University to Recognize Pappert, PNC for Leadership in Philanthropy

Duquesne will honor a distinguished alumnus and a well-known local corporation during the third annual President’s Scholarship Dinner on Thursday, May 4.

The event is an opportunity for University vendors and business partners to support Duquesne’s mission, and proceeds benefit Duquesne’s general scholarship fund.

P. David Pappert, A’60, will receive the Spiritus Award, which recognizes an individual or couple for exceptional leadership in philanthropic support of Duquesne. Pappert, along with his late wife, Janet, has provided significant endowed financial support for the Mary Pappert School of Music (which is named in memory of David’s mother), a lecture hall in the Bayer Learning Center and various other initiatives benefitting students.

In addition to his financial contributions, Pappert was elected to Duquesne’s Board of Directors in 1998. After serving on the finance committee and as vice chair, he served as chairman of the board from May 2007 through June 2009. Under his leadership, the board became more diverse in age, ethnicity, gender and experience.

Pappert was inducted into the Duquesne University Century Club of Distinguished Alumni in 1996; was named the Distinguished Alumnus of the McAnulty College of Liberal Arts in 1997; and received the Century Club’s McAnulty Service Award in 2009.

Pappert is the retired chairman and chief executive officer of ViON Corporation, a computing services firm. He has also served on the boards of the Vince Lombardi Cancer Research Center at Georgetown University, The Woods Academy and Stone Ridge Country Day School.

This year, the University introduced the Cor Communitas (Heart of the Community) award, which recognizes corporations or foundations with outstanding records of philanthropy and service to Duquesne and other institutions throughout Western Pennsylvania. The inaugural award will be presented to PNC.

PNC has supported facilities improvements at Duquesne, including the PNC Atrium in the Union and the PNC Recital Hall in the Mary Pappert School of Music. PNC and its foundation also have supported scholarships for Duquesne students, and have funded educational and community outreach initiatives in the Schools of Business, Education, Health Sciences, Law and Music. In addition, PNC sponsors numerous events for the University’s schools, departments and Duquesne Athletics—including the Chuck Cooper Classic basketball games, honoring the 1950 Duquesne graduate who became the first black athlete drafted into the National Basketball Association.