University of Scranton Holds 15th Annual President’s Business Council Award Dinner

Oct 7, 2016

Presidential Scholars of the University’s Class of 2017 attended the PBC’s 15th Annual Award Dinner at The Pierre. Front row, from left, are: Christa Howarth of Somerset, New Jersey, a theology and philosophy double major and member of the Special Jesuit Liberal Arts Honors Program and the University’s Honors Program; Juliana Vossenberg of Fredericksburg, Virginia, a philosophy and theology/religious studies double major and member of the Special Jesuit Liberal Arts Honors Program and the University’s Honors Program; Kathryn Hoffman of Jamison, a philosophy and biology double major and member of the Special Jesuit Liberal Arts Honors Program; and Sarah Payonk of Schwenksville, a nursing major. Standing are: Ryan Burdick of Taylor, a philosophy and chemistry double major and member of the Special Jesuit Liberal Arts Honors Program; Michael Gilbride of Scranton, a finance major and member of the Special Jesuit Liberal Arts Honors Program; Victoria Malstrom of Phoenix, Maryland, a mathematics and philosophy double major and member of the Special Jesuit Liberal Arts Honors Program; David Yatsonsky II of Jefferson Township, a biochemistry, cellular and molecular biology major and member of the University’s Honor’s Program, who spoke at the dinner on behalf of the Class of 2017 Presidential Scholars; Sean Bassler of Horseheads, New York, a philosophy, theology/religious studies and counseling and human services triple major and member of the Special Jesuit Liberal Arts Honors Program; and Matthew Owens of King of Prussia, an applied mathematics and computer science double major and member of the University’s Honors Program.

The University of Scranton’s President’s Business Council (PBC) honored Francis J. Dubas Jr. ’75, former global managing partner for Sovereign Financial Institutions (SFIs) at Deloitte, and Bernard R. McIlhenny, S.J., H’98, dean of admissions emeritus at Scranton, with President’s Medals at the 15th Annual Award Dinner. Proceeds from the black-tie gala, which raised more than $1.1 million, support the University’s Presidential Scholarship Endowment Fund. More than 530 guests attended the dinner at The Pierre Hotel in New York City on Oct. 6.

Presidential Scholarships are four-year, full-tuition scholarships awarded to incoming freshmen with outstanding records in high school and notable community involvement. Through its previous 14 dinners, the PBC has generated more than $12 million for the scholarship fund.

The President’s Medal recognizes recipients for excellence in their fields and extraordinary compassion for others.

“We come together tonight to recognize Frank Dubas and Father Bernard McIlhenny for all they have done to advance the Catholic and Jesuit mission of The University of Scranton. Frank, I am truly grateful for your commitment to the University, which is always demonstrated with humility and dignity,” said University of Scranton President Kevin P. Quinn, S.J., who presented the awards at the dinner with Patricia A. Byrnes Clarke ’86, P’17, ’19, chief talent officer, Havas, member of the University’s Board of Trustees and chair of the PBC.  He also said Father McIlhenny “dedicated his life to serving God and others through his work at Scranton Prep and The University of Scranton. He is a man of character, foresight, and a great golf swing at 90 years young.”

Father Quinn thanked guests for supporting the event, which he called “a celebration of our students.”

David Yatsonsky II of the University’s Class of 2017, who spoke on behalf of the Presidential Scholars at the dinner, said the Presidential Scholarship gave him “an array of opportunities to make the most of my Jesuit education.”

Yatsonsky, Jefferson Township, is a biochemistry, cell and molecular biology major and member of the University’s Honors Program, said the scholarship allowed him to be active throughout his college years in service projects and student organizations, as well as with research on campus with Timothy Foley, Ph.D., professor of chemistry, and additional research projects at other universities and medical schools during the summer months.

“Very few institutions could have offered me the same autonomy and state-of-the-art facilities that I have enjoyed here at The University of Scranton,” said Yatsonsky.

While discussing his experience at Scranton, Yatsonsky acknowledged that “the themes of opportunity, hard work, community, gratitude and success are part of every Presidential Scholar’s experience” at Scranton.

“I am here tonight, on behalf of all of the Presidential Scholars, to acknowledge and thank you for your generosity. We are all truly blessed to have received a Presidential Scholarship. You have supported our dreams and we thank you for all you have given to the Scranton community,” said Yatsonsky.

Before he retired in May 2016, Dubas oversaw an international network of approximately 1,700 Deloitte professionals from over 100 countries serving SFIs, which included sovereign wealth funds, central banks, development banks, and export credit agencies. Previously, he was the managing partner of Deloitte’s global structured finance practice, a position he held for 13 years, and was a member of the board of directors of Deloitte’s Global Financial Services Industry. Throughout his 42 years with Deloitte, Dubas held a number of client service leadership roles and built a distinguished track record of service to many multinational clients.

A graduate of Scranton Preparatory School, Dubas received his bachelor’s degree in accounting from Scranton in 1975 and presently serves on the PBC Executive Committee and the Advisory Committee to the Kania School of Management. He is a certified public accountant. A native of Jessup, Dubas and his wife, Marigrace, reside in New Canaan, Connecticut, and have three children.

Father McIlhenny arrived in Scranton in 1958 to serve as the fourth headmaster of Scranton Preparatory School, which at the time was owned by the University. Father McIlhenny was appointed dean of admissions at the University in 1966. Known to many as “Father Mac,” his tenure as dean of admissions spanned 31 years. His approach to promoting the University to prospective students went beyond the academic programs to highlight the close community and family atmosphere, where students could get personal attention and make friends for life. He retired from admissions in 1997 and continues to serve the University as minister of the Scranton Jesuit Community.

A native of Philadelphia, Father Mac is a graduate of St. Joseph’s Preparatory School and St. Joseph’s University. He entered the Society of Jesus at the age of 18 and celebrated his 70th anniversary as a Jesuit in 2014. In 2009, the University dedicated the Rev. Bernard R. McIlhenny, S.J., Ballroom in The DeNaples Center in honor of Father Mac’s years of service to the University.

The co-chairs for the award dinner were Ronald “RJ” Madden Jr. ’02, director, Angelo Gordon and Co., and Vincent R. Reilly, Esq., ’80, P’05, ’08, ’11, ’14, managing partner, Reilly, Janiczek, McDevitt, Henrich and Cholden, P.C.

Presenting The University of Scranton President’s Medal to Jessup native Francis J. Dubas Jr. (center), former global managing partner for Sovereign Financial Institutions (SFIs) at Deloitte, at the 15th annual President’s Business Council (PBC) Award Dinner, are, Patricia A. Byrnes Clarke (left), chief talent officer, Havas, chair of the PBC and University Trustee; and University President Kevin P. Quinn, S.J.

Presenting The University of Scranton President’s Medal to Bernard R. McIlhenny, S.J. (center), dean of admissions emeritus at Scranton, at the 15th annual President’s Business Council (PBC) Award Dinner, are, Patricia A. Byrnes Clarke (left), chief talent officer, Havas, chair of the PBC and University Trustee; and University President Kevin P. Quinn, S.J.

At the PBC dinner are Presidential Scholar David Yatsonsky II of Jefferson Township (center), and his grandmother Sandra Fells (left) and mother Linda Yatsonsky (right). Yatsonsky of Jefferson Township, a biochemistry, cellular and molecular biology major and member of the University’s Honor’s Program, spoke on behalf of the Class of 2017 Presidential Scholars at the dinner.

University of Scranton alumnus Francis J. Dubas Jr. and Bernard R. McIlhenny, S.J., dean of admissions emeritus at Scranton, were presented with President’s Medals at the University’s President’s Business Council (PBC) Award Dinner at The Pierre Hotel in New York City. From left, are: Father McIlhenny, Dubas and University of Scranton President Kevin P. Quinn, S.J.



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