2012 Bart Lawson Award Recipients

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Sam Charney

2011 Award Recipients

Lauren Beam
Carlos Manzano
Michael Schultz

Award for Humanitarianism
M.S. in Real Estate ('04)

Sam Charney, a native New Yorker, is passionate and hard working with a propensity for helping others. At the age of 30, he felt it was his turn to give back to the community by volunteering. In his search for volunteer opportunities, Sam discovered the New York Association for Blind Athletes (NYABA) and the New York Knights, NYABA's goalball team which he now coaches, and for which he serves as a mentor.

Professionally, Sam has advanced to the notable position of project executive for the real estate developer Two Trees Management Co. LLC, located in DUMBO. During his tenure, he has been the lead developer on over 500,000 square feet of residential and commercial projects. He started at the firm as an intern in 2003 while earning an M.S. in Real Estate from NYU-SCPS. Sam also is president and founder of the real estate development company Pangea Development LLC, which owns and operates multifamily properties in Brooklyn.

Inspired by NYABA and dedicated to its cause, Sam has been motivated to lend it his financial expertise in order to ensure the team's and the organization's success and longevity. Over the past two years, he has significantly contributed to the launch of the NYABA website, where visitors can support the organization through online donations.

Jeff Barber

Award for Professional Service and Outreach
M.S. in Management and Systems ('04)

Dr. Jeff Barber is a highly successful healthcare executive and an experienced change agent, who posseses turnaround skills in academic hospital and healthcare systems. His strengths include successful, proven, leadership in the development and operations of integrated delivery networks, team building, academic medical centers and academic training programs, faith-based initiatives, faculty group practices, and the full continuum of healthcare training and practice. He also is very effective in the management of large-scale capital projects.

He has held numerous professional and civic positions throughout his career. Presently, he serves as a director on several boards including the Kentucky Hospital Association, Kentucky Wesleyan College, Owensboro Cancer Research Program, and Kentucky BioProcessing. He previously served as a director of the Owensboro Community and Technical College Foundation, RiverPark Center, and Go Economic Development boards. He began serving as president and CEO of Owensboro Medical Health System in April 2004.

Dr. Barber has an extensive educational background. He earned a Ph.D. in Public Health, Health Services Organizations from the University of Texas; an M.S. in Management and Systems from NYU-SCPS; an M.B.A from the University of Houston, Texas; a B.A. in Arts from University of Houston, Texas; and is Board Certified in Healthcare Management.

April De Simone

Award for Public Service
B.A. in Social Sciences with a Concentration in Political Science ('00)

April De Simone has over 15 years of experience in successfully launching and developing for-profit, nonprofit, and government projects. Ms. De Simone's professional, volunteer, and personal experiences enhance her effectiveness in targeting the most efficient frameworks that maximize the full potential of blended value impact initiatives. Continuing to advocate for progressive strategies, Ms. De Simone is a founding partner of two social hybrid ventures that launched in 2013 (kreatealamode and Access the Change), and is actively involved in various boards, initiatives, and ventures which employ innovative capacities that scale social impact. A graduate of the NYU-SCPS Paul McGhee Division, Ms. De Simone has been recognized for her leadership and dedication in empowering individuals and communities. Currently, she is a graduate candidate at The Parsons The New School School for Design in its Design and Urban Ecologies program.

Jennifer Flood

Award for Humanitarianism
B.A. in Social Sciences with a Concentration in Psychology ('11)

Jennifer Flood is founder and president of the Flood Sisters Kidney Foundation of America. While still a student at the NYU-SCPS Paul McGhee Division, Jennifer's father was diagnosed with renal failure. She and her sisters tested to be organ donors, but unfortunately they were not a match. As a practicing nurse, Jennifer knew the national waiting list for transplants was not an option.

The Flood sisters' familiarity with the online community website craigslist.org prompted them to use the network to place notices for a living donor. After a year and four months, over 100 responses and media exposure, a woman from California came forward as a donor, and helped to save their father's life. From that day forward, the Flood sisters have been working hard to give back and to help others in need through their foundation. Today, they educate the public on organ donation and kidney disease, as well as provide matching services for those in need of kidney donors for transplant all across the United States.

Past Award Recipients

2011 Award

Lauren Beam

Award for Humanitarianism
M.S. in Tourism Management ('06)

Lauren Beam was an outstanding leader of young women and an accomplished alumna who made a significant difference in the lives of hundreds of students during her tenure as head coach of New York University's women's swimming and diving team. She displayed talent, strength, persistence, and perseverance, and demonstrated the ability to stand tall and to succeed in the face of adversity. She made others around her grow and flourish and taught them to understand what it takes to become a winner.

To honor her determination, dedication, and service, New York University established the "Lauren Beam Inspirational Award" in June 2010. Lauren was the first recipient of this award. Lauren was a true fighter and she touched and inspired many people with both her strength and her enthusiasm for life, as well as her compassion and true kindness. She always put others before herself and her unrelenting drive to help those around her to be the best they could be remained strong, especially with her swimmers. Her example inspired others to be more humble and more giving. As an avid and accomplished athlete herself, Lauren often served as a role model, motivating and teaching others to participate in community events. Lauren was involved with the Relay for Life and a few months before she passed, she gave a motivational speech to Athletes of the American Cancer Society who were competing in a half marathon. She will be greatly missed.

The Award was presented posthumously. Lauren passed away on September 10, 2011 after battling colon cancer for over two years.

Carlos Manzano

Award for Professional Service and Outreach
M.S. in Public Relations and Corporate Communication ('09)

Carlos Manzano was appointed by Mayor Bloomberg as executive director of the Latin Media and Entertainment Commission (LMEC) in May 2007. In this capacity, he has developed strategies and plans that encompass economic development, large-scale events, marketing, public relations, and policy to transform New York City into the capital of Latin media and entertainment. Mr. Manzano works closely with City Hall and government officials, the media, business associations, educational institutions, nonprofits, and many other city-based and national organizations. His efforts led to the identification of 22 major Latin events with a combined economic impact greater than $90 million for the City. He created, in partnership with NYRemezcla, the first Latin media guide; he launched, with LatinVision, an international Latin conference that attracts over 300 participants; and he developed the concept for the annual Latin Media and Entertainment Week (LMEW), which in 2010 included 22 events, boasted over 90,000 participants, and had an economic impact of $3,000,000.

He has been active on the Westside of Manhattan for over 20 years, serving in various community-based organizations such as Community Board 4, the Clinton Seed Fund, the Student Outreach Program, and Encore Senior Citizens Services. He has been a member of the Midtown West Business Association and is a strong supporter of the small businesses that helped revitalize the community in the Hell's Kitchen (Clinton) neighborhood. His contributions have been recognized by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the Queens Borough President’s Office, Verizon Hispanic Group, the Ninth Avenue International Food Festival, the Puerto Rican Family Foundation, Colombia Exterior, and the Metropolitan Police Officers Association from Washington, D.C.

Michael Schultz

Award for Public Service
M.A. in Graphic Communications Management and Technology ('08)

An emergency preparedness specialist at the New York City Office of Emergency Management and chair of the Graphic Communications Management and Technology Alumni Committee, Michael's service to New York City and the New York University family began years ago.

Michael was first recognized for his work in disaster preparedness and response as a volunteer and then staff member of the American Red Cross in Greater New York as well as being the founder and president of the Graphic Communications Management Association. He has been awarded both the NYU President's Service Award and the Graphic Communications Management and Technology Leadership Award. Whether hosting disaster preparedness training at NYU during his time with the American Red Cross, planning events for the students and alumni of the Graphic Communications program, or working long hours during Hurricane Irene and other emergencies, Mike has shown dedication to the community he cares for time and again.

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