Iona College Raises $1 Million at 2022 Trustees Scholarship Award Gala
New Rochelle, N.Y. – Iona College raised $1 million to help support deserving students at its annual Trustees Scholarship Award Gala on March 31, 2022. Attendees gathered at Cipriani 42nd Street in New York City, celebrating distinguished business and community leaders who have contributed to the success of Iona in various ways.
The Legacy Award, bestowed upon unique individuals in recognition of their lifetime accomplishments, was presented to Peter G. Riguardi '83, '16H, chairman and president, New York Tri-state Region, Jones Lang LaSalle Brokerage, Inc.; and Karen D. Seitz '84, founder and managing director, Fusion Partners Global, LLC.
In winning the Legacy Award, Riguardi and Seitz join a notable group of past honorees, including Francis Cardinal Spellman, New York Governor Malcolm Wilson, U.S. Senator Edward Kennedy, The Congregation of Christian Brothers and the 15 Iona alumni lost in the September 11, 2001, attacks on the World Trade Center.
The Blessed Edmund Rice Humanitarian Award, bestowed upon 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, was presented to Dr. William and Kathleen Magee, co-founders of Operation Smile. Iona College is a proud partner to Operation Smile, a nonprofit medical organization providing safe and free surgeries for those born with cleft lips and palates around the world.
Dr. William and Kathleen Magee join a prestigious group of past honorees including His Eminence Timothy Cardinal Dolan ’14H, former NY Yankee Mariano Rivera P’15, New York City Police Commissioner Ray Kelly, and world-renowned Ice Bucket Challenge co-founder Pat Quinn '06.
“It is my distinct honor to congratulate our honorees and, on behalf of Iona College, express my gratitude to our supportive and generous alumni community,” said Seamus Carey, Ph.D., president of Iona. “The funds raised will change lives and families for generations, as students are afforded the opportunity to benefit from a transformational Iona education. Thank you to all who continue to support the students and mission of Iona College in their generous giving.”
Left to right: Honorees William P. Magee Jr., DDS, MD, Operation Smile co-founder and CEO; Kathleen S. Magee, BSN, MSW, M.Ed., Operation Smile co-founder; Seamus Carey, Ph.D., president, Iona College; Karen D. Seitz ’84, founder and managing director, Fusion Partners Global, LLC; Peter G. Riguardi ’83, ’16H, chairman and president, New York Tri-state Region, Jones Lang LaSalle Brokerage, Inc. Photo credit: Monika Graff.
Left to right: Glenn Patrick, husband of Margaret Timoney; Noreen Carey, wife of Iona University President Seamus Carey, Ph.D.; Margaret (Maggie) Timoney ’89, ’92MBA, CEO, HEINEKEN USA; Amanda Dolce, granddaughter of Andrew J. Dolce; and Trustee Andrew J. Dolce '57, '19H, chairman emeritus of Dolce Hotels & Resorts. Photo credit: Clark Jones.
Left to right: Xu Devand, advisor, entrepreneur, investor and philanthropist; Karen D. Seitz ’84, founder and managing director, Fusion Partners Global, LLC; and Hon. Richard Gephardt, former United States House of Representatives Majority Leader. Photo credit: Monika Graff.
Left to right: Louis D. Magarelli '86, ’10MBA, vice president, Merchant Sales and Solutions - Americas, Visa; Jerry C. Cifarelli '77, vice chairman and founder, ANC Sports; Rich Petriccione, Ph.D., '81, '95MS, president and CEO, Concourse Consulting; Rick Pitino, Iona men’s basketball coach; and Alfred F. Kelly Jr. '80, '81MBA, '19H, CEO, Visa. Photo credit: Clark Jones.
Left to right: Honoree Peter G. Riguardi ’83, ’16H, chairman and president, New York Tri-state Region, Jones Lang LaSalle Brokerage, Inc., and his wife, Linda Riguardi; with JoAnna Bucci and Don N. Bucci '80, managing director, Jones Lang Lasalle. Photo credit: Clark Jones.
Left to right: Iona College’s 2021-22 Student Government Executive Board. Aidan Connolly ’23; Maeve Ellen Wydan ’22; Courthney Liza Normil ’22; Katherine Geslak ’23; Allyson Renda ’23; Brendan Bohan ’22. Photo credit: Monika Graff.
Iona College’s world-renowned Pipe Band performs at the gala. Photo credit: Monika Graff.
ABOUT IONA
Founded in 1940, Iona University is a master's-granting private, Catholic, coeducational institution of learning in the tradition of the Edmund Rice Christian Brothers. Iona's 45-acre New Rochelle campus and 28-acre Bronxville campus are just 20 miles north of Midtown Manhattan. With a total enrollment of nearly 4,000 students and an alumni base of more than 50,000 around the world, Iona is a diverse community of learners and scholars dedicated to academic excellence and the values of justice, peace and service. Iona is highly accredited, offering undergraduate degrees in liberal arts, science and business administration, as well as Master of Arts, Master of Science and Master of Business Administration degrees and numerous advanced certificate programs. Iona students enjoy small class sizes, engaged professors and a wide array of academic programs across the School of Arts & Science; LaPenta School of Business; NewYork-Presbyterian Iona School of Health Sciences; and Hynes Institute for Entrepreneurship & Innovation. Iona is widely recognized in prestigious rankings, including The Princeton Review’s 2025 national list of “The Best 390 Colleges” and The Wall Street Journal/College Pulse’s “2024 Best Colleges in America,” which ranked Iona at #66 in the nation overall and #8 in the nation among Catholic schools. Iona’s LaPenta School of Business is also accredited by AACSB International, a recognition awarded to just six percent of business schools worldwide. In addition, The Princeton Review recognized Iona’s on-campus MBA program as a “Best Business School for 2023.” Iona also offers a fully online MBA program for even greater flexibility. In July 2021, Iona announced the establishment of the NewYork-Presbyterian Iona School of Health Sciences, which is now principally located on Iona’s Bronxville campus in collaboration with NewYork-Presbyterian. Connecting to its Irish heritage, the University also recently announced it is expanding abroad with a new campus in County Mayo, Ireland. A school on the rise, Iona officially changed its status from College to University on July 1, 2022, reflecting the growth of its academic programs and the prestige of an Iona education.