Scholarship donors for the Adelphi University College of Nursing and Public Health (CNPH) have been serving as catalysts for positive change for decades.
To recognize their generational impact, each year, the College hosts a special event designed to celebrate and personalize the impact our scholarship donors have on the success of our nursing students—its Annual Awards Reception.
The event, held this year on April 3, unites generous scholarship donors with their student recipients, allowing them to witness the tremendous outcomes they have made possible. In addition to meeting the deserving recipients of their support, this is an opportunity to familiarize the next generation of student healthcare leaders with the College’s impressive portfolio of scholarships that enable its continued legacy in the field of healthcare.
Event chairs Caitlin McElroy, director of strategic initiatives for the College, and Erin Gayron, senior director of advancement, major and planned giving, led this tradition that celebrates the generous scholarship donors to the College who have been opening the doors of opportunity for students for so many years.
“There are few things more rewarding than witnessing the selfless generosity of one person changing the trajectory of someone’s life. This awards ceremony is just that,” said Gayron. “We are so grateful to our benefactors who ensure that Adelphi’s nursing programs are accessible to all deserving students in preparation for their future professional roles as compassionate leaders, innovators and scholars in the fields of nursing and public health.”
Our 2025 Celebration
Deborah Hunt, PhD ’12, dean of the College, opened the event by reaffirming its connection with the values of the College and its steadfast commitment to excellence, integrity and respect.
“Our annual Awards Reception is truly a heartwarming opportunity for those who have given so generously to see the lives they have touched through their support,” said Dean Hunt. “The continued connection with our alumni and their families as they enable the education of our students is a testament to the extraordinary education we are providing in CNPH. Through this generosity, they not only make a difference in one life, but in the lives of all those who our students will care for through the greater healthcare system.”
Through the lens of the College’s constant focus on caring science, the faculty-nominated student speaker, Judith Fischmann ’25 delivered a powerful message about her personal healthcare education journey and how grateful she was to receive both The Patricia Keane DeGeorge Scholarship and The “Lev Marpayh” Healing Heart Award. She remarked on learning all about the lasting legacy of Patricia Keane DeGeorge, a 1998 nursing graduate who died of cancer at a young age and whose family established a generous endowed scholarship in her memory in 2002 which is presented annually to nontraditional undergraduate nursing students. Several generations of the Keane family shared memories about their Aunt Patty.
Countless donors remarked about how vitally important academic scholarships were when they were students and how that informed their decision to make recurring contributions. Alumni, faculty, a former dean and an Adelphi trustee all shared the scholarships they launched and why they chose to support the College.
Dean Emeritus Elaine Smith ’78, MS ’88, PhD, presented the generous endowed scholarship she established in honor of her son, Brendan Conor Smith, who died in March 2017. The Brendan Conor Smith Scholarship is awarded annually to graduate nursing students who have demonstrated the same great perseverance and fortitude that Brendan possessed. Dr. Smith has remarked that bestowing these awards is a “gratifying way to honor Brendan’s life and memory.”
Leonard C. Achan ’99, president and CEO of LiveOnNY and secretary of the Adelphi University Board of Trustees, awarded the endowed scholarship his family sponsors for students dedicated to patient care, given in memory of his father, Leonard Achan Sr. Illustrating her commitment to nursing education, Marilyn Klainberg ’63, MS ’77, EdD, professor of nursing, awarded the generous scholarship created on the occasion of her 50th wedding anniversary. The Bernard and Marilyn Klainberg Scholarship Fund recognizes the Klainbergs’ dedication to education and providing resources to the next generation of nursing students.
The College kicked off a new tradition at this year’s Annual Awards Reception—it was the first time that student awards, which had previously been presented at the annual May nursing Pinning Ceremony, were given a spotlight at the event and awarded to graduating seniors in the presence of their families. The exemplary recipients for the student awards are selected by College faculty, whose presence allows for a full-circle moment to witness student success.
In total, 14 endowed scholarships and 12 awards were distributed during the program, which followed a cocktail reception in the Ruth S. Harley University Center’s Thomas Dixon Lovely Ballroom on Adelphi’s Garden City campus.
Scholarship Matchmaking
College of Nursing and Public Health students are invited early in the fall, at the start of each academic year, to apply for the multitude of endowed scholarships, after which the dean’s office, in partnership with One-Stop Student Services Center and the Office of University Advancement and External Relations, completes the rigorous process of matching eligible, deserving students to the correct scholarship.
For more information on College of Nursing and Public Health scholarships or to inquire about launching a new opportunity for Adelphi students, contact Erin Gayron at gayron@adelphi.edu.