Fairfield Now - Summer 2009
The 2009 Fairfield Awards Dinner
Keynote speaker Butch Graves of Black Enterprise magazine lauds Fairfield for putting "itself at the vanguard of creating opportunity without boundaries."
By Alistair Highet
More than 500 alumni, parents, and guests gathered at New York's Grand Hyatt hotel on April 2 to celebrate the University's annual Awards Dinner.
More than 500 students, alumni and supporters attended the event. A group of students enjoy the camaraderie and canapés before dinner. |
Larri Mazon, Fairfield's director of institutional |
Despite a challenging economic environment, the co-chairs of the event, Trustee Patti Glassford '85 and Andrew McMahon '89 of the Charles F. Dolan School of Business Advisory Council, were able to announce that over $1 million had been raised throughout the event for multicultural scholarships at the University.
In their opening remarks, McMahon and Glassford congratulated all those assembled for their contributions: "With support from all of us, talented young men and women from many different backgrounds will have access to a Fairfield education - an opportunity that without that support may not have happened," McMahon said.
One student who has benefited from the assistance of the Fund is Stefany Accino '09, who graduated in May with a double major in psychology and sociology. The first person in her family to attend college, she was born in Haiti, came to the United States as a child, and was referred to Fairfield by her pediatrician, a Fairfield alumna. During her junior year, she began to work in a children's shelter in Greenwich.
"Working at this shelter confirmed for me what I want to do with my life - help adolescents," she told the crowd. "By working with young people ... I believe that I will be able to make a difference in the world." She went on: "Along with many other students in the room I am a living example of how life-changing your donations are and I hope you will continue to do for others what you have done for me."
The Rev. Cesar Moldanaro, S.J. talks |
Stefany Accino '09 with her mother, Marie Morrill |
Three members of the Fairfield community were honored for their contributions. Dr. Edward Deak, who was the University's first Roger M. Lynch Professor of Economics, was presented with the Distinguished Faculty Award. A leading forecaster on the Connecticut economy, Dr. Deak has been a much-loved teacher ever since he joined the University in 1970. Receiving the Alumni Service Award was William J. Crean Jr. '91, a leading member of the University's Boston Alumni Club, and the initiator of the Boston Briefcase Breakfast, a speaking and networking event that has resulted in numerous job transitions and business opportunities for alumni. Christopher C. Quick '79 received the Alumni Professional Achievement Award. Formerly the vice-chairman of Global Wealth and Investment Management with Bank of America, he enjoyed a 30-year career on the New York Stock Exchange. A member of the University's Board of Trustees since 2005, he and his family have been generous donors to the University for many years.
University President Jeffrey P. von Arx, S.J., noted in his remarks that the Awards Dinner was primarily about "opening doors" and "widening access to education" to worthy students who might not otherwise have the opportunity, a mission that is consistent with the tradition of Jesuit education, which has always been multicultural and inclusive in its outlook. "We remain committed to this endeavor," he said, "Diversity provides us with a variety of perspectives and ideas that not only challenge our assumptions, but also make us aware of the world beyond the border of our lives."
Guest Speaker Earl "Butch" Graves, |
(L-R): Andrew McMahon '89, Christopher C. Quick '79, Patti Glassford '85, the Rev. Jeffrey P. von Arx, S.J., Dr. Edward Deak, Carla Supersano Sullivan '88, Alumni President, and William J. Crean Jr. |
The formal part of the evening concluded with a keynote address by Earl "Butch" Graves Jr., the president and CEO of Earl G. Graves Publishing Co., publisher of Black Enterprise magazine. Mr. Graves lauded those assembled for their commitment to increasing opportunities at Fairfield. "It's an investment in human capital you won't regret."