By Ellen de Saint Phalle

Dec. 16, 2015:  Close to two hundred friends and neighbors gathered at Concordia College on November 4 for its Thirty-Fourth Annual Community Dinner.

The annual event recognizes outstanding civic leadership and celebrates the college's strong partnership with the community. The 2015 recipients of the President's Award for Excellence in Educational Service to the Community were Nancy and Matt McKenna.

In presenting the award to the McKennas, President Viji George remarked, "Through coaching, tutoring, mentoring, and advising, Nancy and Matt are empowering others and contributing to the health and strength of our communities." He highlighted Nancy's work with Destination College and Matt's nonprofit work for Keep America Beautiful and his work in his current role as advisor to the Secretary of the United States Department of Agriculture.

The audience included many past honorees: Tina Staudt, Maureen and Bill Barton, Vicki and Si Ford, Randy and Corwin Frost, Janet and Viji George, Marilynn Hill, Mary Marvin, Ellen and Bob Seabring, Elinor Urstadt, and Nancy and Carlo Vittorini. President George asked the past honorees to stand and be recognized as exemplars of civic and social responsibility. Three of the McKennas' four children as well as Nancy's brother and mother, Betty Fitzpatrick, and Matt's sister and sister-in-law also joined in the celebration. 

In accepting the award, Nancy McKenna spoke about her work at Destination College, a nonprofit organization she co-founded and for which she serves as board chair, which partners with high school coaches at underserved schools in Westchester County to help athletes get into college. She said, "Concordia is always on our radar when our students are applying to college. Its mission parallels ours in that 93% of the students they accept are given financial aid, and they like athletes! One of our former students and a proud Concordia graduate, Mark Cole, … is here with us tonight." Mark Cole graduated from Concordia in 2013 and currently works as a financial analyst for Atlas Air in White Plains.

Matt McKenna focused on his wife, saying, "Thank you, Concordia, for the honor tonight, but thank you also for letting me recognize Nancy, who is the real reason why we are here tonight."

The evening began with cocktails in the newly renovated Schoenfeld Student Center, followed by dinner upstairs. Strings of garden lights twinkled above muslin-covered tables adorned with centerpieces of autumn flowers arranged by Mrs. Morgan's Flower Shop. Guests enjoyed filet of beef, roasted butternut squash, braised barley and quinoa, and baked winter vegetables with roasted pepper coulis, prepared by Chartwells Dining Services.

Jim Bunn, Concordia's vice president for institutional advancement, concluded the evening with special thanks to all those involved in making the evening a success. Giving special thanks to the McKennas and the benefit co-chairs, Bunn said, "To our benefit committee co-chairs, Martha Bergold and Maureen Barton, and their remarkable committee for all their hard work filling the room with so many friends and neighbors. This event is just one shining example of how Concordia College is a small school making a big impact--not only on the lives of our students, but also on the life of our greater community." 

Ticket sales and additional gifts from the dinner provide for student scholarships, faculty development, and community enrichment programs.

To see photos of the event, click here: Concordia College's 34th Annual Community Dinner 2015.

Pictured here:  Nancy and Matt McKenna, honorees at Concordia College's 34th Annual Community Dinner.

Photo above and photos in link courtesy Concordia College