2004 Alumni Achievement Award Luncheon

12th ANNUAL ALUMNI ACHIEVEMENT AWARD LUNCHEON Friday, December 3, 2004 One Chase Manhattan Plaza, 60th Floor Honoring James E. Quinn '80 President Tiffany & Co. Sponsored by JPMorganChase, Tiffany & Co., and Mutual of America The Lubin Alumni Achievement Award recognizes an alumna/us for outstanding professional leadership achievements and demonstrated contributions in the areas of community service and social responsibility. A Steering Committee, comprised of representatives from the Lubin School faculty, alumni board and advisory board, nominates alumni for this award. The proceeds from the luncheon are used to provide important scholarship support to a student in the Lubin School of Business who demonstrates academic achievement and promise, financial need, leadership qualities and civic responsibility. Read more about the Alumni Achievement Award Luncheon.

Speech by Timur Rakhmanov
2004 Lubin Alumni Achievement Award Scholarship recipient
First of all, I would like to thank all of you and congratulate Mr. James Quinn. These days an award for a positive achievement is 'news' by itself. Sir, you are perhaps one of the best examples of what "Opportunitas" from Pace could provide to its students; an opportunity to realize their potentials; to say that you are successful is an understatement. I am happy for your achievement and I am very happy to be here with you today to receive the Lubin Alumni Achievement Award Scholarship. For me, this award has one simple message. For those who dare to dream, there is a whole world to win. Today, I would like to share this message with all young people of the world: Dream and Dare. Pursue your goal, even in the face of difficulties. Convert difficulties into opportunities. At the end, you are bound to succeed. I feel honored, humbled, and deeply moved that Lubin School of Business should give this important scholarship to a simple guy like me. I am no one special. But I believe this endowed scholarship is recognition of the true value of commitment, hard work, and positive attitude which I try to practice, in accordance with the culture of success here at Lubin School of Business where collegiate and professional opportunities abound and where knowledge is gained and excellence is instilled. Certainly this award is made possible only through great support of Pace University and Lubin School of Business, namely Joan Mark and the Coop office and that has made it possible to work in one of the top investment banks in the world, Eileen Murphy who has been a great advisor and like a mother, Dean Russell who has been so professional and inspired me to strive for perfection, and of course the whole faculty and administration of Lubin and Pace that made it possible for a 16-year-old boy from Tashkent, Uzbekistan who could hardly speak English to become an investment banker on Wall Street, to become a community serviceman and an individual, all in three years. I give all the credits to you and certainly to the whole American ideal that promotes education and opportunities for all. This country has opened its arms for me and made me a part of this colorful mosaic of different cultures and people. For that I am grateful and since this event is altruistic in nature, my motivation is to be able to give back what Lubin School of Business and the United States has given me. I will be able to achieve the level of self-realization as described in the Maslows’s hierarchy of needs only by giving back to others without the expectation of receiving anything in return, because I believe that generosity is giving more than you can, and pride is taking less than you need. Often friends ask me, have I achieved all that I wanted? The simple reply is: No. There are many more miles to go. What has been achieved is history. I only believe in looking at the future. Certain people are known to be successful through their silence, others, for their excellence in speech. I choose to be recognized for my accomplishments and generosity because I believe that we make a living by what we get, we make a life by what we give. Thank you once again and happy holidays.

Photos from the 2004 Lubin Alumni Achievement Award Luncheon