ONCAMPUS HAWKSUNDERFORTY
HAWKS UNDER 40
Gabor, Kalwicki, Luna, and Rajewski Named Hilbert's First "Four Under 40" By Patrick S. Broadwater
Hilbert College introduced the Hawks Under 40 to honor four Hilbert graduates under the age of 40 years old. The inaugural honorees are Michael Gabor '10, Karen Kalwicki '06, Jason Luna '96, and Jonathan Rajewski '04. The honorees were selected because they have made an impact in business, community, research, artistic, leadership, educational, and/or philanthropic endeavors and have demonstrated a commitment to maintaining a lifelong relationship with Hilbert College.
Hilbert is Twice as Nice for Gabor Finding the right college is all about finding the right fit. Every student has their own strengths, interests and personality, and so does each college. So when a student enrolls at the same school twice, it’s a clear indication that he’s found an ideal match. Hilbert was that perfect fit for Michael Gabor. A native of Cheektowaga, Gabor is one of the first students to receive both a bachelor’s and master’s degree from Hilbert. Gabor enrolled at Hilbert as an undergrad and was active in the Ski Club and Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE). He cites “good times with friends in E-4” among his favorite Hilbert memories. He was also a member of the men’s soccer team, where he was an honorable mention allAllegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference (AMCC) pick after the 2008 season. His six goals and 17 points in his senior season rank ninth best in school history. After earning his bachelor’s degree,
Gabor returned to Hilbert to pursue one of the College’s newly established graduate programs. He served as an assistant men’s soccer coach, was involved in the Graduate Student Association and graduated with a Master of Science in Criminal Justice Administration. He credits criminal justice faculty Martin Floss, Kathleen Pierino and John Culhane and business administration professor Patrick Heraty as his most influential mentors. “My Hilbert education prepared me for investigating financial crimes in a professional working environment,” Gabor said. “I apply the knowledge and skills obtained at Hilbert daily in real-world situations.” Gabor is currently a global financial crimes compliance anti-money laundering investigator with JP Morgan Chase & Co. He lists soccer, snowboarding and SCUBA diving as his favorite hobbies. - HC
Michael Gabor was member of Hilbert's first cohort of master's graduates this past May.
On a Mission to 'Repair the World' Walking down the streets of tiny Kingstree, S.C. seven years ago, Karen Kalwicki got a firsthand look at the effects of poverty on a community. Then a senior at Hilbert, Kalwicki had traveled to Kingstree – a rural town where two-thirds of its 3,000 residents live below the poverty line – on an alternative spring break trip with the college’s Campus Ministry Club. The volunteer group tutored students and performed community beautification projects. But for Kalwicki, the event known as the “Jesus Walk” had the greatest impact. Walking and mingling with community members, she earned a greater appreciation for the daily struggles the town’s poorest residents faced. “At that point, I knew my career would include advocating for those in poverty in some way,” she said. Kalwicki was an active and highly honored scholar and athlete, excelling in both women’s soccer and softball at Hilbert. She received the McGrath Award and Mary Edwina Bogel Award upon graduation in 2006, and soon
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thereafter began advocating for the poor and homeless. She currently works as a paralegal at Neighborhood Legal Services Inc., a non-profit agency in Buffalo, and has been a member of several civic organizations, including the Project Homeless Connect to Buffalo Planning Committee and the Western New York Coalition for the Homeless. Her advocacy is a continuation of both her desire to do good in the world, as well as the education she received at Hilbert. “There is a Hebrew phrase that a friend taught me called 'Tikkun olam' meaning to 'repair the world.' Hilbert fostered a dedication to serving others and repairing the world in every area of my life,” Kalwicki said. “From the coaches’ talks on the soccer and softball fields, to our trips with the Campus Ministry Club, to the classroom, in all areas I learned how just one person’s actions can change any situation. This part of my Hilbert education and experience is something that will forever impact my life.” A recipient of Hilbert’s 2011 GOLD Award,
Karen Kalwicki is a 2006 graduate of Hilbert College. Kalwicki is also active with the Ride for Roswell and the Thyroid Cancer Survivors Association. She was diagnosed with thyroid cancer in 2008, but is now in complete remission. - HC