Benefiting the First Generation Scholarship Fund
At Wilkes University's annual premier event, the Founders Gala, we celebrate our rich heritage while supporting our mission of serving first-generation students by raising money for the First Generation Scholarship Fund.
We bestow the President's Medal, a prestigious annual award, to those whose personal and professional lives reflect the highest aspirations of Wilkes University.
First awarded in 2023, the Chairperson's Award is presented to individuals who have made a positive impact upon their profession or community and in the spirit of the mission of Wilkes University.
Cocktail attire encouraged.
2024 Sponsors
- Black Horse Foundation, Inc./Ronald Simms '60 & Rhea Politis Simms '78
- Aramark
- Joanne Schreibmaier Schoonover '72
- Anonymous
- BSI Corporate Benefits/Tony DaRe '00
- Ray Dombroski '78 & Colleen DeMorat
- Geisinger
- William Miller '81 & Talbot Logan
- PNC Bank
- Power Engineering Corporation
- Benco Family Foundation
- Fellerman & Ciarimboli Law PC
- Green Valley Landscaping
- Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield
- William Raub '61 & Joyce Raub
- Matthew Sordoni
- The Sordoni Family Foundation
- UGI Utilities
- Carol Gusgekofski Besler '76 & Philip Besler '76
- DiscoverNEPA
- Endler Architecture & Collaboration
- Harry Hiscox '51
- John Kerr '72 & Renate Dargel Kerr '72
- Panzitta Enterprises, Inc.
- Peoples Security Bank & Trust
- Robert L. Zeglarski '69 & Donna-Su Brown Zeglarski '70
- A. Pickett Construction, Inc.
- Baker Tilly
- Benecon
- Edward Burke '70, MS '73 & Nancy Burke
- Betty DeCosmo Dean '81, '82, MBA '85 & Barry Dean
- Fahmy Hudome International/Randa Fahmy '86
- Hazleton Eye Specialists (Dr. Thomas Kislan '92 & Dr. Sandra Krokos-Kislan '92) and Nanticoke Eye Specialists (Dr. Cynthia Charnetski '97)
- Theresa Karambelas
- Ben Franklin Trust Fund of The Luzerne Foundation
- Mac Signs
- Heather McRay
- Mutual of Omaha
- Thomas N. Ralston '80
- St. Luke's University Health Network
About the Founders Gala
History
The Founders Gala is Wilkes University's annual premier event. Since 2014, Wilkes University has celebrated our heritage while supporting our mission of serving first-generation students by raising money for the First Generation Scholarship Fund.
Wilkes also honors its annual recipients of the prestigious President's Medal at the gala.
The First Generation Scholarship Fund
Wilkes University established the First Generation Scholarship Fund in 2014 to provide support for tuition, fees, textbooks and course materials for students who are the first in their family to attend a college or university.
The founders of Wilkes University recognized that helping young people attend college benefited the individual even as it strengthened the region, and they wove that into the fabric of the institution. Even after all these years, over half of our incoming first year students still identify themselves as the first generation of their family to attend a four-year institution of higher learning. Wilkes University continues to play a vital role in opening opportunities that lead to success.
Gala Awards
The President's Medal
The President’s Medal is bestowed annually on individuals whose personal and professional lives reflect the highest aspirations of Wilkes University. First awarded in 2014, the medal is presented to deserving individuals at the annual Founders Gala celebration.
The Chairperson's Award
The Chairperson's Award is presented to individuals who have made a positive impact upon their profession or community and in the spirit of the mission of Wilkes University. First awarded in 2023, recipients serve as an inspiration to Wilkes students and bring honor and pride to the University.