Alumnus Kevin Burkhardt ‘97, play-by-play announcer for the NFL on FOX and studio host at Fox Sports, and NK Architects, an award-winning full-service design firm, will be honored as the William Paterson University Foundation hosts its 29th annual Legacy Award Gala on Thursday, April 25, 2019 at The Grove in Cedar Grove. Burkhardt will be honored as a Distinguished Alumnus and NK Architects will be honored as a Distinguished Organization.
Vincent N. Parrillo, professor and graduate director of sociology and director of the Paterson Metropolitan Region Research Center, will receive the Distinguished Faculty/Staff Service Award, in recognition of his significant contributions to the University.
The gala is the Foundation’s largest event to raise funds to support the University’s mission of promoting student success and academic excellence through student scholarships.“Support for the Legacy Award Gala can truly make a difference in the lives of our students, most of whom rely on scholarships to complete their studies,” says Richard J. Helldobler, University president. “All proceeds directly benefit student scholarships.”
“Our annual Legacy Award Gala provides us with a wonderful opportunity to honor the accomplishments of our dedicated alumni, faculty and friends of the institution,” says Pamela Ferguson, vice president for institutional advancement. “On behalf of the entire University community, I thank them for their partnership, leadership, and friendship.”
Burkhardt graduated with a bachelor’s degree in communication in 1997 and will be honored as a Distinguished Alumnus. He is the face of FOX Sports’ pre- and post-game coverage throughout the MLB regular season, post season and World Series, and is a two-time Emmy winner as a studio host of the World Series on FOX. Burkhardt will also handle play-by-play duties for a select number of Tampa Bay Rays games this coming season on Fox Sports Sun.
NK Architects, a New Jersey based regional design firm founded in 1972, has won awards for their designs on campus and will be honored as a Distinguished Organization. They began an ongoing relationship with William Paterson University in 2012 through the design and construction of University Hall. This transformational new academic building, designated as a LEED Gold building, was the first in a series of projects identified by the University to renew an aging campus core.
Parrillo is the author of a dozen books, including two of the nation’s leading college textbooks, and more than three dozen journal articles, with translations in nine languages. A Fulbright Scholar and Fulbright Senior Specialist, he went on dozens of speaking assignments for the U.S. Department of State and U.S. Department of Defense, and has lectured at dozens of universities in Asia, Canada, Europe, and the U.S. In addition, he is the executive producer, writer and narrator of five award-winning PBS television documentaries about Paterson, N.J., including his most recent film, Paterson and Its People.
Discounted tickets for $250 per person are still available for University faculty and staff (limit two tickets at this rate). To purchase discounted tickets via credit card, log on to https://wpconnect.wpunj.edu/alumni/forms/protected/journal.cfm? To reserve a ticket and receive an invoice in the mail, email IA-events@wpunj.edu. To purchase a congratulatory ad in the evening’s event journal or purchase additional tickets, visit www.wpunj.edu/legacy.
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