Bishop Wright Luncheon celebrates 39th year

Christ for the World Chapel held the 39th Bishop Wright Aviation Industry Awards Luncheon honoring Stacey Lora, V.P., Security, JFKIAT, Woman of the Year; William McGuire, President & CEO Global Elite Group, Man of the Year, and Rev. Patrick O’Connor, Lead Pastor, First Presbyterian Church in Jamaica, Clergy of the Year.

Bill Huisman, Executive Director Aviation Development Council;, Dolores Hoffman, Queens Air Services Development Office; Ralph Tragale, Assistant Director Aviation, Port Authority, Rose Ann Hogan, Aviation Development Council; Helene Gibbs, Stewart Air Services Development Office.

Photo By Jeff Yapalater

Bill Huisman, Chair of the Christ for the World Chapel, moderated the event welcoming the 350 attendees to one of the most important JFK Airport Spring events which annually honors the men and women working in the aviation community and contributing to the fabric of diverse aviation life. The luncheon draws guests from the aviation world including airlines, cargo and freight companies, local governance and friends. The luncheon also serves as the venue for awarding a deserving student of the Susan M.Baer Scholarship which was awarded this year to Roy Quintuna, senior at Aviation High School.

The 39th Bishop Wright Aviation Industry Awards Luncheon was a great success. 400 aviation friends gathered to honor three achievers in their field holding their awards below. Morris Gurley, President NYC Council of Churches; Rev. Patrick O’Connor, Clergy of the Year Award, Lead Pastor, First Presbyterian Church in Jamaica; Stacey Lora, Woman of the Year Award, Vice President Security JFKIAT; Will McGuire, Man of the Year Award, President & CEO Global Elite Group; Reverend Romeo K. Dabee, Airport Community Minister, Christ for World Chapel; Bill Huisman, Executive Director, Aviation Development Council.

Photo by Jeff Yapalater

Members of the Travelers Aid, JFK Rotary, and the Chapels’s staff and friends worked throughout the year preparing, assembling the beautiful raffle baskets and bringing this event to fruition. Many community members of the JFK Chamber of Commerce donated gifts for the attendees and The Aviation High School Honor Guard traditionally opened the luncheon with an impressive display of military precision and band performance.

Gert-Jan de Graaff, President JFKIAT; Susana Cunha, VP Operations JFKIAT; John Selden, Deputy General Manager JFK Airport; Phil Jensen, VP Worldwide Flight Services.

Photo by Jeff Yapalater

All the awardees expressed sincere gratitude, humility and appreciation for their peers in having been chosen for their recognition with extra love expressed for the support and love of their families.

Reverend Patrick H. O’Connor, center, Lead Pastor at the First Presbyterian Church in Jamaica with just a few of the congregants who attended his award as Clergy of the Year at the Bishop Wright Luncheon.

Photo by Jeff Yapalater

One of the other traditional aspects of the luncheon is the terrific line of raffle prizes which included pairs of donated tickets from Cathay, Jet Blue, KLM, Aer Lingus, TAP, Caribbean, and Emirates airlines. It is a great way to end the event and to bring joy to the winners and supporters of the Chapel’s community spirit.

Carl Stuart and Bertha Allen of Caribbean Airlines who donated a pair of airline tickets to the Bishop Wright Luncheon raffle.

Photo by Jeff Yapalater

Kathleen Pettit, HHM Hospitality, with Don Wright, ANA Airlines, both previous Bishop Wright honorees.

Photo by Jeff Yapalater

The women of Air France: Hedvig Zsingor, Station Manager, with Valerie Klipp, Special Services Manager.

Photo by Jeff Yapalater

Reverend Dabee of Christ for the World Chapel awards the Susan M. Baer Memorial Scholarship to Roy Quintana, a senior at Aviation High School and entering Queens College in the fall. To their left is her husband Joseph, and Bill Huisman, Chairman of the Chapel Board of Directors.

Photo by Jeff Yapalater