Nearly 500 Iona alumni, students, faculty, staff and friends gathered for the Iona College Trustees Scholarship Award Gala at the elegant Cipriani 42nd Street in New York City last April to raise funds for scholarships and celebrate outstanding alumni.
The annual event raised over $700,000 for student scholarships, which was gratifying news for the many students who attended.
After a welcome by the Iona College Pipe Band and a blessing by Kevin Griffith, CFC, ̕83, two outstanding alumni were celebrated. The Board of Trustees presented the Iona College Legacy Award, which is given to individuals in recognition of their lifetime accomplishments, to Ronald DeCicco ̕70, who served as CEO of Pershing LLC. “Thirty years ago, Br. Driscoll reconnected me to Iona and motivated me to give back to an institution that helped develop me academically, spiritually and morally,” said Mr. DeCicco. “I am eternally grateful.”
Iona presented the Blessed Edmund Rice Humanitarian Award to Thomas A. Davenport, MD, FACS, ̕88, who, after graduating from Iona College, attended Yale School of Medicine and has used his gifts in medicine to serve others, particularly through active medical volunteerism in developing countries.
The Blessed Edmund Rice Humanitarian Award, named to honor the founder of the Congregation of Christian Brothers, recognizes those who by their activities and service to others have reinforced Iona’s identity as a College founded in the tradition of the Congregation of Christian Brothers and American Catholic higher education. “In my twenty years of performing surgery in very difficult conditions, I’ve learned that we don’t accomplish things on our own, we are not self-made, and we support others and they support us. Always remember to fight the good fight,” said Dr. Davenport.
“Ron and Tom are the living evidence of the transformational power of an Iona College education,” said Paul J. Sutera, CFRE, senior vice president for Advancement & External Affairs. “We chose to honor them for their tremendous careers and perhaps most importantly for how they have chosen to live their lives.” Joseph E. Nyre, Ph.D. was also recognized for his contributions in leading the College. Dr. Nyre’s eight-year tenure at Iona concluded at the end of June 2019 when he assumed the presidency of Seton Hall University.
The rest of the night was spent dining, dancing and enjoying good company.
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