Scholarship recipient speaker Mekaylia Ingram ’25 will be celebrated alongside fellow scholars Jennifer Fajardo ’25, Phil-Jay Whyte ’25, and Mishal Qureshi ’26 at the Fairfield Awards Dinner on April 2.
On Wednesday, April 2, Fairfield will hold its biggest event in New York City: the Fairfield Awards Dinner (FAD), which benefits student scholarships. Since its start in 1998, the event has raised more than $22 million for student scholarships. This year’s Awards Dinner is less than two weeks away and promises to be both an evening of incredible impact for the next generation of Stags and a celebration of an exceptional group of honorees and students.
Scholarship Recipient Speaker Mekaylia Ingram ’25
This year, the scholarship recipient speaker will be Mekaylia Ingram ’25. After graduating from Warren Harding High School in Bridgeport, Ingram became the first in her family to attend college — a milestone largely made possible by scholarships at Fairfield. “Receiving these scholarships gave me the ability to continue my education guilt-free, knowing that it wouldn’t add financial burden for my mother,” she shared. Now a senior, Ingram will soon complete her bachelor of science degree in nursing with a minor in psychology. After Commencement, she plans to begin her career as a psychiatric nurse to gain hands-on experience in the field before returning to school to pursue her doctorate. She sees nursing as the perfect intersection of her passions — allowing her to serve, heal, and advocate for those who may not have the strength or platform to advocate for themselves.
Jennifer Fajardo ’25
Growing up in Stratford, Connecticut, Jennifer Fajardo ’25 first discovered her passion for business at Bunnell High School and set her sights on higher education. As a first-generation college student, she was determined to pursue her academic ambitions, though the cost of higher education was concerning. Receiving scholarship assistance from Fairfield University changed everything. “When I saw that scholarship award on my acceptance letter, it gave me a sense of hope,” she recalled. Fajardo welcomed the opportunity to explore different areas of business through the dynamic curriculum of the Charles F. Dolan School of Business. A double major in accounting and marketing, she will graduate in May 2025 and plans to continue her education at Fairfield Dolan, pursuing an MBA and her Certified Public Accountant license.
Phil-Jay Whyte ’25
Phil-Jay Whyte ’25 grew up in Hopewell, Jamaica, before moving to New Jersey in 2019. When he began the college application process, he felt uncertain — as a first-generation college student he did not have a lot of guidance on how to best navigate the admission process. However, after being awarded scholarships at Fairfield, Whyte felt relieved and excited as his aspirations began to take shape. Whyte is now a senior at Fairfield majoring in international studies with minors in mathematics and applied statistics. His Fairfield experience has guided him to his intended career “to work with international organizations that use data and statistics to improve the healthcare and educational systems of developing countries.” With this in mind, he plans to pursue his master's degree in applied data science or analytics, and he has already received offers of enrollment from leading programs and institutions. Whyte is proud of the path ahead of him and he is eternally grateful for the scholarships he received. He is eager to pay it forward through his professional focus in humanitarian efforts and in his everyday life as a man for others.
Mishal Qureshi ’26
Mishal Qureshi ’26 grew up in Pakistan before immigrating to the United States with her family to increase their access to education and opportunities. With the support of scholarships at Fairfield, Qureshi is now a junior at Fairfield, double-majoring in accounting and finance with a minor in accounting analytics. Qureshi has secured an internship at Ernst & Young for the summer of 2025 and looks forward to this experience ahead of graduating in 2026. Qureshi holds immense gratitude for the scholarships she has received and the change it has made in her life. “Fairfield has given me the space to challenge myself, embrace leadership, and create lasting impact, and for that, I am incredibly grateful," she said. "This experience has been life-changing, and I cannot wait to continue growing, learning, and giving back.”
The University is proud to recognize these students alongside 2025 honorees, all while raising vital scholarship funds for future students. For full student bios and additional information about the Fairfield Awards Dinner, such as honorees, event registration, sponsorship options, and ways to support student scholarships, please visit fairfield.edu/awardsdinner, or contact Carolyn Garibaldi at 203-254-4000, ext. 2174.
