Annual King’s College Award Ceremony and Mentorship Forum Raises More than $310,000 for Financially At-Risk Students

Alumna Recognized for Distinguished Thirty-Year Legal Career and Legacy in Professional Sports Entertainment

King’s College bestowed the Rev. James Lackenmier, C.S.C., Award for Achievement and Leadership to Maureen Hanlon ’87 during a ceremony at the New York Athletic Club on Oct. 26, 2023, that raised more than $310,000 for students in need of emergency financial assistance.

The Lackenmier Award recognizes King’s College community members for their professional excellence, philanthropy, and ethical standards. Preceding the ceremony is the William G. McGowan School of Business Forum, which matches dozens of students with leaders in the business field—many of whom are alumni—for one-on-one mentoring sessions.

Proceeds from the award ceremony go to the Presidential Hope Fund, which the College created in 2014 to help financially at-risk students cover tuition, books, and living expenses. To date, the fund has provided more than $1.95 million to 1,900 students.

Originally from Wyoming, Pa., Hanlon is the Founder and President of Flatiron Consulting Group LLC. and the former President and CEO of Onexim Sports and Entertainment Holding USA Inc.

As the head of Onexim, Hanlon led the sale of the Brooklyn Nets for a reported $2.35 billion—the then highest price paid for a U.S. sports franchise—as well as the related sale of Barclays Center, with a reported aggregate value of approximately $3.5 billion. She oversaw NBA rule compliance and the renovation and operation of the Barclays Center, Nassau Coliseum, and Webster Hall. She also served as an alternate governor on the NBA’s Board of Governors during that time.

Hanlon has more than 25 years of experience in New York law firms, most recently as a senior corporate partner for Hogan Lovells. She advised numerous divisions of 20th Century Fox, including their sports, cable, film, and publishing divisions.

Throughout her career, Hanlon—who holds a diversity, equity, and inclusion certificate from Cornell University—often ran the firm’s summer associate programs for law school students and was integral to mentorship and retention of new employees, particularly women and people of color.

Hanlon is also a member of Chief, a senior executives’ association for women. She was named as one of City and State’s Most Powerful People in Brooklyn in 2018 and 2019 and was named as one of Sports Business Journal’s Power Players Outside Counsel in 2016. She is currently a member of the boards of directors of King’s College and Sensorium Galaxy.

Hanlon obtained her J.D. from Columbia Law School and her B.S. in Accounting from King’s College.

The Rev. James Lackenmier, C.S.C., Award for Achievement and Leadership was named in honor of the College’s seventh president. Past recipients of the award include Rose Marie Panzitta, Timothy Morris ’64; Richard J. Pinola ’67; Allan M. Kluger, Esq.; Glenn Tyranski ’84; Thomas R. Smith ’77; and David Selingo ’89.