Buccino Leadership Students Visit 9/11 Memorial & Museum

On October 16, freshmen students from the Buccino Leadership Institute visited the National September 11 Memorial & Museum in New York City as part of their leadership development experience. Just weeks after the nation marked the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks, the visit gave students an opportunity to reflect on leadership, service and resilience while learning about an event that continues to shape the country's collective memory.

Representing a range of academic disciplines across Seton Hall University, students participated in a day of reflection and learning that connected historical events with modern leadership principles. For many, the experience offered a more personal connection to an event that occurred before they were born but continues to influence the nation 25 years later.

According to Andrew Simon, Ph.D. Psy.D., executive director of the Buccino Leadership Institute, the visit is an important part of the Institute’s mission to develop ethical and effective leaders.

We’re a short ride from some of the most important places in the world. The 9/11 Memorial & Museum is a trip we make with our first-year students every year. What makes this different is that one of our own alumnus survived that day and was a first responder. Bill Spade, ’81, joins us to share what it was like from the inside. Students stop seeing the event as something they heard or read about. It becomes about real people making decisions in the middle of an unimaginable crisis. That’s not something they forget.

The day began at the Memorial, where students engaged with the stories of those affected by the September 11 attacks, gaining a deeper understanding of the individuals, families and communities whose lives were forever changed. The experience allowed reflection on the human impact of the tragedy and the importance of preserving these stories for future generations.

For Gabriella Gago, a freshman biochemistry major, the visit brought history to life. "Growing up in the suburbs of Massachusetts, I felt like I didn't fully understand what happened on 9/11. This helped pull back the curtain. Real individuals and their loved ones were hurt by these attacks, and they have a story that needs to be shared so we may never forget what happened that day."

Stephania Camblard, a freshman psychology major, also described how learning about the Seton Hall-affiliated victims made the tragedy feel more personal. "Learning about the Seton Hall-affiliated victims made the tragedy feel more personal because they were part of my school community. Their stories reminded me that 9/11 was more than just a historical event because it affected real people, families and communities."

Following the memorial, students gathered in the museum’s auditorium for welcome remarks from Noah Rauch, senior vice president for education and public programs at the 9/11 Memorial & Museum. Rauch shared stories of leadership, courage and service that emerged in the aftermath of the attacks, highlighting the extraordinary actions of ordinary people during moments of crisis.

One of the day’s most impactful moments was a presentation by Bill Spade, a longtime museum docent. Since first connecting with Buccino Leadership students in 2019, Spade has continued to speak with Seton Hall students, offering a firsthand perspective on the events of September 11. What began as a chance encounter has become an annual opportunity for students to learn from someone whose life was forever changed by the attacks.

On September 11, Spade was serving on dispatch duty with Rescue 5, Staten Island’s rescue squad, after the unit had responded to a routine gas leak earlier that morning. When news broke that planes had struck the Twin Towers, he made his way to the World Trade Center. Although he never found his team at the site, Spade joined other first responders in helping evacuate people from the towers. He survived the collapse of the second tower and spent three days recovering in the hospital. There, he learned that every other member of Rescue 5 had lost their life, leaving him as the squad’s sole survivor.

The presentation resonated deeply with Christopher Adams, a freshman accounting major. "He [Bill Spade] said that being a hero was about doing what you can, and for me that means having the courage to just dive in and help as needed. Leaders have to act quickly in emergency situations, and his story showed that leaders need to have the courage to make hard decisions quickly."

For Adams, Spade’s story demonstrated how leadership often requires courage and decisiveness amid uncertainty.

Following the presentation, students explored the museum’s exhibits, artifacts and personal accounts from September 11. During a self-guided visit, they examined historical materials and learned more about the human stories behind the events.

Reflecting on the day, Barbara Callahan, undergraduate director of the Buccino Leadership Institute, emphasized the leadership lessons students can carry forward from the experience.

Students leave with a lasting understanding of not only the immense loss of 9/11, but also the extraordinary leadership demonstrated that day. Through the stories they encounter, they see how ordinary people overcame fear, made decisions under pressure and put others first. The experience reinforces that leadership is not defined by a title or position, but by the choices we make, how we respond to uncertainty and how we show up for others when it matters most.

As students returned to campus, they carried a greater appreciation for an event they had not lived through but whose legacy endures through the stories of survivors, first responders and loved ones. Through experiences like this, Buccino Leadership Institute students are challenged to consider the leaders they hope to become and how they can make a difference in the lives of others.

Categories: Alumni, Faith and Service, Nation and World