Centenary College to Host Its 15th Annual Scholarship Gala on June 21, 2012

HACKETTSTOWN, N.J., May 23, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Centenary College will host its 15th Annual Scholarship Gala from 5:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. on June 21, 2012, at the David and Carol Lackland Center.  This year's theme, "A Midsummer Night's Dream," is truly fitting to those students whose dreams will come true that summer solstice night, as a result of the funds the event will raise.  Guests will also have the pleasure of watching Centenary's theater students perform vignettes from Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream" during the festivities.  In addition, guests will enjoy a cocktail reception, dinner and awards presentation, as well as live and silent auctions.

Funds raised from this event will help keep a Centenary education accessible and affordable for those who could not otherwise afford to attend the College.  This year, more than $13.6 million from the institution's annual budget was awarded in financial aid to full-time undergraduate students.  Since its inception, the Scholarship Gala has raised over $2.5 million for the Centenary College Scholarship Fund, with almost $140,000 raised last year alone.  The 2012 Scholarship Gala Chair is Raymond Nisivoccia, Founding Partner, Nisivoccia and Company, LLP, and Centenary College Trustee.  Honorary Chairs are David and Carol Lackland ('10 HA and '54/10 HA) and Robert and Virginia Littell ('96 HA and '04 HA).

This year, Chuck Mueller, Senior Vice President of Major Accounts at Automatic Data Processing, Inc. (ADP); Norman Worth and WRNJ Radio; and the Van Winkle Family; will be honored with the prestigious Gold Dome Award, which is bestowed upon individuals or organizations that have advanced the mission of the institution and are involved in the betterment of the community.

"Funds generated by the Scholarship Gala have enabled hundreds of students to enjoy all Centenary has to offer and allows them to pursue their dreams," says Dr. Barbara-Jayne Lewthwaite, President of Centenary College.  "We are honored to recognize our Gold Dome winners for all they do to contribute to the advancement of the College."

Chuck Mueller is the Senior Vice President of Major Accounts at ADP, the Roseland, New Jersey-based company with approximately 570,000 clients and is one of the world's largest providers of business outsourcing solutions that pays one-in-six Americans.  Mueller is a seasoned and passionate leader with more than 20 years of experience at ADP.  He leads more than 1,000 sales associates and is responsible for generating more than $2 billion in annual revenue.  Centenary College and ADP have enjoyed a longstanding relationship since 1976 that has included both professional services and philanthropic support through past scholarships and a matching donation program with ADP employees.  In addition, many Centenary alumni have been hired by ADP, and many ADP employees have found opportunities to advance their education at the College.  Most recently, through an expansion of its partnership with ADP, Centenary College is using ADP Workforce Now®, the company's cloud-based solution to support the College's payroll services, HR services, talent management, employee benefits administration and time and attendance needs.

Norman Worth is President and General Manager of WRNJ Radio, and has served on the Centenary College Board of Trustees from 1993-97 and 2003-present.  Worth, currently the 2nd Vice Chairman of the Centenary Board, also serves as a member of many civic organizations, helping local charities and nonprofits raise more than $4 million during the course of his career.  WRNJ's endeavors with Centenary include the bi-monthly "Inside Centenary" show, which can be heard Thursday mornings, along with its broad support for Centenary Stage Company and WNTI for over 25 years. 

The Van Winkle Family has been a part of Centenary College for more than a century, spanning four generations.  Three members of the family have served on the College Board of Trustees, which has included a Van Winkle since 1941.  In 1951, Van Winkle Hall was dedicated and named in honor of Charles A. Van Winkle.  The annual Van Winkle Achievement Award honors a distinguished person who has provided outstanding service to the College and community.  There is also the Van Winkle Musical Instrument Endowed Fund, and the Van Winkle Board of Trustees Room is located in the David and Carol Lackland Center. 

Please call (908) 852-1400, ext. 2335, or e-mail [email protected] for more information about ticket and ad journal prices.

Founded in 1867 by the Newark Conference of the United Methodist Church, Centenary College's academic program integrates a solid liberal arts foundation with a strong career orientation. This mix is designed to provide an educational experience that prepares students to succeed in the increasingly global and interdependent world.

Centenary College's main campus is located in Hackettstown, N.J., with its equestrian facility in Washington Township (Morris County).  The Centenary College School of Professional Studies offers degree programs in three locations: Hackettstown, Parsippany and Edison, and at corporate sites throughout New Jersey.  The School of International Programs recruits international students for study at Centenary and Centenary students for study abroad.

Contact:
Annamaria Lalevee
(908) 852-1400, ext. 2238
[email protected]

SOURCE Centenary College