Promise, Possibility, and Purpose: Spirit of Pace Awards 2026

The Pace Community is never stronger than when it comes together to celebrate our shared mission and support our students’ success. One night each year, we invite a distinguished circle of leaders, donors, students, and friends to do just that.

At the 62nd annual Spirit of Pace Awards dinner, held on June 4 at the American Museum of Natural History, nearly 300 members of the extended Pace Community gathered in the iconic Irma and Paul Milstein Family Hall of Ocean Life to generate life-changing opportunities for our students while honoring industry and alumni leaders who exemplify the spirit of excellence, innovation, and opportunity Pace holds most dear. 

The event was anchored by one core message: When our students are equipped with the resources and opportunities they need, they are capable of extraordinary success—and we each have a key role to play in ensuring that need is met. Our community heeded that message with resounding dedication, raising a record high of $1.2 million in support of student scholarships and programs, inspiring pride and confidence in our collective impact.

During his introductory remarks, Pace University President Marvin Krislov reflected on the milestones we celebrate as a community this year: Pace’s 120th anniversary, the 50th anniversary of the Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University, and the 10th anniversary of the law school carrying the Haub name.

“For 120 years, Pace has believed that academic excellence and real-life learning go hand-in-hand,” said President Krislov. “Our students are interning on Wall Street, performing on Broadway, conducting groundbreaking research, launching startups, advocating in communities, and tackling real-world challenges long before graduation. … At Pace, opportunity has always been more than a word. It’s a promise. And for 120 years, the University has helped generations of students turn that promise into possibility.”

Our five Spirit of Pace Awards honorees demonstrate what it means to lead with purpose. Their accomplishments serve as prime examples of what happens when promise becomes opportunity, and the incredible things made possible through visionary leadership and a value-centered commitment to opening doors for others.

This year’s Spirit of Pace Awards honorees were Lifetime Achievement Award-winners Mario J. Gabelli, Chairman and Co-CEO, GAMCO Investors Inc., and Liliane and Christian Haub, Philanthropists and CEO, Tengelmann Group; Leaders in Management Award-winner Robert E. Wankel, Chairman and CEO, The Shubert Organization; and Alumni of the Year Award-winner Sabrina McCoy-Griffin, MBA ’92, Assistant Vice President (Retired), Chubb.

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to our exceptional 2026 honorees and everyone who contributed to the evening’s success. Their participation and support helped fulfill the Spirit of Pace Awards' promise to create a brighter future for students, fostering a sense of shared achievement and purpose among supporters.