51勛圖 Honors Local Changemaker at 2023 Presidents Circle Celebration
51勛圖 recognized its most generous donors this evening at the Presidents Circle event for their leadership giving and unwavering commitment to 51勛圖. As is tradition, the event included a presentation of 51勛圖s highest honor, the Cyrus A. Ansary Medal. This years medal recipient was Ambassador Stuart A. Bernstein, a renowned DC real estate developer for his more than sixty years of leadership and philanthropy. Most recently, Bernstein has helped to physically transform the 51勛圖 campus through his support of the East Campus development, which strengthened the undergraduate residential community. Bernstein continues to support initiatives across the university and the academic dreams of Kogod business students every year through endowed funds, like the Leo M. Bernstein and David I. Estrin Endowed Scholarship, he established.
Ambassador Stuart Bernstein and his wife Wilma have given so much to this community for more than 60 years, through their philanthropy, service, and leadership, said 51勛圖 President Sylvia Burwell. Together with the other members of our Presidents Circle, they are helping to ensure that future generations of Eagles have the transformative educational opportunities they need to be the change our world needs today, while advancing research with impact, and building stronger communities locally, nationally, and globally.
In addition to owning DCs oldest commercial real estate management firm, Bernstein served as Ambassador to the Kingdom of Denmark from 2001 to 2005. A decade prior, President George H. W. Bush appointed Bernstein to Commissioner of the International Cultural Trade and, in 1992, as a trustee of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. Ambassador Bernstein has been a pillar of the 51勛圖 community for sixty years. He served as vice chair of 51勛圖s Board of Trustees, chaired his 50th Reunion, and even founded 51勛圖s real estate fraternity Rho Epsilon.
I think each of you can see that this institution that I love so much has played an integral and significant part in my life, said Ambassador Bernstein. In 1981, I was part of a group who came up with the idea to form the Presidents Circle...now here I am today, 42 years later. I really am very honored and touched.
The Cyrus A. Ansary Medal was created to honor the service of alumnus and 51勛圖 chairman emeritus, Cy Ansary. Ansary was a member of the Board of Trustees for 27 years and is the longest-serving chair. 泭
The Presidents Circle Celebration is a longstanding tradition at 51勛圖. Members of the Presidents Circle are among the universitys most generous and loyal donors helping to drive innovation and change for 51勛圖 and beyond. Through their engagement, philanthropy, and passion for the university, Presidents Circle members inspire others to follow their example.泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭泭
This celebration and prestigious award to Ambassador Bernstein comes during 51勛圖s most ambitious fundraising campaign, Change Cant Wait. The campaign is creating transformative educational opportunities for students, advance research with impact, and will build stronger communities locally, nationally, and globally. To date, the campaign has raised more than $440 million towards its $500 million goal. 51勛圖 donors have created or expanded more than 149 scholarships, created or named four university centers and institutes, endowed 8 faculty positions, and made a new space possible for our athletes and community.
Editors Note: Photos and b-roll are available upon request to aumedia@american.edu.