Jersey City, N.J. – March 2, 2021 – Saint Peter’s University today announced its plans to raise much-needed funds for student scholarship via a virtual event. Hearts & Minds: The Saint Peter’s University Scholarship Celebration will take place virtually this year on Friday, May 7 and will honor four members of the University community: Patricia McQuillan Cummings ’77 and Kevin Cummings, together with Cheryl and Joseph Della Rosa, will be presented with the Magis Award. The Magis Award is a new Hearts & Minds honor given to those who have demonstrated a deep and admirable commitment, through their professional and personal lives, to the advancement of education. Hearts & Minds proceeds support the University’s General Scholarship Fund.
“Now more than ever, scholarships are a necessity for our students so that they may continue to pursue their dreams of a college degree in spite of the many challenges they are facing,” said Eugene J. Cornacchia, Ph.D., president of Saint Peter’s University. “While we are unable to gather in-person this year for our event, it is crucial that we continue our efforts to raise these much-needed funds in order to carry out our mission to provide a transformative, Jesuit education to our students.”
Kevin Cummings currently serves as the CEO of Investors Bank. Prior to joining Investors Bank, Cummings had a 26-year career with the independent accounting firm of KPMG LLP, where he had been partner for 14 years. Patricia McQuillan Cummings’ career included positions in teaching, public relations and banking, after earning her bachelor’s degree in urban studies and secondary education from Saint Peter’s in 1977. She left the business world to focus on her family and the couple’s four children and extended family.
Joseph Della Rosa is a private investor and lead partner of Della Rosa Investment Partners. He was a partner at Goldman Sachs as well as served on and chaired several industry committees for both the NASD and SEC. He served on the board of Georgetown University, was a founding board member of the Cristo Rey School in Newark and serves on the national board of the Cristo Rey Network and Power My Learning. Cheryl Della Rosa worked as a resident buyer for Carr Buying and owned a children’s boutique “Little Darlings” in Short Hills, N.J. She currently serves on the Georgetown University Board of Regents, the board of the Brooklyn Academy of Music and is an emerita member of the Georgetown College Board of Advisors. The couple has two children and two grandchildren.
The Della Rosa Family Foundation and Investors Bank are the presenting sponsors for this year’s event, which will feature an awards presentation and live fund-a-scholar auction to raise money for the General Scholarship Fund in real-time. Participants in the virtual celebration will also hear directly from students about the impact their support has on their lives. To participate in the virtual event, to make a gift in support of this worthy cause or to learn more about sponsorship opportunities or digital advertisements, please visit saintpeters.edu/2021hm or email heartsandminds@saintpeters.edu.
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Saint Peter’s University, inspired by its Jesuit, Catholic identity, commitment to individual attention and grounding in the liberal arts, educates a diverse community of learners in undergraduate, graduate, doctoral and professional programs to excel intellectually, lead ethically, serve compassionately and promote justice in our ever-changing urban and global environment. To learn more, please visit www.saintpeters.edu.
Media Contact:
Sarah Malinowski Ferrary
smalinowski@saintpeters.edu