Fairfield Awards Dinner
Benefiting Scholarships at Fairfield University
Wednesday, April 15, 2026 | 6 p.m.
Cipriani 42nd Street
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More than $2 million raised in 2025...
Generous Fairfield community members and corporate sponsors exceeded expectations and broke records, making the 2025 Fairfield Awards Dinner our most successful yet.
2025 Awards Dinner PhotosAbout
Since 1988, the Fairfield Awards Dinner has raised more than $24 million for scholarships to help students realize their full potential through a Fairfield education. The St. Ignatius Scholarship Fund and other scholarship support help bring together a uniquely gifted population of undergraduates, attracting exceptionally talented young scholars and supporting the creation of a student body that reflects our rise in national prominence. Furthermore, scholarships inspire our students to persist in their studies, embrace academic experience, and look toward the future with hope. These students are deeply grateful for the support of benefactors like you who believe in them. Your generosity fosters a sense of inspired motivation in our scholarship recipients. The Awards Dinner also honors the achievements and volunteer service of alumni, parents, faculty, and staff.For more information, contact Fairfield Awards Dinner Director Carolyn Garibaldi at 203-254-4000, ext. 2174 or by email at cgaribaldi@fairfield.edu.
2026 Awards Dinner Committee
Co-Chairs
- Trish Comey Preston ’80
- Matthew C. Kramer ’96, P’28
University Trustee; Ascot US Insurance
Committee
- Jessica L. Baehr ’04, MBA’11
Equitable - Corrine E. Baliga ’18
J.P. Morgan - Nick M. Benaquista ’05
MasterCard International - Darryl Brackeen ’10
J.P. Morgan - Robert Z. Brandy ’15
Offit Kurman, P.A. - Chuck F. Burke, Jr. ’01
Rockefeller Capital Management - Vanessa G. Ciampa ’19
Brighthouse Financial, Inc. - Tom Clements ’09
Meridian Risk Management - Xavier C. Cole ’20
Lazard Asset Management LLC - Meaghan P. Conlon ’16, MFA’19
BlackRock, Inc. - Alexandra Cordero ’19
JPMorgan Chase & Co. - Marc D'Angelillio ’06
BNY Mellon Investment Wealth Management - Luigi DiMeglio ’14
Bloomberg - Michael Fazio’96, P’28
Qualtrics XM - Nicole A. Fede ’16
.J.P. Morgan Securities - Zoe T. Ferranti ’17
The Knot Worldwide - Michelle Ferrara ’14
Ernst & Young LLP - Jordan J. Freeman ’13
Wilson Elser Moskowitz Edelman & Dicker, LLP - Cara M. Gibbons ’18
Northwell Health - Michael S. Guarnieri ’84
- Kevin Guinan ’95
Chubb - Adrienne Johnson-Dowling ’91, P’28
Apollo Global Management - James P. Keenan ’11
BNP Paribas Investment Partners - Brianna Korn ’17, MS’18
CrossCountry Consulting
- Tracy Lai MBA’11
LYSTAR Group - Andrew S. Leone ’17
MLB - Kayleen L. Litka ’21, MA’23
Weston Public Schools - Anthony J. Luongo ’96, MBA’03, P’24
Morgan Stanley - James McCullagh ’03
Northwell Health - Trisha McCullagh ’03
Trisha T. McCullagh LLC - Anif I. McDonald ’16
Xaverian Brothers High School - Claretta S. Mills ’16
Scouting America - John R. O’Neill ’71, P’08
Long Ridge Road Partners, LLC - Dominic J. Paolino ’14
Accenture - Taylor Pawson ’16, MS’17
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP - John G. Phelan Jr. ’89, P’28
Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance - Claudele Pierre ’14, MS’16
Batska Consulting Group - Nick V. Ragone ’17
The Siegfried Group - Andrea M. Rossiter ’00
GCM Grosvenor - James Z. Schmidlein ’13
Apollo Global Management Inc. - Aliyah P. Seenauth ’24
Columbia University Medical Center - Melody Serafino ’05
No. 29 Communications - John M. Sweeney ’94, P’29,’27
Brookfield Asset Management - Melanie Tinto, P’27
Wex Inc. - Gagan K. Virk '08
Paramount
2026 Awards Dinner Emcee
Chris Miles ’03
With over 17 years of experience as a sports anchor, reporter and host, Miles has covered almost every major sporting event, including the Final Four, College Football National Championship, and multiple Super Bowls. Miles has worked in seven different markets, and has covered the full gamut of sports from Nascar to the PGA and (his personal favorites) the NBA & MLB. Currently he works in Atlanta as a host and play-by-play broadcaster for the NBA.
2026 Honorees
Alumni Professional Achievement Award
Gavin G. O’Connor ’88, P’24
Group Chief Operating Officer, Point72 L.P.
Alumni Service Award
Rudolph (Vic) V. Pino Jr. ’73, P’05, ’01
Of Counsel, Wood Smith Henning & Berman LLP
Distinguished Administrator Award
Nakia N. Létang
Director of Admission, Fairfield Bellarmine
Parent Leadership Award
Frank J. Nigro III and Melissa H. Nigro, P’27, ’25
Co-Chairs, Executive Parents Leadership Council
Robert ’55 (Posthumous) and Maureen O’Keefe, P’84
Patrick and Karen (Occhipinti) O’Keefe ’84, P’15
Mary and John Butala, P’20
Joseph and Wendy O’Keefe, P’27
Special Recognition
Jay R. DeGioia ’80
District Manager, Aramark
Why Giving Matters
We create scholars and leaders. But mostly, we create change. At Fairfield University, we are driven by our Jesuit roots to act on needs greater than our own—to seek out opportunities, to make the world a better place, to put our plans into action. We are committed to providing each and every student with a strong, exemplary academic experience. We’re also committed to making this experience as accessible to as many bright, driven students as possible so they’ll have a better shot at making a real difference in the world. We hope you share this mission and that you’ll help us bring it to life. In fact, our vision is dependent on your generosity.
Give Today
About the St. Ignatius Scholarship Fund
To meet the growing demand for a Fairfield education, we are committed to expanding access and opportunities for talented, ambitious students from all backgrounds. This includes increased funding with a focus on first-generation students, and those with high financial need across broader geographies. These efforts enhance our community and reinforce our leadership in providing impactful and outcomes-focused educational opportunities.
1,000+
Scholarships Awarded
283
Distinct number of individuals have received this scholarship
