Vaughn College Gala
Returns with Gusto
Vaughn College hosted its
seventh annual gala on Thursday,
November 4 in the William
R. DeCota Hangar on the College’s
main campus. The honoree
for this year’s event was
Stephen A. Alterman, president
of Cargo Airline Association
since 1982, and chairman of the
Transportation Security Administration
Aviation Security Advisory
Committee.
The Gala welcomed professionals
in the industries that the
College serves and provided an
opportunity for attendees to connect
with students, faculty and
staff to learn ways they can support
Vaughn students.
Sponsors included aviation
companies that hire many
Vaughn grads and which mentor
students on their journey
to a well paid professional career
and devoted to supporting
Vaughn College which Donations
were encouraged through
a mobile-friendly, silent auction
and a “text-to-give” feature.
Proceeds raised benefit the
Vaughn College Student Experience
Fund which was developed
to help sponsor students’
off-campus learning experiences
such as the attendance
at conferences such as the Society
of Women Engineers, the
American Association of Airport
Executives, the Society
of Hispanic Professional Engineers
and the National Society
of Black Engineers. Oftentimes,
these experiences result
in internship and full-time job
opportunities for Vaughn students.
Vaughn College- All about the Students Ask front row grads, Joe Werner (class of '57) and Fred Schlichcmann ( class of '49) and more recent students/
AIRPORT V 26 OICE, NOVEMBER 2021
grads and faculty at the Vaughn Gala. Great night for IRL interactions and support for the College.
Darren DeVivo, radio personality
and Disk Jockey at
WFUV 90.7 FM, was the emcee
for the evening. Attendees
were shown a video highlighting
success stories of
Vaughn alumni over the last
few years, including graduates
who are now working at
Northrup Grumman, Atlas Air,
SpaceX, Tradewind Aviation
and more. This was followed
by speeches from Vaughn College
President Dr. Sharon B.
DeVivo, newly elected Chair of
Vaughn’s Board of Trustees and
grandson of one of the institutions
founders Peter Vaughn,
and Honoree Alterman.
Vaughn College Gala sponsor AvPorts with staff and Vaughn students. Top middle row (Left) Jorge Roberts,
CEO AvPorts, Peter Vaughn, Sharon DeVivo.
Ardent supporters of Vaughn College. (L-R) COO Vantage Airport Group Stewart Steeves, CEO
LaH=Guardia Gateway Partners Frank Scremin, CEO Cradle of Aviation Andy Parton, LGP Director
of Marketing and Communications Tracy Sanford, Vaughn Board Member, Former GM LaGuardia
Airport Lysa Scully Leiponis.
Vaughn Chairman Board of Trustees Peter Vaughn, Honoree Cargo Airline Association
President Stephen Alterman, Vaughn College President Sharon DeVivo.