Annual President’s Council Dinner and Scholarship Reception Celebrate Generosity and Opportunity 

Each year, members of the President’s Council—the leadership giving society for the Assumption’s most loyal and generous donors—are invited to a special dinner to celebrate the impact of their generosity. The President’s Council, made up of over 400 members, recognizes alumni, friends, parents, trustees, faculty, and staff who give $1,500 each fiscal year.

“The people in this room close a distance in lives that is both literal and existential. When the dream of higher education might sit only a block away from prospective students but feels a world away—you bridge that gap,” President Greg Weiner said in his opening remarks. “I want to begin with gratitude for that because it can never be overstated: you make a direct impact on the lives of our students and on the life of this University every single day.” 

Weiner continued his remarks with emphasis on the momentum Assumption is experiencing, noting that this year’s incoming class is one of the largest in four decades and that more students are choosing to receive the kind of education the University has to offer.

“We are growing into a university of which Fr. D’Alzon and our Assumptionist founders could scarcely have imagined, and of which they would be fiercely proud,” he said. “Where more students are reading The Confessions alongside their anatomy textbooks, where more future accountants are learning to counsel their clients in philosophy classes, and where more people are discovering that the pursuit of truth in the company of friends is not a diversion—it is the whole point.” 

Weiner closed by telling those in attendance that they make it possible for Assumption students to make a difference in the world. 

“Students are curious about the questions that matter, and they have the belief and desire, the heart and the tenacity, to make a difference,” he said. “Your support keeps their curiosity from being sacrificed to a narrow idea of what a young person is entitled to want or expected to contribute. Your generosity is a gift—an invitation—to show us what they can do. I hope you never cease to be amazed by their answer.”

Student Government Association President Austin Gatlin ’27 also gave remarks, speaking about how his time at Assumption has prepared him, both inside and out of the classroom, for his internship with a federal agency.

“Our community is tight knit, and our curriculum is built so that it reaches every person individually. No matter what your major is, or what career you aspire to pursue, Greyhounds are prepared to thrive,” he said. “The depth of my Assumption education landed me a once-in-a-lifetime internship that will turn into a career after graduation. That’s not just my story—it is, and will continue to be, the story for countless other Assumption students, because of the education we receive here.”

Gatlin then thanked the members of the President’s Council for being a major part of making that education possible.

“The difference all of you in this room are making through your involvement and investment in our community is simply remarkable,” he said in conclusion.

A scholarship reception preceded the dinner, giving students the opportunity to personally thank sponsors for the hundreds of scholarship gifts made each year that have made their educations possible—and share in their common passion for Assumption. One of those students, Jenna Turini ’28, spoke to the crowd of Greyhounds about the impact of her scholarship. 

“I remember the day I discovered that I was a scholarship recipient. Not only was I immensely honored, but I also felt an overwhelming amount of gratitude and support,” she said. “These scholarships do much more than simply assist us financially. As students, we feel supported, recognized, and proud.

“Throughout college, much can change as we go through a transformative time in our lives, but these scholarships and our supporters act as a source of guidance and strength. We know that we don’t have to pursue anything alone,” she continued. 

In closing, she thanked the sponsors of her scholarship, the Robert ’65 and Maureen G’67 Gray Scholarship Fund, directly, saying that their investment in her education will be something she cherishes. 

“The generosity of both [Bob] and Maureen will forever be something I carry,” she said. “I will always be grateful for the opportunities you gave me and for the significant role you have played in my journey.”