Fairfield Awards Dinner

Benefiting Scholarships at Fairfield University

Wednesday, April 2, 2025

Cipriani 42nd Street

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More than $1.418 million raised in 2024...

Generous Fairfield community members and corporate sponsors exceeded expectations and the fundraising goal of $1,000,000, making 2024 one of the most successful Fairfield Awards Dinner in our history.

2024 Awards Dinner Photos
Watch the 2024 Awards Dinner Live Recording

About

Since 1988, the Fairfield Awards Dinner has raised more than $22 million for scholarships to help students realize their full potential through a Fairfield education, regardless of economic or social barriers.

The Awards Dinner also honors the achievements and volunteer service of alumni, parents, faculty, and staff.
2025 Awards Dinner Committee

Co-Chairs

  • Trish Comey Preston ’80
  • Matthew C. Kramer ’96, P’28
    Ascot US Insurance

Committee

  • Jessica L. Baehr ’04, MBA’11
    Equitable
  • Corrine E. Baliga ’18
    J.P. Morgan
  • Nick M. Benaquista ’05
    MasterCard International
  • Robert Berchem, Esq. ’62, P’92
    Berchem Moses P.C.
  • Darryl Brackeen ’10
    J.P. Morgan
  • Robert Z. Brandy ’15
    Offit Kurman, P.A.
  • Chuck F. Burke, Jr. ’01
    Rockefeller Capital Management
  • Tom Clements ’09
    Meridian Risk Management
  • Xavier C. Cole ’20
    Lazard Asset Management LLC
  • Meaghan P. Conlon ’16, MFA’19
    Preqin
  • Alexandra Cordero ’19
    JPMorgan Chase & Co.
  • John K. Courtmanche ’88
    Johns Hopkins University
  • Marc D'Angelillio ’06
    BNY Mellon Investment Wealth Management
  • Alexandra Delaney ’12
    Lazard Asset Management
  • Luigi DiMeglio ’14
    Bloomberg
  • Michael Fazio ’96
    Qualtrics XM
  • 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
  • Craig W. Hanrahan ’89
    Everest
  • Stephen Hollingsworth ’84, P’28
    Adele Financial Services
  • 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
  • Bryan L. LeClerc, Esq. ’84
    Berchem Moses P.C.
  • Andrew S. Leone ’17
    MLB
  • Anthony J. Luongo ’96, MBA’03, P’24
    Morgan Stanley
  • Scott M. Malone ’97
    Macquarie Capital
  • James McCullagh ’03
    Northwell Health
  • Trisha McCullagh ’03
    Trisha T. McCullagh LLC
  • Anif I. McDonald ’16
    Xaverian Brothers High School
  • Jennifer McMahon ’89, P’19,’13
  • 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
  • Melody Serafino ’05
    No. 29 Communications
  • Malu Siskind, P’27
    Goodwin Global Law Firm
  • John M. Sweeney ’94, P’27, P’29
    Brookfield Asset Management
  • Melanie Tinto, P’27
    Wex Inc.
  • Donald Wilson, P’26
    Intuitive Surgical
  • Karen Wilson P’26
    Los Altos School District
2025 Awards Dinner Emcee

Chris Miles ’03

With over 15 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 & play-by-play expert for NBA TV.

2025 Honorees

Alumni Professional Achievement Award

Joseph R. Bronson ’70

Read Honoree Bio

Alumni Service Award

Adrienne Johnson-Dowling ’91, P’28

Read Honoree Bio

Distinguished Faculty/Administrator Award

Dr. Joan L. Lee, P’19

Read Honoree Bio

Family Leadership Award

The Butala and O’Keefe Families

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

Read Family Bio

Special Recognition

Jacqueline S. Kane ’87
Former Field Hockey Head Coach, Fairfield University

Read Bio

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

2025 Awards Dinner Student Speaker

Mekaylia Ingram ’25

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

Meet the Scholars

Donor Roll

We wish to thank the contributors for their generosity in making the 2025 Fairfield Awards Dinner a success.

2025 Awards Dinner Donor Roll

Magis

  • Kevin ’80 and Elaine Cannon, P’20
  • Doug ’86 and Patricia Hammond

Bellarmine

  • Frank Carroll ’89
  • William and Amy Curley ’83
  • Eastern Salt Company, Inc./Atlantic Salt Company, Inc.
  • Jennifer ’92 and Richard Piepszak

Leadership

  • Apollo Global Management
  • Maureen ’90 and Stephen Bujno
  • Joseph A. ’80 and Diana DiMenna
  • John Giblin ’63
  • Brian ’80 and Laura Hull, P’13
  • Paul ’82 and Linda Huston
  • Gavin and Marybeth O’Connor ’88, P’24
  • Patricia (Comey) ’80 and John Preston
  • The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America

Partner

  • Accenture
  • Sheila Kearney Davidson ’83
  • Hugh Davis ’95 and Amy Baldwin
  • Guy Carpenter & Company, LLC
  • Robert F. and Maureen T. O'Keefe Foundation
  • John ’94 and Kristina ’96 Sweeney

Benefactor

  • 443 Technologies
  • ABM Industries Inc.
  • Nancy ’80 and Joel Altobello
  • Aramark
  • Michael Archbold ’82
  • AgroFresh
  • Ascot, U.S., The Ascot Group
  • Barnes & Noble College
  • Jason and Alexis Beckwith, P’23
  • Joseph ’70 and Linda Bronson
  • Heather Bulk ’95
  • Centerbrook Architects & Planners LLC
  • Jorge ’89, MBA’06 and Victoria Chiluisa, P’21,’19
  • Chubb
  • Deloitte Services, LP
  • Chris ’93 and Catherine ’93, MBA ’07 Desmarais
  • Elsmere Education Inc.
  • Equitable
  • Ernst & Young LLP
  • Tom ’78 and Michele Fanning P’10,’06
  • John and Kara Gally ’00
  • Gilbane Building Company
  • John and Patti Glassford ’85
  • Kathleen ’03 and Brad Hay
  • Henkel
  • Horizon Kinetics
  • Adrienne Johnson-Dowling ’91, P’28 and Lee Dowling
  • Dagan ’99 and Lori Kasavana
  • Kohler Ronan, LLC
  • KPMG
  • Matthew ’96 and Emily ’95 Kramer, P’28
  • Mark ’11, MS’12 and Kimberly ’06, MBA’16 Kremheller
  • Stephen ’76 and Sandra Lessing
  • Clinton ’88 and Teresa Lewis
  • Lockton Reinsurance
  • Macquarie Capital
  • Scott Malone
  • Mastercard
  • Chris McCabe
  • Meridian Risk Management, Inc.
  • Phil and Liz Neugebauer ’91
  • Newman Architects LLC
  • John ’71 and Kathy O'Neill P’08
  • PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
  • Seward & Kissel LLP

Donors

  • Leigh Aberbach Lignowski ’92, P’29, ’26
  • Maria Alfonso ’85
  • Michelle Armstrong ’07
  • Joseph Avallone ’10
  • Jessica L. Baehr ’04, MBA’11
  • Corrine Baliga ’18
  • Kaadiana Barnes-Padilla ’17
  • BDO
  • Alexander Beckwith ’23
  • Mike ’82 and Wendy Bentivegna
  • Edward Bernacki ’63
  • Bennett Boccuzzi ’79
  • Robert Boyny ’16
  • Darryl Brackeen ’10
  • Robert Brandy ’15
  • Dorothea Brennan, MA’81
  • Susan Brown Galvao ’90
  • Charles F. Burke, Jr. ’01 and Jonathan Stark ’03
  • Madeline Butler ’75
  • Julie Callhan ’94
  • Eric and Stacie Campbell, P’24
  • Carlton Fields
  • Griffin Caulfield ’24
  • Thomas Clements ’09
  • Xavier Cole ’20
  • College of Arts and Science
  • Richard Comings ’66
  • Meaghan Conlon ’16
  • Alexandra Cordero ’19
  • John Courtmanche ’88
  • Marc D'Angelillio ’06
  • Diane and Steven Danza, P’26
  • Alexandra Delaney ’12
  • Joseph Delaney ’03, MBA’04
  • Margaret Delaney ’90
  • Joseph DeMarzo ’05
  • Gallagher Re
  • Luigi DiMeglio ’14 and Shannon Gilroy ’14
  • Ryan Doheny ’12, MS’13
  • Charles F. Dolan School of Business
  • Philip and Yael Eliasoph
  • Joseph and Bonnie Enriquez, P’25
  • Enterprise Mobility Foundation
  • Lauren Exnicios ’01
  • Peter Fay ’87
  • Zoe Ferranti ’17
  • Michelle Ferrara ’14
  • Steven Flanagan ’84
  • Jordan Freeman ’13
  • Friends of Fairfield Rugby
  • Patricia Garry ’81
  • Michael ’89 and Bernadette Garvey, P’25, ’23
  • Cara Gibbons ’18
  • Michael Guarnieri ’84
  • Joel Heller ’90
  • John Henschel ’76, P’10
  • Christopher ’00 and Julie Hillock
  • Paul ’72 and Tiffany Hoffman
  • Stephen Hollingsworth ’84
  • Interstate Waste Services
  • Charles Johnson ’90, P’28,’25
  • James and Sarah Keenan ’11
  • Vidhya and Rob Kelly, P’28
  • Erin Kent Fink ’93
  • Brianna Korn ’17, MS’18
  • Robert and Clare Kretzman
  • Tracy Lai, MBA ’11
  • Marin Lane ’16
  • Timothy & Rosaleen Lane ’85, P’24, ’16
  • Christopher and Lisa Lawler, P’26
  • Andrew Leone ’17
  • Matthew ’08 and Kelly ’07 Lepley
  • Matthew Lepley ’08
  • Littler Mendelson PC
  • Charles & Denise Luccarelli, P’26
  • Anthony Luongo ’96, MBA’03, P’24
  • Timothy Lynes ’81 and Joan Morningstar
  • Sue and Mike Lyngaas
  • James and Trisha McCullah '03
  • Anif McDonald ’16
  • Robert McDonnell ’08
  • William McIntosh ’92
  • Paul Menzel, P’26
  • Susan McGinley ’95, P’25
  • Brian McGovern P’25
  • John McNally ’77, P’07
  • Samantha Militar - Johnson Controls Fire Protection LP
  • Rob ’90 and Darlene ’92 Millard
  • Claretta Mills ’16
  • Modern Mechanical Systems, Inc.
  • Greg ’74 and Deirdre Montefiore
  • Morgan Stanley
  • Frank Novak - Johnson Controls Fire Protection LP
  • New England Television LLC
  • NWN Carousel
  • Michael O'Malley ’94
  • Padraic ’90 and Robyn ’91 Kelly
  • Gabriel Pamich ’17
  • Dominic Paolino ’14
  • Andreas Papadatos ’91 and Brenda Thickett
  • Taylor Pawson ’16, MS’17
  • Avery Phelan ’27
  • John Phelan, Jr. ’89, P’27
  • Claudele Pierre ’14, MS’16
  • William ’10 and Stephanie Rafferty
  • Rickes Associates
  • Risk Strategies Company
  • Marion and Thomas Rohrs
  • Andrea Rossiter ’00
  • James and Teresa Ruddy, P’24
  • Dylan Ruddy ’24
  • Marc ’94, and Kathleen Salerno, P’28,’26
  • Rev. Christopher Samele ’72, MA’74
  • School of Engineering & Computing
  • Thomas Sciametta ’96
  • Beth Ann Semeraro ’02
  • Melody Serafino ’05
  • Shadow Transport, Inc.
  • Malu and Neal Siskind P’27
  • Patricia Sisney ’84
  • Stamford Office Furniture
  • Christopher Steger ’92
  • Jonathan Tan
  • The Siegfried Group
  • TIAA
  • Cooper Tinto ’27 and Claire Brady ’27
  • Melanie and Michael Tinto P’27
  • Bill Tommins, P’18, President, Southern CT, Bank of America
  • Cooper Tinto ’27 and Claire Brady ’27
  • Donald Tran
  • Colleen Tycz ’04
  • United Security, Inc.
  • Patrick Waide ’59
  • Matthew Walters ’11
  • Thomas White ’84
  • Lea Welch ’99
  • The Whiting-Turner Contracting Company
  • Donald and Karen Wilson P’26
  • Jacqueline Yerina ’14, MBA’18

About the Venue

For the third time, Fairfield University will be hosting the Fairfield Awards Dinner at the historic Cipriani 42nd St. Conveniently located in the heart of Manhattan, this Italian Renaissance inspired masterpiece showcases towering marble columns, soaring ceilings, magnificent inlaid floors and glorious chandeliers.

Learn More About the Venue

2025 Awards Dinner Sponsors

2025 Tickets and Sponsorship