Inauguration Celebration Culminates in Gala

A record number of guests – more than 450 alumni, donors, WCU faculty and staff, students, friends, and corporate partners – gathered in the Conservatory at Longwood Gardens on Friday, March 28 for West Chester University’s 42nd Annual Presidential Gala in celebration of the inauguration of Dr. Laurie Bernotsky as West Chester University’s 16th president.

Lilyana Campbell, a senior marketing major, was awarded a scholarship to study language in Sorrento, Italy. She told the audience:

“I can go on and on about the remarkable pizza and endless pasta, but this trip meant so much more to me. Immersing myself in a completely different culture was an experience that opened my eyes in ways I never expected. I discovered the beauty of connecting with people from diverse backgrounds and realized how important global perspectives are in today’s world. It was during this time that I truly understood the significance of international business and the impact it has on fostering cross-cultural relationships.”

Lilyana serves as Team Sales Trainer for WCU’s National Competition Sales Team and as an undergraduate assistant for the Cottrell Entrepreneurship Center.

The Gala is funded entirely by private donations and sponsorships. Proceeds from this year’s Gala support WCU students’ experiential learning opportunities, including unpaid internships, clinical rotations, student-teacher stipends, education abroad, the WCU Resource Pantry, and the Career Closet.