Over the course of 25 years, there have been two constants to the University’s President’s Medal celebrations: honorees who have achieved excellence in their fields and demonstrated extraordinary compassion for others, and scholars who benefit from the generosity of many.
Proceeds from the President’s Medal Gala — the premier annual fundraiser for the University — benefit the Presidential Scholarship Endowment Fund, which awards four-year, full-tuition scholarships to incoming first-year students with outstanding high school records and notable community involvement.
“Since 2002, our President’s Medal dinners have raised more than $28 million for the Presidential Scholarship Endowment Fund, and we hope to permanently endow the fund by bringing that total up to $30 million by the end of this fiscal year,” said Bobby Davis Ed.D. ’03, vice president for Advancement at the University.
In 2001, however, the President’s Medal celebrations were merely the dream of the University’s 23rd president, Rev. Joseph M. McShane, S.J. H’04, and a dedicated group of alumni and friends looking to advance the University’s mission through a new organization called the President’s Business Council (PBC). Among the driving forces of the inaugural celebration were Christopher M. “Kip” Condron ’70, H’03, the PBC’s first chair and University trustee emeritus, John D. Dionne ’86, H’10, P’22, ’28, and the late Mary Beth Farrell ’79, H’10.
When President’s Business Council Chair and Trustee Elizabeth A. (Boyle) Madden ’96 first joined the PBC, she was its youngest member.
“We’ve had an amazing generation before us that has really built this magnificent mechanism for philanthropy and connectivity,” Madden told The Scranton Journal in a previous interview.
"We are very excited to be honoring Robert S. ’68 and Marilyn Weiss at our 25th President’s Medal dinner,” said Davis. “We hope you’ll consider making your own impact by supporting The Presidential Scholarship Endowment Fund so that tomorrow’s leaders can continue to set the world on fire with the lessons learned at Scranton.”
Presidential Scholars from the Class of 2003 attend the inaugural President’s Medal dinner at The Pierre in New York City.
