Scholars from Duquesne University and Saint Vincent College to be Recognized
PITTSBURGH, PA – The Sister Thea Bowman Black Catholic Education Foundation, a program that provides scholarships and mentorship to African American students, will host a special evening honoring its Scholars, graduates and supporters through the transformative power of education on Thurs., Apr 10, 2025, from 5 to 7:30 p.m. at Acrisure Stadium, 100 Art Rooney Ave. The event will recognize Calvin Allen, a graduate of the program who now serves as an executive at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP).
Andrew Stockey, WTAE Pittsburgh News Action 4’s News Anchor and Sports Director, will serve as the master of ceremonies.
“We are honored to celebrate the impact of education in transforming lives, just as Sister Thea Bowman envisioned,” said Joe Barker, Executive Director of the Sister Thea Bowman Foundation. “For decades, the Foundation has benefited from the generosity of so many individuals and organizations so that we may provide opportunities to African American students to pursue their goal of a Catholic college degree. We look forward to recognizing Calvin Allen, a graduate of the University of Notre Dame and a beneficiary of the Foundation, as he shares his compelling story of academic and professional success thanks, in part, to this program.”
This year’s celebration will also recognize the remarkable achievements of the Sister Thea Bowman Scholars who attend Catholic colleges and universities through the support of donor-funded scholarships.
Allen, who graduated from the University of Notre Dame with a Bachelor’s in Business Administration, attended the university on a scholarship through the Foundation. He is the current Executive Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer at CHOP, and has more than 30 years of experience leading 200 human resources professionals serving CHOP’s 29,000-person workforce. Allen created the organization’s first chief well-being officer position and spearheaded initiatives that have boosted employee engagement scores by more than 20 points post-pandemic, earning CHOP the top spot on Forbes’ 2022 America’s Best Large Employers list.
A Harvard MBA graduate, Allen serves on several boards and was named one of Philadelphia’s Most Influential African Americans three times; was included on the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal’s 40 Under 40 list; on Savoy’s 2024 Most Influential Executives in Corporate America; and Becker’s Healthcare’s list of Chief Human Resources Officers to Know.
The event is sponsored by The Pittsburgh Steelers, Jack McGinley and the Rita McGinley Foundation, UPMC, Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration, Duquesne University, Diocese of Pittsburgh, Saint Vincent College; Holy Family Institute; Duquesne University School of Nursing; The Pittsburgh Promise; and Assumption University.
To learn more about the event, tickets, sponsorship opportunities, or how to support the Sister Thea Bowman Foundation, please visit https://theabowmanfoundation.org/.
Since its founding in 1989 at St. Michael’s College in Burlington, Vermont, the Sister Thea Bowman Foundation has supported African American students who face significant obstacles in their pursuit of higher education. For over 36 years, the Foundation has provided scholarships, mentorship, and a supportive community to African American students striving to achieve their academic and professional dreams.