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The annual ������ý��Ƶ�����ƹۿ� Awards Dinner raised $1.35 million for The Multicultural Scholarship Fund, which is awarded to students of diverse backgrounds. The Dinner also honored accomplished alumni, faculty, and friends for various accomplishments.

The 27th Annual ������ý��Ƶ�����ƹۿ� Awards Dinner was held Thursday, March 26, 2015 at the Grand Hyatt New York in New York City. The annual dinner, which honors accomplished alumni, administrators, faculty, and friends of the University, raised $1.35 million to support The Multicultural Scholarship Fund. The amount raised brings the Awards Dinner total to over $16 million

The attendance and amount raised more than doubled 2014’s numbers, and was the most attended Awards Dinner in 15 years.

������ý��Ƶ�����ƹۿ� president, Rev. Jeffrey von Arx, S.J., said in his remarks on Thursday night, “This mission is more critical than it has ever been, as we must strive together as a community to make those opportunities available to persons of all backgrounds. Our Multicultural Scholarship Fund makes this happen.”

This year’s Awards Dinner co-chairs were Douglas W. Hammond ’86, Chairman and CEO of NFP, and Paul J. Huston ’82, Chairman of Hudson Ferry Capital.

The Multicultural Scholarship Fund is given to students of diverse socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds. Since 1988, the scholarship has been awarded to nearly 500 students. Recipients have gone on to study aerospace engineering, manage world wide financial companies, become award-winning writers, and create positive change in politics and education.

The featured keynote speaker was ABC News anchor Tom Llamas, an accomplished award-winning journalist who has covered historical events including the Boston Marathon bombings, super storm Sandy, and the devastating 2010 earthquake in Haiti. As a graduate of Loyola University in New Orleans, Llamas shares ������ý��Ƶ�����ƹۿ�’s dedication to a Jesuit education.

The honorees for the night were Brian P. Hull ’80, P’13, a member of the ������ý��Ƶ�����ƹۿ� Board of Trustees and Chairman and Head of Strategic Clients for UBS Group Americas who received the Alumni Professional Achievement Award; Elner L. Morrell ’81, P’03, board member of the Connecticut Community Foundation and ������ý��Ƶ�����ƹۿ� Board of Trustees who received the Alumni Service Award; and Mark C. Reed ’96, ������ý��Ƶ�����ƹۿ�’s Senior Vice President for Administration and Chief of Staff and adjunct professor for the Mathematics Department and the Dolan School of Business’ MBA program, who received the Distinguished Faculty/Administrator Award.

A highlight of the night was a special performance by The Alternate Roots, a band consisting of ������ý��Ƶ�����ƹۿ� alumni. Eric Donnelly ’01, Tim Warren ’03, and Kurt Leon ’07, performed their world wide hit single, “Nothing More,” which was also featured at the 2014 Olympics closing ceremonies and consistently performed on national television shows.

The 2015 Honorees and Keynote Speaker

Alumni Professional Achievement Award
Brian P. Hull ’80, P’13
Hull is the current Chairman and Head of Strategic Clients and Partnerships for UBS Group Americas. Hull has remained involved with the University since his graudation in 1980, and is a member of the Board of Trustees. He also serves on the Easter Seals Command Council for the Staff Sergeant Donnie D. Dixon Center for Military & Veterans Community Services.

Alumni Service Award
Elner L. Morrell ’81, P’03
Mornell graduated with a bachelor of science in nursing (BSN) degree from ������ý��Ƶ�����ƹۿ� and began her career as a clinical nurse., and is currently a IT Architecture Consultant for UnitedHealth Group, Inc. Morrell is a dedicated community volunteer, serving on the board for the Connecticut Community Foundation, which fosters creative partnerships that build rewarding lives and thriving communities. She serves as a member of ������ý��Ƶ�����ƹۿ�’s Board of Trustees. Her legacy of Jesuit education continued with her son, Alex Morrell, a 2003 graduate of ������ý��Ƶ�����ƹۿ�.

Distinguished Faculty/Administrator Award
Mark C. Reed ’96
Reed received his bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and an MBA from ������ý��Ƶ�����ƹۿ�. He also holds a master’s degree in secondary education administration from Boston College and a doctorate in higher education management from the University of Pennsylvania. In addition to his current position as ������ý��Ƶ�����ƹۿ�’s Senior Vice President for Administration and Chief of Staff, Reed has taught as an adjunct professor for both the Mathematics Department and the Dolan School of Business’ MBA program. Reed is a former president of the Jesuit Student Affairs Association (JASPA).

Keynote Speaker
Tom Llamas
Anchor, ABC News
Llamas was recently promoted to anchor of ABC “World News Tonight” weekend broadcasts. Formerly serving as co-anchor of NBC 4 newscast, he won an Emmy Award for “best anchor” as well as an Edward R. Murrow award for his contributions to Super Storm Sandy coverage. In addition, Llamas has covered some of the most important breaking news stories in recently history, including the 2010 earthquake in Haiti, the Boston Marathon Bombings, and a revealing interview with a nurse who treated an Ebola patient in 2014. A graduate of Loyola University, Llamas shares ������ý��Ƶ�����ƹۿ�’s support for Jesuit education.

Posted On: 03-27-2015 03:03 PM

Volume: 47 Number: 223