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ADVANCING CENTENARY
Student Dreams Do Come 16th Annual Scholarship Gala Honors Benefactors Who Help Make Dreams Reality Nina Rasmussen ’16 has only been at Centenary one year, but she already feels a strong connection to the College and the hundreds of alumni and friends who supported the 16th Annual Scholarship Gala, held June 21, 2013, at the David and Carol Lackland Center. “After the first day at Centenary, I was won over,” said the Fine Arts major from Roxbury, N.J. Scholarship Gala honorees Orin R. Smith ’91 HA, John Post, Margaret Post and Ellen BaarsBanks ’93
Rasmussen, who is responsible for funding her own college tuition, says it is a great privilege to be a part of close-knit learning community. She is extremely grateful to benefactors who make institutional awards such as the Centenary College Award and the Cyclone Award possible. “These
scholarships made a huge difference, making the loans to pay for my education less overwhelming,” Rasmussen explained. Thanks to a strong turnout and the generosity of Centenarians, the 2013 Scholarship Gala, which celebrated “Scholarship & Community Service,” raised more than $100,000. Since its inception, the event has raised more than $2.6 million to benefit the Centenary College Scholarship Fund. The event’s Gold Dome Award was presented to Ellen Baars-Banks ’93, the John A. and Margaret Post Foundation and Orin R. Smith ’91 HA. Baars-Banks is a founding member and former chair of the President’s Circle and current member of the Board of Trustees. The Post Foundation is a nonprofit that has funded many worthwhile organizations in Northwest New Jersey and the Slate Belt region of Pennsylvania. Smith is also a Centenary College Trustee and former 1st Vice Chairman of the Board of Trustees. Raymond Nisivoccia, founding partner of Nisivoccia and Company, LLP, and Centenary College Trustee, served as Scholarship Gala Chair.
12 The Centenarian
Alumni, students and friends of the College’s Equine Studies program turned out in full force for “A Night of Knights,” held May 15, 2013 at the Equestrian Center in Long Valley, N.J. The annual event honored eight benefactors and raised funds for the Equestrian Center Enhancement Project, a multi-year campaign that is making significant improvements to Equine facilities.
James Salerno, a longtime friend of the Equine Studies program, served as honorary chairman for the event, which featured a jousting and horsemanship performance by Medieval Times. The Equine Studies program paid tribute to Robert Beck, owner and trainer of Hunter’s Crossing Farm, for helping to secure the donation of many horses for the College; Beval Saddlery, an employer of Centenary Equine graduates and supporter of the Enhancement Project; Shelli Breidenbach,