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Iona's Sports, Entertainment, Media Program Gets $50K Boost From AT&T

NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y. -- Iona College hosted its fourth SEMI-Annual Honors Reception on Tuesday night at the Paley Center for Media in Midtown Manhattan to celebrate Iona alumni working in or connected to the sports, entertainment and media industry -- SEMI.

Part of an Iona event Tuesday included AT&T presenting its gift to Iona College for its SEMI program.

Part of an Iona event Tuesday included AT&T presenting its gift to Iona College for its SEMI program.

Photo Credit: Cuppek Photography, courtesy of Iona College

As part of the program, Iona announced a $50,000 gift from AT&T New York as the first underwriter for the program.

"This is a major recognition from a global leader and a formative step for Iona College as our program embraces the influence of media and technology in sports and entertainment," said Glenn Horine.

He graduated from Iona in 1984 and again in 1991 with his MBA. He's now the director and adjunct professor for the Center for Sports, Entertainment, and Media Business in the college's School of Business.

"We are grateful to AT&T for its involvement and excited to partner with a market leader in media and technology. This supports our mutual objective of developing student talent for tomorrow's marketplace needs in sports, entertainment and media."

The focus of the gift is for industry lecture events, student-talent development and special events such as this year's SEMI-Annual at the Paley Center.

It will also enhance the Careers and Leadership Dinner Series program, which features industry executives in a town hall format. 

"Technology has proven itself to be a key driver in recent major innovations in the sports and entertainment industry," said Marissa Shorenstein, president of AT&T New York.

"That's why, as a leading media and technology company, AT&T is thrilled to be among the first supporters of Iona College Business School's emerging sports, entertainment and media program, as it works to shape and develop the next generation of sports and entertainment professionals."

"We are thrilled to have such a global brand as AT&T support Iona College's program," said interim Business Dean Charles Cante, a 1972 MBA graduate. "This will provide our students with an opportunity to learn from sports, entertainment, and media industry leaders in a dynamic learning environment."

The night's events also included a presentation of a Lifetime Achievement Award to George Bodenheimer, former president and executive chairman of ESPN, and an alliance with the V Foundation for Cancer Research.

Iona also presented multiple awards to alumni:

  • Rich Petriccione received the Founder's Award. The 1981 and 1995 alumnus was a longtime Iona director of athletics and vice president for advancement and external affairs, until 2010.
  • Donna Russo, a 1985 graduate, received the Champion Award. She's a senior account manager at Bloomberg LP.
  • Jay Judge and Kelly O'Neil received the Young Alumni Awards. He's a 2007 MBA alumnus and assistant athletics director at Seton Hall, and she's a 2011 MBA alumna and athletic director at Oak Knoll School, in Summit, N.J.

For more information about the Iona School of Business' Center for Sports, Entertainment and Media Business, visit its website.

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