New Jersey City University (NJCU) will honor three distinguished individuals and one visionary organization Sept. 26 at 6 p.m. when it presents the 2025 Leaders & Legends Gala – Havana Knights at Il Villaggio, 651 Route 17 North in Carlstadt.
The Leaders & Legends Gala is the institution’s annual celebration of those who’ve made an impact in Jersey City and the greater Hudson County area. This year’s theme is Cuban-inspired Havana Knights.
Presented by the NJCU Foundation, the university will honor recipients in four categories: Gil Medina of CBRE will receive the Distinction in Business Award; Adam San Miguel ’18 will be recognized with the Distinguished Graduate Award; Sara Peña of PSEG will receive the Women Leadership Award; and PNC Bank will be honored with the Community Impact in Education Award.
All proceeds from the gala will benefit the NJCU Foundation, advancing its mission to support the university and its students, including student scholarships. Â
Peter Hernandez, the chair of the NJCU Foundation Board of Directors, said: “The NJCU Foundation is thrilled to host the 2025 Leaders & Legends Gala – Havana Nights, a vibrant celebration of individuals and organizations truly shaping our community. We are honored to recognize PNC Bank, Gil Medina, Sara Peña, and Adam San Miguel, whose incredible contributions in education, business, and leadership perfectly embody the Foundation’s commitment to empowering potential and fostering impact.”
Gil Medina – Distinction in Business Award
The executive vice president at CBRE, Inc., Gualberto (Gil) Medina is a senior real estate professional at the Fortune 500 company, providing integrated real estate solutions for corporate, governmental, non-profit, and academic organizations. As an attorney, certified public accountant, and licensed real estate professional, Medina has served diverse roles including secretary of commerce for the State of New Jersey, city councilman in Camden, and executive at the world’s two largest real estate services companies.
For his contributions to international trade and investment, the President of Brazil conferred upon Medina the Rank of Commander in the National Order of Cruzeiro do Sul, an honor bestowed on foreign nationals in recognition of valuable services rendered to the Republic and its citizens.
Adam San Miguel ’18 – Distinguished Graduate Award
Adam San Miguel owns and operates Cortaditos, five Cuban-style coffee shops in New Jersey employing about 60 people. As founder and chairman of the Cuban American Alliance for Leadership & Education, recognized as Nonprofit of the Year by the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of NJ in 2020, San Miguel leads scholarship giving and leadership development programming for students nationwide.
A maritime enforcement specialist in the U.S. Coast Guard Reserve, Adam earned a bachelor of arts in finance from Monmouth University, a bachelor of science in Spanish from NJCU, and a master’s in business administration from Fordham University. Â
Sara Peña – Women Leadership AwardÂ
A distinguished community leader and advocate, Peña serves as director of external affairs at Public Service Enterprise Group (PSEG), where she leads strategic outreach initiatives and directs a team of public affairs managers. The daughter of Ecuadorian and Dominican parents and a lifelong Newark resident, she previously served as director of the New Jersey Department of State’s Center for Hispanic Policy, Research and Development under Gov. Phil Murphy’s administration, expanding the center’s statewide influence and earning recognition on NJ Insider’s “100 Policymakers Power List.”
In 2013, Peña founded the Boys to Leaders Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to empowering young men through mentorship, education, and leadership development. Her commitment to Latino empowerment and community service has earned her widespread recognition, including being named one of ROI-NJ’s most influential People of Color in both 2023 and 2024.Â
PNC Bank – Community Impact in Education Award
PNC Bank receives recognition for their outstanding commitment to educational initiatives and community development, demonstrating sustained impact in supporting educational opportunities and fostering community growth throughout the region. PNC Bank, National Association, is a member of The PNC Financial Services Group Inc.
PNC is one of the largest diversified financial services institutions in the United States, organized around its customers and communities for strong relationships and local delivery of retail and business banking including a full range of lending products; specialized services for corporations and government entities, including corporate banking, real estate finance and asset-based lending; wealth management and asset management.
