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As the days get shorter and final exams ramp up, itÂ鶹´«Ã½™s time to reflect on the year thatÂ鶹´«Ã½™s wrapping up.

ItÂ鶹´«Ã½™s no exaggeration to say that 2023 has been a momentous one at Â鶹´«Ã½. This year, we opened our brand-new 26-story campus center at 15 Beekman in New York CityÂ鶹´«Ã½”and we started work on the renovation of the east side of One Pace Plaza that will bring us a state-of-the-art Performing Arts Center, an updated residence hall, and new classrooms and gathering spaces for the full Pace Community. In Pleasantville, our womenÂ鶹´«Ã½™s lacrosse team became the first national championship squad not only in Pace history but in all of Westchester County history. The Elisabeth Haub School of Law was named the top environmental law program in the nation for the third consecutive year and the fourth time in five years. And in the biggest news of the year, in the spring Board Chair Rob Sands, JD Â鶹´«Ã½™84, and his wife, Pamela, made the transformation contribution that we recognized by creating the seventh independent school within Â鶹´«Ã½, the new Sands College of Performing Arts.

As this issue of Pace Now demonstrates, there are exciting things happening all across our campuses. You can read about our Esports program, which launched only two years ago as PaceÂ鶹´«Ã½™s 15th varsity sport but is already well on its way to becoming a powerhouse. YouÂ鶹´«Ã½™ll meet students who are up to remarkable things, from video game maker Michael Falco to environmental scientist and conservation expert Madelyn Garcia to international student Hitasha Nagdeo, whoÂ鶹´«Ã½™s earning a masterÂ鶹´«Ã½™s in social media and mobile marketing while holding down two different student assistant roles to Lucie Belle Flagg, who is raising awareness for people with hidden disabilities.

WeÂ鶹´«Ã½™re also learned this year just how generous the people of Pace can be. The fiscal year that wrapped up in July set a record for contributions to Pace, with $43 million raised. ThatÂ鶹´«Ã½™s all money to support crucial efforts to support our important mission of OpportunitasÂ鶹´«Ã½”from donations for scholarships to capital investment to pay for construction and repairs to funding for critical student support initiatives. Just last week, the Pace Community surpassed our goal for Giving Tuesday, making 2,430 gifts totaling more than $800,000.

IÂ鶹´«Ã½™m grateful for that generosity, IÂ鶹´«Ã½™m grateful for our community, and IÂ鶹´«Ã½™m grateful for all that weÂ鶹´«Ã½™ve accomplished together this year. Have a wonderful and relaxing break and happy holiday season. IÂ鶹´«Ã½™m looking forward to the great things weÂ鶹´«Ã½™ll do together in 2024.