NJCU Gala Award History

About the NJCU Leaders & Legends Gala Awards

Launched in 2018 as the NJCU Leadership Awards, the Leaders & Legends Gala was conceived to honor, promote, and encourage exemplary efforts by individuals and organizations who have made and continue to make exemplary contributions to our society. The 2020 and 2021 events were canceled due to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. The gala returned in 2022. Past honorees are listed below:

2024: Leaders & Legends Gala

Legacy Award: State Senator Nellie Pou. 35th Legislative District
Service Award: Ulises Diaz, Senior Vice President of Government and Community Affairs at Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of NJ
Impact Award: Ponce Bank
Outstanding Leadership Award: NJCU Interim President Andrés Acebo
Extraordinary Service Award: Peter Hernandez, NJCU Foundation Chair
Profound Impact Award: Edward P. O'Connor, NJCU Foundation Vice Chair

2023: Bright Futures Gala

NJCU did not present awards at its 2023 Gala and focused exclusively on inspiring student stories.

2022: NJCU Leadership Awards Gala

The NJCU Foundation is pleased to honor recipients for their tremendous impact and ongoing drive to advance their areas of expertise within communities. The NJCU Foundation honor's leaders in the following areas:

Service
The Leadership Service Award celebrates the highest level of dedication and commitment to elevating the Jersey City community. The award recognizes significant and positive impact on advancing the community through demonstrated and consistent leadership through service.

The Arts
The Leadership Arts Award recognizes an outstanding contribution to the arts in Jersey City by exemplifies extraordinary leadership qualities in advancing the Jersey City arts community.

Innovation
The Leadership Innovation Award honors innovative and creative contributions to Jersey City. The award recognizes innovation that results in positive impact or achievement for the benefit of Jersey City.

Legacy
The Leadership Legacy Award honors transformational impact that has made a measurable and lasting difference in the area of positive growth within the Jersey City community.

Service Award: Assembly Deputy Majority Leader and New Jersey Assemblywoman Angela V. McKnight
Arts Award: Paul Silverman, co-founder of the Jersey City-based real estate company, SILVERMAN;
Legacy Award: John J. Moore, L.L.M.,‘56, the former Chair of the Board of Trustees (awarded posthumously)
Innovation Award: Bank of America, accepted by Alberto Garofalo, President, Bank of America New Jersey.

2021

No event (COVID-19 pandemic)

2020

No event (COVID-19 pandemic)

2019: NJCU Leadership Awards

Service Award: Honorable Frank J. Guarini
Arts Award: Meredith Burns Executive Director, Art House Productions
Legacy Award: Glenn D. Cunningham, Former Mayor of Jersey City, 2001-2004 (awarded posthumously)
Innovation Award: Joseph F. Scott, FACHE, Executive Vice President, Health Care Transformation, RWJ Barnabas Health

2018: Jersey City Leadership Awards

Service Award: Jersey City Mayor Steven M. Fulop
Arts Award: Stefania Panepinto, Founder, Panepinto Galleries
Legacy Award: Thomas Stanton, Jr., a Jersey City banker, visionary and prime mover committed to the renaissance of his hometown (awarded posthumously)
Innovation Award: Angelo J. Genova, Esq., Senior Partner, Co-Founder and Chairman, Genova Burns, Attorneys-At-Law