CALDWELL COLLEGE TO CELEBRATE ALUMNI PROFESSIONAL EXCELLENCE AT 23RD VERITAS AWARDS DINNER
New Jerseyans Who have given Professional and Volunteer Efforts to the Garden State to be Honored
Caldwell College will celebrate the professional accomplishments of three of its alumni who grew up in New Jersey and have given their professional and volunteer talents and efforts to improving the quality of life in the Garden State.
Kathleen P. Galop Esq.'68 |
The 23rd Veritas Awards Dinner will take place on Friday March 14, 2008 at 6 p.m. at Mayfair Farms in West Orange, New Jersey. The Veritas Award is the highest honor the College bestows on its alumnae/alumni for their professional excellence in diverse fields.
Kathleen P. Galop Esq.'68 of Murray Hill, NJ has been a leader for championing Branch Brook Park in Newark, New Jersey ; Michael Ippolito '84 of Belleville, NJ has developed his tutoring and family therapy services for the Belleville area that he grew up in; and Laurita McGreevy Warner '70 of Wall Township, NJ has spent a career focused on communications for Prudential, a corporation that has played a pivotal role in the revitalization of Newark.
"We are very excited about our honorees this year because they represent a group of people who have worked and volunteered to improve the quality of life in Essex County, where the college is located," said Kathleen Buse, Director of Alumni Affairs at Caldwell College. She said these alumni have given their professional lives to New Jersey in different career paths and they have spent their leisure time improving the aesthetic, educational and civic aspects of their communities and counties. "They represent the vast number of Caldwell College alumni who choose to stay in New Jersey and improve the quality of life by their example," Buse said.
Michael Ippolito, Ph. D.'84 |
Kathleen P. Galop Esq.'68 will receive the Veritas award for Excellence in Historic Preservation. As Principal of Preservation Possibilities, an historic preservation consulting firm based in Summit, NJ, she administers historic preservation projects. She is currently consultant to The Newark Museum developing a long range plan for enhancing the Collection of the Newark Fire Museum. Galop and a fellow Newarker organized the first Newark Cherry Blossom Festival in 1976 and ever since the preservation of Branch Brook Park has taken up much of her free time. She researched and wrote the nomination resulting in the placement of Branch Brook Park on the State and National Registers of Historic Places. She has served on the Board of the Branch Brook Public Alliance since its formation in 1999 and has recently co-authored Branch Brook Park, a historical tribute to mark the 140th anniversary last September.
Michael Ippolito, Ph. D.'84 will receive The Veritas award for Excellence in Psychotherapy. After Army service, he pursued his Caldwell degree while working as a caseworker for the Department of Health and Human Services in Belleville. He and his therapist wife, Lori, started The Philmore Associates tutoring program for children while they pursued their doctorates. The business rapidly expanded to include behavioral and family counseling that related to learning issues.
Dr. Ippolito has been called by the Belleville School Superintendent to handle crisis situations and has volunteered time with students and parents to provide immediate counseling. He has served as consultant to the Belleville Alliance for Substance Education and the Newark Police Department on issues that affect children. Dr. Ippolito has been recognized by his community and his list of awards includes a Congressional Achievement Award.
Laurita McGreevy Warner'70 |
Laurita McGreevy Warner'70 will receive the Veritas award for Excellence in Corporate Communication. She was recruited by Prudential Insurance Company of America to work on a task force while still a Caldwell student, and has remained with the company her entire career. Under Prudential's Property and Casualty Company, she managed public relations, community relations and consumer relations. As she raised her children, she was one of the first managers to create and use a part-time work schedule. In 1996, Warner joined Global Communications where, as Vice President, she managed communications for Prudential's domestic retail insurance business and served as spokesperson on company-related issues. She served as first woman president of the national Insurer's Public Relations Counsel and has been an active volunteer for her parish and the Caldwell College Shore Chapter. Warner retired from Prudential in 2007 and still serves as a consultant.
The Veritas Awards Dinner is open to the public and alumni are encouraged to attend the event. Tickets are $80.00. If you would like to receive an invitation, please call Kathleen Buse at (973) 618-3411.
In addition to honoring professional excellence in alumni, the Veritas Awards Dinner provides networking opportunities among alumni, the business community and the College. Since that first dinner in 1986, 64 worthy alumni, and two honorary alumnae, have been recognized by the College and their peers for upholding the finest values of the founding Dominican sisters and the Caldwell College mission.