University Honors Rev. Bernard R. McIlhenny, S.J., with Carlesimo Award

On June 15, the University honored Rev. Bernard R. McIlhenny, S.J. H’98, dean of admissions emeritus at The University of Scranton, with the 2026 Peter A. Carlesimo Award at the Carlesimo Golf Tournament and Award Dinner.

Nearly 300 alumni, parents and friends of the University raised more than $125,000 for Scranton Athletics at the event, which was held at Canoe Brook Country Club in Summit, New Jersey.

“This is one of my favorite days of the year,” said Executive Director of Athletics Dave Martin, who acted as master of ceremonies at the event. “Thanks to the incredible support of everyone in this room, we’re thrilled that we were able to again exceed our expectations.”

Father McIlhenny, known to many as “Father Mac,” arrived in Scranton in 1958 to serve as headmaster of Scranton Preparatory School, which was owned by the University at the time. He was appointed dean of admissions at the University in 1966 and admitted more than two-thirds of Scranton’s living alumni over the next 31 years. His work expanded the University’s regional reach and paved the way for Scranton to attract students from around the nation, which helped the University become one of the top NCAA Division III schools in the country. He retired from admissions in 1997; the University dedicated the Rev. Bernard R. McIlhenny, S.J. Ballroom in The DeNaples Center in his honor, and it honored him with the President’s Medal in 2016.

While accepting the award, Father Mac reflected on his decades of friendship with the Carlesimo Family and cited the Jesuit order’s emphasis on serving others before expressing his gratitude.

“I’m honored, really, to receive this Carlesimo Award,” he said. “I’m very proud of it.”

The University also honored basketball and broadcasting legend P.J. Carlesimo, the son of the event's namesake, the late Peter A. Carlesimo, who served the University for nearly 25 years as a coach and athletic director, with an honorary degree at the event.

“The University has been a great, great place, and my parents would be so proud,” he said.