones throughout the university's history. Here are a few of the key moments that helped build one of America's leading catholic universities.