The Alumni Association's 2015 annual awards, given during Reunion Weekend on June 7, recognize leaders in serving the College and the community and in professional achievement.
The John “Bunny” Barbes ’39 and
Lila T. Barbes ’40 Wagner Alumni Laureates
For long and distinguished service to Wagner College
Alfred Palladino ’61 and Christine Zullo Palladino ’64
Alfred Palladino and Christine Zullo met at Wagner during their undergraduate studies. He earned a B.S. in economics in 1961, and she attained a B.S. in education in 1964. Upon Alfred’s graduation, they were married, and they have two children and six grandchildren.
Alfred Palladino has dedicated many years to working on Wall Street, beginning at Goodbody & Co. He is now the first vice president of investments for Stifel. He has generously contributed his financial expertise to Wagner for many years, serving as a trustee for 24 years, co-chairing and participating in the Wagner College Investment Committee, as well as supporting the Touchdown Club and the Hugh L. Carey Institute for Government Reform. He is a past honoree of Wagner College’s DaVinci Society. He has also contributed to professional and civic life in New York City as a member of the Bond Club of New York, a trustee and treasurer of 36 SPS, a trustee of the Puccini Foundation, and a member of the Columbus Citizens Foundation. He was also inducted into the Curtis High School Hall of Fame.
Christine Zullo Palladino began her career teaching in the public school system. In 1981, she became a commodity trader broker. She started her own floor brokerage firm in 1982 and ran this firm on the New York Futures Exchange for 20 years. One of the few women in this field of work, she has mentored many high school and college students, spoken at seminars, lectured at the New York Stock Exchange, and taught classes at the New York School of Finance. She is also a longtime supporter of Wagner College, assisting in many fundraising drives and serving on presidential gala committees. In 1983, she was honored with the Wagner College Alumni Achievement Award.
Distinguished Graduate of Wagner
For unique career contributions to his or her
community, state, or the nation, bringing honor to Wagner
Patricia A. Amis ’90, posthumously
A Manhattan native who grew up in Stapleton, Staten Island, Patricia Amis received her B.A. in sociology from Wagner in 1990 and did postgraduate studies in social work at New York University.
She worked for the NYNEX Corporation, and for New York City’s Consumer Affairs Department as an assistant tobacco enforcement coordinator. A strong advocate for the elderly and victims of domestic abuse, she served her community as a social services manager for various agencies, including the Jewish Community Center of Staten Island and the Community Agency for Senior Citizens. She highlighted her own experience of escaping domestic violence in her book, Snatched from the Fire. She was the host and co-executive producer of Elderview on Staten Island Community Television. In 2013, she earned the NOVA award for the program.
Dedicated to showing kindness and love to others, she was recognized by the Staten Island Chapter of the NAACP with the William A. Morris Humanitarian Award.
Patricia Amis passed away in August 2014 and is survived by her husband, Reginald, her two children, and her five stepchildren.
Dr. Kevin Sheehy ’67 M’70 M’92 H’99 Alumni Leadership Medal
For consistent leadership and service to
Wagner College and the Alumni Association
Pat Pappalardo ’70
Pat Pappalardo graduated from Wagner in 1970 with a B.S. in economics and business administration. His name was a staple on Staten Island before he even graduated from Wagner College, as his dad founded the Island’s own Joe and Pat’s Pizzeria, “where the crusts are thin, ethereal and legendary,” according to the New York Times. Pappalardo ran the family business until he started Papp Realty, affiliated with Century 21. Papp Realty, the first Century 21 office on Staten Island, has become a highly successful venture. The realty has been in business for more than 20 years, winning 11 Centurion awards and four Gold Medallion awards from Century 21.
At Wagner, Pat Pappalardo was involved in Kappa Sigma Alpha fraternity. A dedicated Wagner booster, he served on the Alumni Association Board for six years and is a longtime supporter of the Wagner Fund. He attends many campus events and functions of Wagner’s DaVinci Society.
Wagner Alumni Fellows
For distinguished careers in defined aspects
of the College’s academic program
Scott Fink ’83 (Accounting)
Since graduating from Wagner in 1983 with a B.S. in accounting, Scott Fink has built a highly successful business career as an owner and operator of car dealerships. He is president and CEO of six dealerships in the state of Florida, including the nation’s largest volume Hyundai dealership.
Fink credits his Wagner education for helping him in many ways, both inside and outside of the classroom. He was very involved on campus, serving as a resident assistant, president of the Student Activities Board, and member and officer in student government. He also managed the Student Union and credits John Bonando, the union’s associate director, for developing his independent spirit.
After a few years with Ford Motor Co., he joined a Mitsubishi dealership in Clearwater, Florida, and led it to become the top volume dealership nationally. In 1998, he purchased Clearwater Toyota. He opened Hyundai of New Port Richey in 2003, and it has become a nationally leading dealership. He also owns Hyundai, Mazda, and Chevrolet dealerships in Wesley Chapel, and is opening two Volkswagen dealerships as well.
Fink is a member and past chair of the National Dealers Council for Hyundai, representing nearly 16,000 new car and truck dealers with 32,500 franchises. He also is very engaged in serving his community, serving on the board of St. Joseph’s Foundation, Metropolitan Ministries, Berkeley Prep School, and Hyundai Hope on Wheels. He and his wife, Kathy, have also generously contributed to many area charitable causes, providing a major gift to help Tampa’s Metropolitan Ministries build transitional housing units for the homeless. He was nominated for the TIME Dealer of the Year program in 2012, which honors new-car dealers who exhibit exceptional performance in their dealerships and perform distinguished community service.
Christina DeCicco Sisko ’02 (Theater)
Christina DeCicco Sisko graduated from Wagner in 2002 with a B.A. in theater. Her four years of immersion into Wagner College Theatre, both on stage and behind the scenes, have led to a highly successful acting career. On Broadway, she appeared twice weekly as Eva Peron in the 2012 revival of Evita (“a terrific vocalist,” noted broadway.com); as Arachne in the final cast of Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark; and as the understudy for Sister Mary Roberts in the original Broadway cast of Sister Act: The Musical. In addition, she appeared as Glinda in the national tour of Wicked, and as Cindy Lou Huffington in the off-Broadway final cast of The Marvelous Wonderettes. Accolades for her work include the 2008 Barrymore Award for the Greater Philadelphia area.
Besides her stage work, Sisko has appeared in a supporting role on the television program The Education of Max Bickford. She is a member of the Actors Equity Association and the Screen Actors Guild – American Federation of Television and Radio Artists.
A member of Alpha Omicron Pi sorority at Wagner, she has fond memories of being students of both President Richard Guarasci and Lauri Young, professor of theater, who encouraged her to be curious and continue to learn and grow as a person and a performer.
She is married to Anthony Sisko ’02.
Wagner Alumni Key
For graduates of the last decade who have made extraordinary
achievements in their personal and professional endeavors
Jeannine Morris-Lombardi ’05
Jeannine Morris-Lombardi is a multimedia reporter, content creator, and influencer known for sharing exclusive, behind-the-scenes access to celebrity beauty, high-profile award shows, and trends across makeup, skincare, health, wellness, and style.
Whether she is contributing to E! News, The TODAY Show, Good Morning America, and Wendy Williams as an on-air expert or sharing her positive, encouraging point of view on her eponymous website and social media channels, her message is always clear — everyone can live a beautiful life and find their inner glow with insider tricks of the trade and a large dose of confidence.
A Wagner English major, Morris cites longtime English Professor Peter Sharpe as her most memorable and influential teacher. She was a member of Alpha Delta Pi sorority, a cheerleader, and a member of the Student Government Association. After receiving her B.A., Morris began her career as an editor at Cosmopolitan Magazine and has since worked with Refinery29, Glamour, iVillage, AskMen, major networks like NBC, CBS, and FOX, as well as cable channels like Better TV and PIX and morning shows and news segments across the country. Her blog reaches tens of thousands of women each month. She also taught an online journalism class at Wagner last year.
Forbes has deemed her an “inspiring entrepreneur.” She is currently studying to become a health coach at the institute for Integrative Nutrition in New York City, where she lives with her husband and cat.
Reverend Lyle Guttu Award
For contributions to Wagner, local communities,
or the world in a spiritual way
Pastor Carl F. Wilfrid ’65
After receiving his B.S. in bacteriology and public health from Wagner in 1965, Carl Wilfrid continued his education, earning a master’s in theology from Luther Seminary and a master’s in sacred theology from the New York Theological Seminary. He has since dedicated himself to churches and parishes across the country.
He began as a pastor at Benedict Lutheran Parish and then moved on to be a pastor at Noonan Lutheran Parish, both in North Dakota. He was an associate pastor at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in Phoenix, Arizona, until he became lead pastor at Faith Lutheran Church in Chico, California, followed by Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd in Reno, Nevada. He has received awards and recognition for his many achievements, including the City of Chico Mayor’s Award in 2000. He was also elected justice of the peace in Noonan, North Dakota.
As a student at Wagner, Wilfrid spent all four years as a member of the Wagner College Choir, where he had priceless experiences practicing, touring, and performing under the direction of Dr. Sigvart Steen. He was an inductee of the Beta Beta Beta biology honors society and a member of the Alpha and Omega Fellowship. Since graduation, he has remained a faithful donor to Wagner College.
He is a proud husband to his wife, Dianne; father to daughters Alissa and Erica; and grandfather to Sam.
Certificate of Appreciation
For individuals who have become active
in the work of the Alumni Association
Wendell C. Martin ’69, posthumously
Wendell C. Martin, who passed away in June 2014, graduated from Wagner with a B.S. in chemistry and played basketball for the Seahawks. As an alumnus, he served the College by conducting a workshop series for student-athletes to help them with their finances, public speaking skills, and career development.
He was involved with many different business and charitable ventures during his lifetime, from teaching to playing basketball for the WBLS Sureshots to starting a restaurant and a fabric store. He established an international collaborative to find cures for cancer, the International Cancer Center Curaçao. He partnered with the Edmonds Development Group to build housing in New Jersey and later formed a real estate group focused on developing affordable housing. He was an associate member of the Long Island National Council of Negro Women and worked on the board of directors for the United Martin Family National Organization and the Martin Charitable Foundation, Inc.
He is survived by his wife, Miriam, his two children, five grandchildren, one great-grandchild, and many others who hold him in loving remembrance.