Gjonaj and Shkreli at Albanian Independence Assembly
Members of the Saint
Barnabas High School
Albanian Club, administration,
faculty and student
body recognized the
Councilman Mark Gjonaj
of the 13th District and Senior
Court Attorney Edit
Shkreli for their commitment
and support of the
Albanian community at
a National Albanian Independence
Day special
assembly.
Born and raised in the
Bronx, Gjonaj is the son of
hard-working, Albanian
immigrant parents, and
is a graduate of St. John’s
University. Gjonaj was
the fi rst Albanian-American
elected in New York
City and State. Elected to
the New York City Council
in 2017, he previously
served as New York State
Assembly Member for the
80th District from 2012 to
2017. Gjonaj said, “As the
only elected Albanian
American in offi ce, I am
delighted to address the
Saint Barnabas School
Assembly and the Albanian
Club. Many of the
students at Saint Barnabas
High School are fi rst
generation Albanian
Americans and represent
other nationalities as
well. The hardships and
struggles my family and
many others have overcome
through the years
and the opportunities
this great country has
given us, have been an inspiration
and motivation
for me to run and represent
well. I am committed
to seeing others achieve
their goals and dreams
by studying and working
hard and never stop believing
in what the future
holds for them.”
Shkreli is an associate
court attorney to the
Supreme Court Justice
Eddie J. McShan. Shkreli
has served as a Supervisor
of the Promotion of
Foreign Investment Department
at the Mayor’s
Offi ce in Tirana, Albania
from 2012 to 2014. She also
served as a speechwriter
and convention coordinator
on Sali Berisha’s
campaign for Prime
Minister in 2013. She received
her Juris Doctor
degree from New York
Law School, graduating
with high honors in 2011.
“As a proud 2002 Saint
Barnabas High School
alumna, I am thankful
for the recognition for
my work within the Albanian
community. I attribute
part of my success
to Saint Barnabas
High School, its faculty
and staff. Saint Barnabas
welcomed me at a time
when I spoke no English,
and my parents had no fi -
nancial resources having
immigrated to the United
States only months earlier.
Saint Barnabas faculty
and staff provided
me with a nurturing environment,
encouraged me
at every step, offered an
excellent academic foundation,
and instilled in
me a sense of community
and community service. I
am forever grateful to my
Saint Barnabas family,”
commented Shkreli.
Saint Barnabas High
School principal Theresa
Napoli said, “We want
to thank Councilman
Gjonaj and alumna Edit
Shkreli for attending this
special Albanian Independence
Day assembly.
Our Albanian Club with
their school moderator
Caterina Lamanna and
fi rst-generation Albanian
and Barnabas Alumna
Jacqueline Kapaj Vieira
worked diligently to put
the event together. We always
want to recognize
those individuals from all
walks of life who make a
difference in our community
and inspire others.
Both Councilman Gjonaj
and Edit Shkreli are most
deserving of this honor
for all the good works and
service they contribute to
a variety of communities.
They serve as outstanding
roll-models for all of
our young women that
their academic and moral
foundation with follow
them throughout their
lives.”
(Above) Members of the
Saint Barnabas High School
Albanian Club along with
honored guests, Edit
Shkreli, ‘02 (5th from right),
and Councilman Mark Gjonaj
(2nd from right), fl anked by
Jacqueline Kapaj Vieira, ‘82
to his left and Caterina Lamanna,
World Language and
Religion teacher, to his right.
Courtersy of SBHS Photo
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