BUFFALO, NEW YORK – March 16, 2026 – , a private, Catholic college providing a pathway for students to build careers of achievement and lives of purpose, will host its Spring Soirée on Thursday, April 23 at from 6 – 8 p.m. at The Buffalo Club, 388 Delaware Ave. This annual fundraiser, which includes a cocktail reception with hors d’oeuvres, live entertainment, and a raffle, celebrates all who empower the spirit of Ģ����ý, including honoring three deserving individuals and organizations.  

This year’s award recipients include: 

• Ģ����ý President’s Award – Goodwill of WNY This award is presented to a person, group, organization, or corporation whose partnership with Ģ����ý advances the college’s mission, vision, and Mercy values, and supports current and Ģ����ý students and alumni. Goodwill has been a vital partner, providing essential services and career pathway support that align with a shared commitment to breaking the cycle of poverty and empowering individuals to achieve meaningful employment.  

• Distinguished Alumni Award – Michele A. Ladouceur ‘01 This award recognizes a graduate who embodies Ģ����ý’s tradition of excellence and serves as an inspiring example to fellow alumni and current students. Ladouceur is chief operating officer at Heathwood Assisting Living & Memory Care and a former Ģ����ý board of trustee and alumni board member. Her professional accomplishments and steadfast commitment to Ģ����ý reflect the values the college seeks to cultivate in every graduate and underscores her deep and sustained dedication to the college’s mission. 

• Outstanding Student Award – Nicholas R. Osman ‘26 This award is presented to a current student who has demonstrated outstanding academic achievement and commitment to Ģ����ý. Osman is expected to graduate this year with a degree in radiologic technology. Throughout his time at Ģ����ý, Osman as served as rad tech club president where he spearheaded a highly successful bake sale to support Radiating Hope and the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk. He also played a leading role in organizing the May pinning ceremony, providing outstanding support for Student Life and his graduating class.  

Proceeds from the Spring Soirée support tuition assistance for Ģ����ý students. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit trocaire.edu/alumni-and-friends/events/.  

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Ģ����ý Ģ����ý 
Founded in 1958 in Buffalo, NY by the Sisters of Mercy, Ģ����ý is a private, career-oriented Catholic college that empowers students with the resources and supportive environment needed to achieve their academic goals. The core mission is to allow each person to be a valuable contributor to the workforce needs of the community. Ģ����ý offers bachelor’s degrees, associate degrees, certificates and workforce development programs in healthcare, veterinary sciences, business, and technology. Ģ����ý ranks in the top one-quarter of colleges and universities for return on investment by Georgetown University and is designated as an Opportunity College and University by the Carnegie Classifications with a Higher Access, Higher Earnings classification. Visit  for more information and follow Ģ����ý on,  and . 

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Fundraiser honors community leaders and funds student tuition

Ģ����ý’s announced today that it will host the Spring Soirée on April 24 at 6 p.m. at The Buffalo Club. This annual fundraiser, which includes a cocktail reception, live entertainment and an auction, celebrates all who empower the spirit of Ģ����ý, including honoring three deserving individuals and organizations. The public is invited to attend. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit .

This year’s award recipients include:

Ģ����ý President’s Award

Gerard Place: This award is presented to a person, group, organization, or corporation whose partnership with Ģ����ý furthers the college’s mission, vision, and Mercy values, and supports Ģ����ý students and alumni. Celebrating 25 years of service, Gerard Place continues to change the lives of people living in poor and underserved parts of the City of Buffalo with programs ranging from housing to education and workforce training. Ģ����ý partners with Gerard Place to offer certification programs that are essential to helping people break out of poverty and procure careers in healthcare. 

Distinguished Alumni Award

Bonnie Kane Lockwood ‘75: This award recognizes a graduate who serves as a positive role model to fellow alumni and current students. Lockwood is celebrating her golden anniversary of receiving her associate’s degree in radiologic technology from Ģ����ý, from which she was the first New York State licensed x-ray technologist in Buffalo General Hospital’s angiology department. Lockwood pursued a career in public service, holding multiple Legislative and City of Buffalo roles including as director of special projects for Congressman Brian Higgins and now serves as the director of Governor Hochul’s Western New York office.

Outstanding Student Award

Emma Westerling ‘23 ‘24 ‘25: Currently employed with General Physician Women’s Health, Westerling is expected to graduate this year with a degree in healthcare management. She is also a 2023 graduate of Ģ����ý’s radiologic technology program and a 2024 graduate of the college’s diagnostic medical sonography program. Throughout her time at Ģ����ý, Westerling has been an engaged student who has repeatedly made Dean’s list. She participates in honor societies and department initiatives while pursuing her multiple degree paths.

Proceeds from the Spring Soirée support tuition assistance for Ģ����ý students. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit .

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Ģ����ý’s annual fundraising event will honor former Congressman Brian Higgins with the President’s Award. The Ģ����ý is Thursday, April 25 at 6 p.m. in the Grand Aeries Ballroom of 500 Pearl. This annual gathering of Ģ����ý supporters includes cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, plated dinner, awards presentation, and entertainment. The public is invited to attend. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit . This year’s award recipients include:

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Mark Your calendars for Ģ����ý’s annual fundraiser – Spring Soiree!

The event will be Thursday, April 27 at 6:00 p.m. at The Forbes Theater at 500 Pearl Street. The event honors several deserving individuals and organizations with proceeds supporting tuition assistance for Ģ����ý students.

The event will feature cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, dinner, dessert, a short awards program and after party networking.

For more information and to purchase tickets, visit .

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announced today the public launch of a $3 million endowment campaign – Funding the Future for WNY. The campaign is intended to help close the gap Ģ����ý students face in funding availability for tuition after all financial aid is applied.  To date, the endowment has raised almost 75% of its goal.

“The soft phase of our endowment has been a huge success and we are confident that we will meet our $3 million goal by the end of the year based on commitments and our ongoing solicitation of donors,” said Bassam Deeb, Ph.D., president, Ģ����ý.  “Our students are not only attending college, but most are also working to make ends meet and many are raising a family so it’s imperative that we do our part in fulfilling our mission as an opportunity college to help mitigate their tuition costs.”

On average, a Ģ����ý student faces a gap in funding of about $5,500, which can be an insurmountable obstacle when also paying for rent, childcare, transportation, and food.

“Our students seek the opportunity at Ģ����ý to improve their circumstances through careers of achievement and lives of purpose, filling local jobs in healthcare, business and technology,” Deeb continued.  “If they have the financial means to graduate they will have a good paying and family sustaining career opportunity waiting for them. We have a responsibility to make sure that happens.”

Donors have a variety of options to choose from when making a gift to the campaign in the form of named scholarship endowments and general scholarship endowment or towards supporting special purpose projects around innovation & excellence or capital improvements. For more information or if interested in contributing to Ģ����ý’s Funding the Future for WNY campaign, please contact the Office of the President at 716-827-2423.

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As an opportunity college, we strive to support students who may be facing personal or financial challenges in their lives while on the road to a career-oriented education,” Ģ����ý President Dr. Bassam Deeb said. “Scholarships like the ones being presented today by KeyBank are part of that support system. We are thankful for their assistance and encouragement of our students, knowing that they will soon be part of our local healthcare community, helping others in need.”

Congratulations to our student scholarships recipients – Kristin Fisher, Kathleen S McAnaney, Mary Raczka, and Jessica Lewis, along with Briana Boyette and Felicia Herrmann (not pictured).

We are grateful for the opportunities KeyBank is making possible for our students to complete their degrees and serve our community as capable and compassionate nurses, trained in the Mercy tradition.

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After the pandemic postponed Ģ����ý’s gala last year, the annual fundraising event is going virtual on Thursday, April 29 at 7 p.m. Spring Soirée is open to the entire community, and proceeds from the event directly support student tuition assistance.

In addition to featuring an online silent auction of valuable packages of giveaways from local businesses, restaurants and services, Spring Soirée celebrates the individuals and organizations that empower the spirit of Ģ����ý. This year’s award recipients include:

• The Distinguished Alumni Award is being given to Karen Chiantella Camacho ’96, MBA, BSN, RN-BC, CPHIMS. Following a five-year career as a bedside nurse, Karen pivoted to roles in consulting and nursing informatics. She currently works at PointClickCare as their product escalations manager, where she ensures all clinical software issues are prioritized and addressed appropriately. She is a longtime member of the Ģ����ý Alumni Council and is the current Council chair.

• The Ģ����ý President’s Award goes to KeyBank in partnership with the First Niagara Foundation. The organizations donated a gift of $100,000 to Ģ����ý in December 2019, which will be used as an endowed scholarship, providing generations of Ģ����ý students with the financial support they need to continue their educations uninterrupted.

• Finally, Medical Assisting graduate Amanda Gillespie will receive the Outstanding Student Award. Amanda is a United States Army veteran and served a tour of duty in Afghanistan in 2012. While enrolled at Ģ����ý, Amanda maintained a 4.0 GPA while also balancing a job as a medical receptionist. She graduated in May 2020 and was immediately offered a job working in a surgery center as the lead for its COVID-19 specimen collection program.

For more details on Ģ����ý’s Spring Soirée, including how to purchase tickets, make a donation or secure a sponsorship, please visit: .

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In this issue of the Trailblazer, produced in the midst of this unprecedented year– we wanted to highlight the resiliency, persistence and adaptability that make our Ģ����ý family so unique and indomitable. 

Learn about how Ģ����ý pivoted to remote learning and working earlier this year, and how we’ve worked to assist our students and keep them on track despite the many challenges 2020 has brought.

Read about some of our amazing alumni who have persevered through hard times and come out on top, and about the innovative offerings our academic programs have created to facilitate learning and career growth for members of the community, even during the pandemic.

And so much more! Thank you to ALL who made this year’s Trailblazer possible!

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Ģ����ý students are non-traditional—many are low to median income, and the majority are raising families and working, as well. Their average unmet financial need after all aid and loans are applied is approximately $5,470, which can sometimes prove insurmountable.

“When paying for rent, childcare, transportation and all of life’s other demands on top of tuition, a gap of more than five thousand dollars can be disabling,” explained Ģ����ý President Bassam M. Deeb, Ph.D. “At Ģ����ý, we endeavor to remove the financial barriers for our students in whatever way we can, and this generous contribution by KeyBank and the First Niagara Foundation will help us do just that, in perpetuity.”

“A college education has the potential to transform students’ lives and enhance the economic vitality of our region,” said Elizabeth Gurney, executive director of the KeyBank and First Niagara Foundations. “This scholarship program will make the dream of a college education a reality for many Western New Yorkers and provide the educational resources necessary to help students attain personal and career success.”

Ģ����ý Ģ����ý
Founded in 1958 in Buffalo, NY by the Sisters of Mercy, Ģ����ý is a private, career-oriented Catholic college that strives to empower students toward personal enrichment, dignity and self-worth through education. Ģ����ý offers bachelor’s degrees, associate degrees, certificates and workforce development programs in healthcare, business, hospitality and technology. Recognizing the individual needs of a diverse student body, Ģ����ý provides life learning and development within a community-based environment, preparing students for service in the universal community. Visit for more information and follow Ģ����ý on and .

Ģ����ý KeyBank

KeyBank’s roots trace back 190 years to Albany, New York. Headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, KeyCorp is one of the nation’s largest bank-based financial services companies, with assets of approximately $146.7 billion at September 30, 2019. Key provides deposit, lending, cash management, and investment services to individuals and businesses in 15 states under the name KeyBank National Association through a network of over 1,100 branches and more than 1,400 ATMs. Key also provides a broad range of sophisticated corporate and investment banking products, such as merger and acquisition advice, public and private debt and equity, syndications and derivatives to middle market companies in selected industries throughout the United States under the KeyBanc Capital Markets trade name. For more information, visit . KeyBank is Member FDIC.

Ģ����ý the First Niagara Foundation

Founded in 1998, the First Niagara Foundation will carry out the philanthropic legacy of First Niagara Bank, which was acquired by KeyBank in 2016. The Foundation, in partnership with KeyBank, supports not for profit organizations dedicated to empowering individuals and neighborhoods primarily in Western New York. For more information, visit .

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Dianna Civello, a fundraising professional with more than 20 years of experience, is now at the helm of Ģ����ý’s advancement efforts.

Ģ����ý’s 2020 Strategic Plan notes the importance of the college’s long-term sustainability through enhanced fundraising efforts and community partnerships.  In her role of executive director of advancement, Civello’s responsibilities include the oversight and management of the college’s fundraising team to expand community support and engage alumni and donors in fulfilling the college’s promise of helping students build careers of achievement and lives of purpose.

“As an educator first and foremost, I believe that the tradition of the Sisters of Mercy to ‘meet the unmet need’ aligns profoundly with my core values,” Civello said. “It is an honor and a privilege to be a part of this thriving and nurturing community, and to help move it forward as the college’s chief fundraising executive.”

Civello’s experience in the institutional advancement field includes 13 years executing multiple, successful fundraising initiatives in various roles at Canisius College, including director of development for major gifts, interim vice president for institutional advancement and associate vice president for advancement.

Prior to that, Civello served as director of development at Buffalo Seminary for seven years, and taught Spanish at Nichols School.

“We are fortunate to have Dianna on board guiding our efforts in advancement, fundraising and stewardship,” said Ģ����ý President Bassam M. Deeb, Ph.D. “Her work will be key as we look to build on our legacy as an opportunity college and strengthen Ģ����ý’s future in the Western New York region as a leader in accessible, career-focused higher education.”

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