In a Conference Center transformed by Montclair State University students to look like a glittering cityscape, more than 300 members of the corporate, philanthropic, and University communities gathered on April 28 for the 2011 Montclair State University Foundation Annual Dinner. The dinner is held each year to honor the Carpe Diem Award recipient and to raise funds for the University.

Focusing on the exciting developments taking place at the University’s School of Business, the theme of the dinner was “Our Students Are Your Business.” Proceeds from the event will support a proposed 140,000-square-foot, state-of-art School of Business facility. With a capacity crowd in attendance, more than $300,000 was raised, making the 2011 Annual Dinner among the most successful to date.

The dinner also served as the occasion for the presentation of the Carpe Diem Award, which goes to a distinguished alumni or friend of the University for outstanding professional and personal achievements.

This year’s honoree was Douglas L. Kennedy, State President, New Jersey for Capital One Bank. A well-known and respected member of the University community, Kennedy is not only one of the state’s most successful banking executives, but has been a member of Montclair State University’s Board of Trustees for more than a decade, and currently serves as its chair. He was also co-chair of the University’s successful $60 million Capital Campaign.

Other highlights of the evening included a video presentation featuring the students, faculty, and leadership of the School of Business, musical entertainment by students from the College of the Arts, and the extraordinary décor of the Conference Center itself.

Under the leadership of Professor Winfield Parsons, students in the Advanced Studio Design class imagined, designed, and created all the decorations for the evening including the impressive 360-degree skyline that encircled the room.

See more photos from the event.

View the video presentation about the School of Business.