SU trustee provides 12 high-achieving Syracuse City School District students opportunity to attend ‘The Express’ premiere and festivities

SU trustee provides 12 high-achieving Syracuse City School District students opportunity to attend ‘The Express’ premiere and festivitiesSeptember 10, 2008Jaime Winne Alvarezjlwinne@syr.edu

Syracuse University Trustee Gerald B. Cramer ’52 is providing a special opportunity for 12 high-achieving students from the Syracuse City School District (SCSD) to attend the Sept. 12 Syracuse premiere of “The Express.” The students will attend the premiere and all related festivities as Cramer’s special guests.

Cramer purchased $1,000 tickets to the premiere and post-premiere gala, which he then made available to the SCSD. District administration selected the 12 students who will accompany him. Students selected to attend the premiere are leaders both in and out of the classroom, with good academic standing and an interest in athletics.

“The story of Ernie Davis’ life is one that transcends across generations. His journey is motivational, inspirational and educational. It allows our students to see the value of hard work, perseverance and determination,” says Brian Nolan, director of high schools and career education for the SCSD.

The students will arrive at the Landmark Theatre in a limousine, walk the orange carpet, meet the film’s cast, receive a special gift bag and later attend the post-premiere gala at the Onondaga County War Memorial.

“I think this is a wonderful way to inspire young people in the local community to not only learn about Ernie Davis and his life by watching the film, but also to see him as a role model and hero in their own lives,” says Cramer. “I think this will be truly exciting, not only for the students but for me as well. It will be thrilling to meet the students and to experience these wonderful events together.”

Cramer notes that SU has a history and responsibility to extend a hand to the local community and sees this event as a natural extension of that partnership. “A few years ago, I brought a ballet company to the SU campus. As part of their visit, the dancers worked with local students from the community. That exchange not only inspired the students, but it inspired the dancers and it inspired me to look into future opportunities.”

Cramer is a co-founder and chairman emeritus of Cramer Rosenthal McGlynn LLC, an investment advisory firm with close to 50 years of investment experience. His civic and professional commitments include membership on the boards of the National Road Safety Foundation and Ripplewood Corporation, a major private equity firm. At SU, Cramer serves on the Executive Committee of the SU Board of Trustees, as co-chair of the Investment and Endowment Committee, and is a member of the Metropolitan New York Advisory Council, the Society of Fellows, the Chancellor’s Council and the Maxwell Advisory Board. Cramer is a recipient of the George Arents Pioneer Medal, the University’s highest alumni honor. He was the first recipient of the Maxwell School Horizon Award, donated several works of art by major American artists to the University Art Collection and was a vice chair of the National Campaign for Syracuse Committee.

For more information on the “The Express,” the premiere and Ernie Davis, visit http://erniedavis.syr.edu.