YOUR IMPACT. THEIR FUTURE.
2024 IMPACT REPORT
A MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT
Dear friends of Sacred Heart University,
At Sacred Heart University, we believe in the power of our community. As a generous supporter, you are a vital part of this community, and it is thanks to your support that we are able to accomplish so much together.
Your investment in SHU fuels the scholarships, academic programs, and championship-winning athletics that strengthen the Pioneer experience in countless ways. Each day, our students are embracing exciting new opportunities that shape their future, guided by our inspiring faculty on a campus that continues to grow as a place of innovation and transformation.
As you read through this report, I hope you see the tangible difference you make in the lives of our students and the future of our university. Your generosity is a commitment to excellence, opportunity, and the values that make Sacred Heart so special.
On behalf of our students, faculty and the entire SHU community, thank you for believing in our mission and in the potential of our Pioneers. We are grateful for all you do.
Sincerely,
John J. Petillo, Ph.D. President
THE FACTS TELL THE STORY.
10,692
# of donors
Endowment reached an all-time high of over $330 million
5,870 supporters made their fi rst-gift
$4.8M raised in support of Athletics (all 33 Div I programs)
$11M total dollars raised $120M raised for Now We Lead: A Comprehensive Campaign for SHU
“As a graduate of Sacred Heart University, I know how important it is for women to have the resources and encouragement to thrive in competitive industries. By endowing this scholarship, I hope to ease some of the financial burden for female students and empower them to focus on their education and career goals. I want to help them stand out as confident, capable leaders in the business world.”
Kendalle Burlin O'Connell ’03
BECAUSE OF YOU, ALL
SCHOLARSHIPS IN ACTION
• Since the university launched the Now We Lead campaign, 52 new endowed scholarship funds have been created totaling more than $8 million in commitments
• Sacred Heart has nearly 200 permanently endowed scholarship funds
• In 2023-24, 12 new endowed funds were created including:
• The Kendalle Burlin O'Connell ’03 Scholarship to support women majoring in business.
• In recognition of his 15 years of service to the university, the President John J. Petillo Endowed Scholarship was established in support of performing arts students. The fund was created thanks to the generosity of alumni who graduated under Dr. Petillo’s tenure and other university friends and supporters.
• This year's Pioneer Scholarship Gala raised $600,000 for student scholarships welcoming 350 alumni, parents, students and friends for the special evening.
"Sacred Heart’s club hockey program played a huge role in my life—both in my career and my continued love for the game. I wouldn’t be coaching today if not for the experiences I had as a player at SHU. Now, leading one of the same teams in the program, I see how every gift makes a real impact. With the addition of the Martire Family Arena, the opportunities for our players have never been better, and I’m proud to have made my first Alumni gift this year to keep that momentum going."
Joseph Lane ’20, MS ’21
OF THIS WAS POSSIBLE.
IN COMPETITION
• SHU Athletics completed a 25-year run in the Northeast Conference and announced its first year of full-time membership in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference
• The Pioneers are proud to be leaving the NEC with more commissioner's cups than anyone. This year, winning the Brenda Weare Commissioner's Cup for overall dominance and the Joan Martin Women's Commissioner's Cup
• Our 1,200 student-athletes maintained the highest GPA among conference institutions
• 2023-24 was another banner campaign of varsity athletics earning:
• 5 Regular Season Championships
• 7 Team Championships
• 10 Players of the Year
• 5 Coaches of the Year
• Most notably, Men's Lacrosse claimed its first MAAC conference title and Women's Basketball won its second straight NEC championship, earning both teams a NCAA conference bid
“Receiving this scholarship has been an incredible honor that has validated all the hard work I put into my studies. As a math major, this is especially meaningful to me because it recognizes my passion for a subject I truly love. It has also given me the opportunity to focus more deeply on my studies. I look forward to one day giving back to this scholarship to support other students who share my love for math and dedication to learning.”
Lily Gentile ’26
Dr. John W. Brookes Memorial Scholarship
BECAUSE OF YOU, ALL
MOVING FORWARD
• Sacred Heart announced the agreement to purchase Notre Dame Prep. The partnership with the neighboring school, now Notre Dame Prep of Sacred Heart University, will allow both institutions to maximize resources and provide exciting opportunities for future students.
• The School of Communication, Media, and the Arts was named to the “Education A-List” at PRNEWS for its innovative and high-quality public relations and communication program.
• Kanwalroop “Kathy” Dhanda, professor of management at the Jack Welch College of Business & Technology (WCBT), received a Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program Award to study the impact of climate change from an economic perspective.
• Farrington College of Education & Human Development’s teacher residency program (SHUTRP) has been awarded a $3.3M U.S. Department of Education Teacher Quality Partnership (TQP) grant. SHU was the only university in the Northeast to receive the award.
• The Davis & Henley College of Nursing was recognized by US News and World Reports as one of the Best in Undergraduate Nursing, Online Master’s in Nursing and the Graduate Nursing programs. The DHCON also relaunched an associates degree in nursing program to help meet the demand for nurses in Connecticut.
• The College of Health Professions' Master of Science (MS) in exercise & sport science program has been awarded with the International Universities Strength and Conditioning Association (IUSCA) degree accreditation status.
"Sacred Heart has given me a welcoming and supportive community. As an interdisciplinary studies major preparing to become a teacher, I’ve been inspired by the faculty and students around me. My goal is to help future students overcome their learning challenges, just as I’ve been encouraged to push past my own. My scholarship has made my SHU journey possible, and I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunity to pursue my dream of making a difference in the classroom.
James
Grillo ’27
OF THIS WAS POSSIBLE.
ENGAGING THE COMMUNITY
• Discovery Science Center & Planetarium
• Hosted over 550 field trips benefiting over 16,000 students from the community
• Celebrated the solar eclipse by educating more than 14,000 guests with glasses, educator guides and viewings
• Horizons Sacred Heart University (HSHU)
• Continued to serve 176 students in grades K-8 from the Bridgeport community
• Launched pilot programming and conducted research to meet the evolving needs of today’s learners. HSHU's evidence-based practices and expert collaborators were highlighted at local and national events
• SHU Community Theatre
• Welcomed nearly 100,000 patrons to more than 200 live events
• Hosted Fairfield's first movie premiere event since 1996 of the motion picture "The Long Game" starring Jay Hernandez, Dennis Quad and Cheech Marin
• WSHU
• Award-winning podcast 'Higher Ground' was selected for its third national broadcast special
• Each week, WSHU Public Radio and its digital platforms reach 177,800 radio listeners, 187,207 combined podcast users, and 7,000 WSHU app users
A SECOND CHANCE AND A LASTING LEGACY
"As a first-generation college graduate and one of four children, I understood from an early age that education could change my future, and it did. But my path at Sacred Heart was not an easy one. Balancing school, a long commute, and multiple parttime jobs became overwhelming, and I ultimately had to step away from my studies. During that time, I wondered, Is this it?—but deep down, I knew I was capable of more. When I returned to SHU, I found more than a second chance—I found a community that believed in me. My professors and clinical instructors challenged me to grow and gave me the confidence to persevere. I also never forgot what it felt like to struggle financially—some days, I barely had enough for lunch. But the kindness and generosity of my classmates and others helped me get to where I am today.
That’s why I give back—so that others can have the same life-changing opportunities I did. Through the scholarship I plan to establish through my estate plans for aspiring social work students, I hope to support those who will dedicate their lives to helping others. Even in retirement, my commitment to service continues, whether through my volunteer work in hospice care or my annual investment in SHU students."
"Perseverance got me here, and now I’m ensuring that others have the same chance to push forward, achieve their goals, and make an impact on the world."
Kathryn Katz ’71
