Title:John Carroll Weekend 2025 in Philly focuses on connections, values

The Georgetown University Alumni Association (GUAA) returned to Philadelphia for this year’s John Carroll Weekend to celebrate the university, its alumni community, and the GUAA’s highest honors: the John Carroll and Patrick Healy Awards. 

Over 1,200 Hoyas joined in the festivities from April 3–6, enjoying cultural tours, intellectual programming, and cherished social events, including the President’s Welcome Reception and John Carroll Award Banquet. 

“Philadelphia and Georgetown have a lot in common,” said GUAA’s Executive Director Julia Farr (C’88, Parent’19,’21,’24). “Philadelphia was the birthplace of the nation in 1776 and, just 13 years later, Georgetown became the birthplace of Jesuit education in America.”

She added that Philadelphia’s famous founding father, Ben Franklin, who founded the University of Pennsylvania, was friends with Georgetown’s founder, Archbishop John Carroll.  

Celebrating friendships, awardees

On Thursday evening, attendees gathered at the Philadelphia Museum of Art for the President’s Welcome Reception. Bob Groves, Georgetown’s interim president, reminded attendees how the values in the U.S. Constitution align with Georgetown’s mission and values.

“In the Constitution, we find our nation’s guiding ideals: to ‘establish Justice,’ to ‘promote the general Welfare,’ and to ‘secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity.’

“When we look at our Georgetown University community, we see those same values come to life, enshrined in a mission statement that calls us to pursue knowledge through our engagement with people of different ‘faiths, cultures, and beliefs,’ to seek ‘justice and the common good,’ to be ‘active participants in civic life, and to live generously in service to others.’” 

On Saturday evening, the John Carroll and Patrick Healy awardees were celebrated at the National Constitution Center, where attendees enjoyed each other’s company in the grand atrium and even mingled with living statues of several notables from American and Philadelphian history, including Ben Franklin, Betsy Ross, and Harriet Tubman—as well as John Carroll, Georgetown’s founder. But the focus of the evening was the group of outstanding Hoyas receiving awards. 

The John Carroll Award recognizes alumni whose achievements and record of service exemplify the ideals and traditions of Georgetown University and its founder. This year’s winners included: Eileen Brennan Ferrell (N’75, G’83), Lynn C. Fritz (C’64, Parent’98,’11,’29), Richard M. Hluchan (SFS’71, Parent’08,’09,’17), Laurie Hodges Lapeyre (B’83, Parent’15,’17), Paul R. O’Neill (C’86, MPP’96), and Eric Woods (B’91). 

The Patrick Healy Award, named after Patrick F. Healy, S.J., the trailblazing leader who is considered Georgetown’s “second founder,” was presented to Christopher Steck, S.J. The award honors non-alumni whose achievements and records of service to Georgetown, community and professional achievements, exemplify the ideals and traditions of Georgetown. 

Luncheon conversation with Dr. Fauci

On Friday afternoon, Hoyas gathered to hear Anthony S. Fauci, M.D. (HON’90), Distinguished University Professor at the School of Medicine and the McCourt School of Public Policy discuss his memoir and transition into academia with Norman J. Beauchamp Jr., M.D., MHS, executive vice president for health sciences at Georgetown University Medical Center and executive dean of the School of Medicine.

“My advice to younger people: please don’t get discouraged. We need you,” said Fauci. “We have to get people to push back on mis- and disinformation. We have to train people in critical thinking and focus on truth and honesty.”

Fauci also talked about the ways in which the Jesuit ethos inspired his desire to serve the underserved. He shared what it was like navigating multiple health crises over decades, from HIV/AIDS in the 1980s to COVID-19 in the 2020s, and the role that his core Jesuit values and principles played amidst uncertainty. 

Former Georgetown soccer player wins Alumni Pitch Competition

Each year at John Carroll Weekend, the Georgetown University Alumni Association, Georgetown Entrepreneurship Alliance, and Georgetown Angel Investor Network host a “Shark Tank-style” pitch competition between three ventures that were created, managed, and led by alumni. 

The winner of this year’s $100,000 investment prize was Marina Paul (B’16, G’17), the founder and CEO of SPRHRA, with a mission to revolutionize women’s sportswear. 

“We can continue to ignore the inequities in women’s sportswear, or we can do what Hoyas do best: use our collective superpowers to solve problems and lift others up,” said Paul, who gave her pitch dressed in her Georgetown soccer uniform. “That’s the definition of a SPRHRA (Superhera) … and Hoyas are SPRHRAs (Superheras).”

The two other finalists pitching at Hoya-owned CYTO|PHL in Philly’s City Center were James Azar (MBA’23) of Reservoir, Inc. and Sam Bernstein (C’18) of Loper. 

The 2025 judging panel included Devon George (B’01), President, DMV Capital; Kate Jacoby (C’01), Chef & Co-owner, Vedge Restaurant Group; Athena Karp (SFS’08), CEO and Founder, HiredScore;  John New (SFS’97), CEO and Founder, CYTO | PHL, Work Merk, and 98 Octane; and Tammee Thompson (C’91), Founder, Chandelier Holdings LLC.

Program highlight: Thinking Forward

What can we learn about the environment from the Potomac River dolphin population? How does racial identity and community impact cancer prevalence, treatments, and outcomes? What can be done to mitigate the housing crisis in the United States? What can the study of the surface of Mars and its microbial life tell us about the possibility of past life on the planet?

On the Friday of John Carroll Weekend, seven of the university’s most forward-thinking professors came together in Philly for a special TED-style event. 

Attendees learned about:

• Productivity from Cal Newport, Ph.D., Georgetown College of Arts & Sciences
• Flannery O’Connor from Fr. Mark Bosco, S.J., Ph.D., Mission and Ministry and Georgetown College of Arts & Sciences
• Cancer prevention in DC from Dr. Chiranjeev Dash, MBBS, MPH, Ph.D., Georgetown University School of Medicine
• The surface of Mars from Sarah Stewart Johnson, Ph.D., Georgetown College of Arts & Sciences and Walsh School of Foreign Service
• Sports media’s evolution from Jimmy Lynn, MBA, McDonough School of Business and School of Continuing Studies
• Dolphin behavior from Janet Mann, Ph.D., Georgetown College of Arts & Sciences
• America’s housing crisis from Brian McCabe, Ph.D. (SFS’02), Georgetown College of Arts & Sciences and McCourt School of Public Policy

Program highlight: GEMA Rocks

On Friday evening, Hoya musicians and music fans took over Philly’s Theatre of the Living Arts to celebrate alumni and student singers, songwriters, and instrumentalists at the 9th edition of GEMA ROCKS. 

Hosted by the Georgetown Entertainment and Media Alliance, this special event featured a dynamic lineup of performers, representing five decades of Georgetown’s music legacy and a fun mix of genres. 

“Music is the cure… the glue. This unforgettable night brought together Hoya songwriters, singers, and musicians across generations—from the ’60s to the 2020s, including a current student—united in harmony, spirit, and creative community,” shares Teddy Zambetti (C’80). “At a university not typically known for the arts, the tribute to our godfather of Georgetown songwriting, Bill Danoff, stood as a rocking testament to the deep, enduring thread that connects us.”

Performers included Ahmed Latif (C’19), Chris Ferrone (SFS’80), Ian Davis (SFS’86), Jim McCormick (C’90), John Alagia (C’86), John Lyons (SFS’86), Jon-Matt Hopkins (C’13), John Zambetti Sr. (C’70), Lana Nauphal (C’19), Lance Langston (SFS’82), Lyell Evans Roeder (C’13), Michael Zakarin (C’05, MBA’13), Rich Battista (B’86), Sean Hampton (C’20), Tate Tucker (C’15), Tommy Massad (C’17), Walter Egan (C’70), Patty Rizzo (C’86), Ed “Scooter” Laborde (C’86), Eric Rigaud (C’90), Kirsten Thien (B’93), Bill Harvey (C’87), plus Teddy Zambetti and his daughter, Lucia Zambetti (C’26) – a current Georgetown student.

Tours in and around Philly

Each John Carroll Weekend includes special tours and activities around the host city, with a schedule curated by a committee of local alumni. Philadelphia and the surrounding areas offered plenty of opportunities for exploration, learning, conversation, and local delicacies like pretzels and cheesesteaks. 

Georgetown professors led tours dedicated to an array of interests, from American History to modern art, birdwatching to urban renewal.  

Attendees visited places as varied as Independence Mall, Citizens Bank Park, Reading Terminal Market, Longwood Gardens, and the Eastern State Penitentiary Historic Site.

A group of attendees even explored Philly’s parks by bike, thanks to a tour sponsored by BellRinger, a community movement and bike ride supporting cancer research at the Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center. 

Next year’s JCW destination: Puerto Rico

John Carroll Weekend 2026 will be held in Puerto Rico from April 16-19. We hope you’ll join us to experience this beautiful island in a whole new light! 

Planning is already underway for curated tours to local landmarks and natural wonders. There will, of course, be the thoughtful programs, memorable events, and unique venues that attendees have come to expect from John Carroll Weekend. Stay tuned for more information on the 2026 JCW awardees and the full itinerary of activities. 

Read more about Fr. Steck, the 2025 Patrick Healy Award winner>

Read more about Professor Mann from Friday’s Thinking Forward panel >