Cecil College Magazine 2026 - Magazine - Page 25
main event. With help from local wine
distributors and an expert speaker who
educated guests about each pairing, the
gala was an instant success. Attendees
walked away impressed, asking about
tickets for the following year.
As the event gained popularity, the
Foundation relocated it to Cecil College’s
North East Campus in 2012 and began
experimenting with the format to keep
it fresh. Recognizing that guests enjoyed
dancing as much as fine wine, committee
members introduced live music, turning
the gala into a vibrant celebration. “We
immediately received feedback about
our bands with guests saying, ‘Get that
band again next year, I’m coming’,” said
Chris Ann Szep, former Vice President
of Institutional Advancement and
Government Relations at Cecil College
and a key leader in the Foundation’s
advancement efforts.
Beyond wine and music, the Collegium
de Vinum Gala became a platform for
highlighting student success. Each
gala featured student speakers whose
stories illustrated the real-life impact of
scholarships funded by the Foundation.
These moments connected donors to the
College’s mission in a tangible, deeply
meaningful way.
Recognizing the momentum, the
Foundation later launched a spin-off
event in 2012: Little Black Dress, another
originally campus-based celebration that
blended fun, fashion, and fundraising.
Today, the Collegium de Vinum Gala
continues its tradition at some of the
region’s most picturesque venues. From
the Wellwood to Bohemia Overlook,
each iteration has maintained the same
spirit of generosity and community
engagement. Since its inception, the
gala has become the Cecil College
Foundation’s signature event, playing a
pivotal role in growing its endowment to
more than $1 million.
“Our 2025 celebration proudly
honored the founding members of the
Collegium de Vinum Gala, recognizing
their visionary leadership and the
profound impact the event has had
on the College, its students, and the
broader community. Proceeds from
the gala established an endowed
scholarship fund, ensuring perpetual
support for students and expanded
access to education for generations
to come,” said Karen R. Uricoli,
Executive Director of the Cecil College
Foundation and Alumni Development.
This local success story reflects a
national trend. As public funding
for two-year colleges declines,
institutions like Cecil College are
increasingly looking to private
donors to help sustain and expand
educational opportunities. According
to the Council for Aid to Education,
community colleges are building
fundraising infrastructure, establishing
foundations, and launching creative
campaigns to support scholarships
and career-readiness programs.
Donors are also beginning to respond.
While gifts to two-year institutions
remain smaller than those given
to four-year universities, they are
becoming more frequent and more
impactful, especially because the need
is greater and the dollars go farther.
“In a higher education landscape where
community colleges have long been
overlooked and underfunded, the rise
of events like the Collegium de Vinum
Gala signals a promising shift,” said
Uricoli. “They are not just celebrations.
They are lifelines that support students,
strengthen communities, and reaffirm
the vital role of two-year colleges in
shaping America’s future.”
The Cecil College Foundation,
established in 1980 by Mary Johnson
and former County Commissioner Mary
A. Maloney, was created to support
scholarships, instructional equipment,
and professional development for the
College. The success of the Collegium
de Vinum Gala has been a key chapter
in that mission. What began as an
experimental idea with a small
committee of passionate individuals has
become a tradition that not only sustains
the Foundation’s financial health but also
galvanizes community support for Cecil
College’s students.
Today, the Collegium de Vinum Gala
stands as a symbol of what’s possible
when creativity meets mission. It is not
just a gala, it is a testament to the power
of community, the promise of education,
and the enduring impact of a good glass
of wine shared for a greater cause. Learn
more at cecil.edu/foundation.
Philanthropy offers one of the
best opportunities to increase
accessibility to college and careers,
especially for students from diverse
backgrounds and underserved
communities, according to the
American Association of Community
Colleges. With 80 percent of American
students attending public university
systems and nearly half enrolled in
community colleges, the stakes are
high. Fundraising events like Cecil
College’s gala not only generate muchneeded scholarships but also bring
communities together in support of
shared educational values.
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