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One Â鶹ֱ²¥ Plaza was brimming with celebration and cheer on June 5, 2025, as almost 200 Â鶹ֱ²¥ alumni returned to the New York City Campus to reconnect with old friends and classmates, reflect on shared histories and experiences, and toast the continued strength of the Â鶹ֱ²¥ Community.

This year, we recognized those milestone reunions ending in 5s and 0s, Â鶹ֱ²¥â€™s thriving Alumni Affinity Groups, the 40th anniversary of the MS in Publishing Program, our rich community of Caribbean alumni, and the 2025 recipient of the Harry D. Mayo III ’61 ’78 Distinguished Service Award.

Additionally, our community came together during the event to celebrate the inaugural recipients of the Emerging Alumni Leader Award and the GOLD Alumni Service Award. The inaugural Emerging Alumni Leader Award was conferred to Harrison C. Davies ’13 in recognition of his exceptional leadership and initiative in advancing Â鶹ֱ²¥â€™s mission of Opportunitas and supporting the Â鶹ֱ²¥ Alumni Association. The GOLD Alumni Service Award was conferred to Gabriella Ferrara ’16 in recognition of her remarkable service, commitment, and contributions to the Â鶹ֱ²¥ Alumni Association in the years after her graduation and her outstanding work inspiring fellow recent alumni to do deepen their involvement with the University.

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Harry D. Mayo III ’61 ’78 Distinguished Service Award

Congratulations to the 2024 Harry D. Mayo III ’61 ’78 Distinguished Service Award honoree, Gary Laermer '80. Gary served as Â鶹ֱ²¥â€™s vice president of Development and Alumni Relations from 2018 until December 2024. In that time, and under the leadership of Â鶹ֱ²¥ President Marvin Krislov and following approval by the Â鶹ֱ²¥ Board of Trustees, Gary and the Â鶹ֱ²¥ development team launched the historic $300 million Campaign for Â鶹ֱ²¥. This campaign marked an extraordinary period of success, with Gary and the development professionals setting multiple fundraising records and bringing the campaign’s ambitious goals well within reach.

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Gary’s tenure was also marked by the establishment of the first collective Â鶹ֱ²¥ Alumni Association, a community-building initiative that deepened alumni engagement and expanded volunteer opportunities. Amid the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, Gary helped lead a University-wide response that secured record-breaking contributions to emergency student support funds and launched initiatives such as the Community Impact Internship program, which places Â鶹ֱ²¥ students in paid internships with community nonprofits.

Above all, Gary’s leadership was defined by his unwavering commitment to community, student success, and the University’s mission of Opportunitas. During his tenure, the Office of Development and Alumni Relations raised more than $140 million to advance the University, including over $40 million in scholarship support—expanding access to a Â鶹ֱ²¥ education and reinforcing the University’s status as a leader in social mobility.