University Gala Supports Student Scholarships

GARDEN CITY, N.Y. - May 24, 2018 - PRLog -- Seven trendsetting African-American women and a prominent trial lawyer will be honored at the 18^th annual Adelphi University President's Gala (http://gala.adelphi.edu/view_about.php?journal_id=830) on Saturday, June 16, in Garden City, N.Y. Legendary sportscaster and Adelphi alumnus Al Trautwig is the master of ceremonies.

The University's largest fundraising event, the gala supports student scholarships. Adelphi provides more than $67 million in need and merit-based awards to its approximately 5,000 undergraduates from across the country. Still, unmet financial needs for some students remain.  To help close these gaps, net proceeds from the Gala will establish the endowed President's Student Success Scholarship. The endowed scholarship qualifies for the Board of Trustees' $5,000,000 Scholarship Challenge Match, resulting in the annual payout of the scholarship being matched dollar for dollar in perpetuity.

"Funds from the gala will help students most in need – particularly those nearing graduation and running out of funding," said President Christine M. Riordan. "We're excited about honoring these worthy Adelphi graduates and at the same time building financial resources for our students."

Nearly five decades ago, seven African American women—Renaye (Brown) Cuyler '70, Lavida (Robinson) Allen '72, Charlotte (Matthews) Harris '69, Jacquelyn Lendsey '71, Joyce (Barnett) Montague '69, Lorene Wilkerson '69 (formerly Lawrene Street),and the late Diane (Hunter) Hazel '69—found each other at what was then a predominantly white Adelphi University. They gathered in places like the dining hall, where they often stayed until closing, to share opinions and advice. Whether they were discussing issues surrounding civil rights, professors, parents, emotional support or boyfriends, they found comfort in each other.

Beginning in 1974, the seven reunited every five years in celebration of their life-changing time at Adelphi—and later decided to make it an annual reunion. In 2012, they chose to establish an endowed scholarship fund to help support and inspire the life journeys of other African-American women students at Adelphi. They say the scholarship is also a way for their special bond to live beyond them—as a tribute to, and a legacy of, their friendship. At the gala, the Adelphi 7 Sisters will be honored with the President's Award for Philanthropic Leadership.

Adelphi also will honor Nicholas Papain '74, partner with the prominent New York personal injury law firm Sullivan Papain Block McGrath & Cannavo P.C.  Papain, who has been with the firm since graduating from American University's Washington College of Law in 1978, served as its managing partner for almost 20 years. A Long Island resident, he is president of the Parish Council of the Archangel Michael Greek Orthodox Church in Port Washington.

Papain played a key role in Sullivan Papain's representation of the State of New York in its lawsuit against the major tobacco companies, which resulted in a historic $25 billion recovery for the state plus other relief projected to save the lives of more than 75,000 New Yorkers. He also played a major role in the negotiation of a $700 million settlement for injured 9/11 World Trade Center rescue and recovery workers. At the gala, Papain will receive Adelphi's President's Award for Distinguished Service.

Master of Ceremonies for the event will be alumnus and sportscaster Al Trautwig '78, currently the pre- and post-game host for the New York Knicks and the New York Rangers on MSG. Throughout his career in broadcasting, which has included announcing 16 Olympic Games for NBC, ABC and CBS, Trautwig has been nominated for numerous prestigious awards. Among his honors are four national Emmy awards, 28 New York Emmys and a New York State Sportscaster of the Year award. A member of Adelphi's Athletics Hall of Fame, he received an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree from the University in 2017.

The Adelphi President's Gala will take place 6–11 p.m. on June 16 at the Garden City Hotel.  For more information, including honoree bios as well as ticket and sponsorship opportunities, see gala.adelphi.edu (http://gala.adelphi.edu/view_journal.php?journal_id=830).

About Adelphi: A modern metropolitan university with a personalized approach to higher learning.

Adelphi University is a highly awarded, nationally ranked, powerfully connected doctoral research university offering exceptional liberal arts and sciences programs and professional training with particular strength in its Core Four—Arts and Humanities, STEM and Social Sciences, Business and Education Professions, and Health and Wellness. Adelphi is dedicated to transforming students' lives through small classes, hands-on learning and innovative ways to support student success.

Founded in Brooklyn in 1896, Adelphi is Long Island's oldest private coeducational university. Today Adelphi serves over 7,900 students at its beautiful main campus in Garden City, New York—just 23 miles from New York City's cultural and internship opportunities—and at dynamic learning hubs in Manhattan, the Hudson Valley and Suffolk County, and online.

More than 100,000 Adelphi graduates have gained the skills to thrive professionally as active, caring citizens, making their mark on the University, their communities and the world beyond.