On June 1, 2019 Quinnipiac University’s Central European Institute (CEI) and The Hungary Foundation (HIF) co-hosted the Zebegény Alumni Summit. This event, for the first time, brought together the alumni of all Quinnipiac- and HIF-sponsored scholarships, internships and fellowships and our allies from the business, non-profit and government sector.
Széll Kálmán Fellows Márton Hegedüs, Noémi Pálfalvi, Levente Szabados and Bálint Varga with HIF Executive Director Anna Smith Lacey
For over a decade, the Zebegény gathering has served as a nonpolitical, friendly meeting and networking opportunity for those wanting to contribute to the future of Hungary and the region by helping younger generations through educational and business opportunities in both the US and Europe.
The Zebegény Alumni Summit, a joint effort by Quinnipiac’s CEI and HIF, this year featured alumni-only workshops in the afternoon, followed by a networking reception in the evening. The Summit welcomed alumni of Quinnipiac’s Hungarian American Business Leaders Program, HIF’s Graduate Scholarships, former Andrássy and Széll Kálmán Fellows, and alumni of the Hungarian American Coalition’s John N Lauer Leadership Training Program.
The guest of honor of the summit was Wess Mitchell, Vice Chairman of the Board of CEPA who held an alumni-only seminar on the statesmanship of István Széchenyi, drawing important historical lessons from nineteenth century Austro-Hungarian geopolitics and statecraft.
The public program was opened by Chris Ball, honorary consul of Hungary in Connecticut and Széchenyi Chair in Economics and Director of Quinnipiac University’s Central European Institute (CEI), HIF Executive Director Anna Smith Lacey.
Vizi E Szilveszter, President of the Friends of Hungary Foundation presented the foundation’s “Friend on Hungary Award” to Chris Ball, for his tireless efforts in expanding and deepening the educational and personal ties between the United States and Hungary.
The event was followed by a poolside reception. Among the distinguished guests were members of HIF’s Board of Directors, including Chairman of the Board Ambassador April H.Foley, and Board Members Tamás Fellegi, Edith Lauer, János Martonyi, as well as Government Commissioner Zsigmond Perényi and other friends and allies from the business, non-profit and government sector.
The Zebegény Alumni Summit could not have been possible without the relentless support of Christian Sauska.
