Record-Setting 'Celebration' Raises Historic Support for NJIT Students

New Jersey Institute of Technology’s annual Celebration fundraiser drew its largest audience ever and raised a record $1 million in support of student scholarships — marking a milestone in the event’s 30-year history.

Held Nov. 7 at The Grove in Cedar Grove, the black-tie gala united alumni, corporate partners and friends of the university for an evening that highlighted both NJIT’s growing philanthropic momentum and its mission to make a transformative education accessible to talented students.

A Community United by Philanthropy

Serving as this year’s masters of ceremony and co-chairs were Patrick Natale ’70, ’75, a member of the NJIT Foundation Board of Directors and NCE’s Board of Visitors, and Dania Shahzad ’13, a Dorman Honors alumna and second vice president of the Alumni Association Board.

“Celebration is NJIT’s only annual campus-wide fundraiser for scholarship funds,” Natale told the audience. “Your generosity is changing not only our students’ lives but, ultimately, our world.”

Shahzad added, “It is rewarding to see so many NJIT alumni and students among us. After all, they are the reason we are all here tonight.”

Also addressing the audience was Alan Kelly, senior vice president for university advancement and president of the NJIT Foundation, which serves as the university’s philanthropic arm. “Celebration is a wonderful testament to the NJIT community and its passion to enhance the future of its students,” Kelly said.

Together, their remarks illuminated Celebration as more than a gala, it’s the centerpiece of NJIT’s scholarship community — an evening that unites donors, students and university leaders to celebrate achievement and expand opportunity through shared purpose.

Robert Cohen ’83, ’84, ’87, chair of NJIT’s Board of Trustees and vice president, Innovation and Technology, Orthopaedic Group at Stryker, reflected that Celebration is a moment of reverence — a time to see, hear and feel the impact of NJIT’s scholarship community.

“We’ve changed lives,” Cohen said. “We’ve gotten people on a trajectory for a technology degree or a business degree, and look at what they’ve done. They’ve not only graduated, they have impacted society — whether in career or in research — and we are so proud of this event and all that comes out of it.”

Celebrating Student Success and Philanthropic Impact

That impact — and the power of scholarship to change trajectories — was personified by student speaker Jonathan Kozlik ’27, a dual-major student studying computer science and applied mathematics. Kozlik is an emerging entrepreneur whose startup, Trainsafe, builds AI-driven tools to identify and strengthen cybersecurity in digital systems.

“I’m the student speaker for the 2025 Celebration dinner, and it means the world,” Kozlik said. “Without NJIT, I don’t know if I’d be in the same position I am today. The campus, the people, the amazing support — I mean, you really have a community when you come to NJIT, so I can’t thank them enough.”

A first-generation student and National Science Foundation S-STEM scholar, Kozlik is also the proud recipient of NJIT’s Theodore E. Kupfrian Memorial Scholarship. His story exemplified how investment in education fuels discovery and opportunity — empowering students to innovate, lead and give back.

Honoring Leadership, Partnership and Legacy

The evening also recognized four outstanding honorees — Áine M. O’Dwyer ’08H, Wei Wang ’95, Robert Medina ’75, and Terminal Construction Corporation — whose leadership and professional achievements represent NJIT’s enduring impact on industry and community.

Accepting the Outstanding Corporate Partner Award, Donald Dinallo, president and CEO of Terminal Construction, spoke of the firm’s deep connection to NJIT and its ongoing role in shaping campus landmarks.

“From our very first project together on Maple Hall to our most recent, the new Oak Hall student residence facility, Terminal is honored to help shape this campus,” Dinallo said. “I believe Oak Hall will soon stand as one of the iconic landmarks at NJIT, and we remain committed to being a steadfast partner in shaping the university’s future.”

Celebrating its 80th anniversary, Terminal Construction has been a family-led company since 1945, employing numerous NJIT graduates and establishing multiple scholarships that support future engineers and construction managers. The Dinallo family’s continued engagement reflects a partnership that is defining both NJIT’s skyline and its student success.

You can read more about each of the alumni’s awards here.

Since its founding in 1995, Celebration has raised more than $10 million in endowed scholarship funds, broadening access across all six of NJIT’s colleges. What began as an event to benefit the Albert Dorman Honors College stands as a cornerstone of NJIT’s mission to empower the next generation of engineers, architects, scientists and entrepreneurs.