PISCATAWAY (May 12, 2023) — Mark RC’71 and Charon Hershhorn were honored as the recipients of the 2023 Scarlet Legacy Award at the eighth annual Scarlet Knight on the Banks event on Tuesday, which took place both inside and adjacent to the Gary and Barbara Rodkin Academic Success Center. The Legacy Award is presented to supporters who have made a lifetime impact on Rutgers student-athletes through generosity, involvement, and commitment.
The annual Scarlet Knight on the Banks event is a signature event hosted by R Fund that honors Scarlet Society members and All-America level donors for their contributions and continued support for the student-athlete experience.
The Scarlet Knight on the Banks began with memorable welcome remarks from Rutgers University President Jonathan Holloway, followed by the Scarlet Knights’ Director of Athletics, Pat Hobbs.
The rest of the night was emceed by a pair of Scarlet Knights student-athletes in rising junior Victor Konopka of Rutgers Football and rising senior Gianna Ortiz of the gymnastics program, with over 300 Rutgers Athletics supporters, administrators, coaches, and student-athletes in attendance. Rising graduate student women’s golfer Leigha Devine delivered a passionate keynote speech about the student-athlete experience at Rutgers, which set the tone for an exciting night of celebration for guests of honor, Mark and Charon Hershhorn.
The Hershhorns have supported Rutgers Athletics in countless ways, including scholarships and committing significant funds to the eventual construction of the state-of-the-art RWJBarnabas Health Athletic Performance Center. They are long-time football season ticket holders and Gold Level members of the Provident Bank Stadium Club.
The Hershhorns are woven into the Rutgers fabric, offering their generous support to initiatives in athletics and across the university. The Hershhorn connection to Rutgers University runs deep with Mark earning his degree in 1971. He is also a football letterwinner, attending Rutgers on a full scholarship.
Additionally, programming included a Head Coaches Panel, moderated by Shawn Tucker, Rutgers’ Vice Presisdent for Athletics Development/Deputy Athletic Director and featured Women’s Basketball’s Coquese Washington, Hilary Ritchie of Women’s Tennis and Men’s Soccer’s Jim McElderry.
Additionally, Rutgers Men’s Track & Field Letterwinner Kyle Holder ’16 gave insight into his experience as a student-athlete, the impact of scholarship support while at Rutgers and how Rutgers prepared him for success both personally and professionally following his collegiate athletic career.
Gallery: (5-12-2023) 2023 Scarlet Knight on the Banks
