2027 Awards Ceremony & Dinner
Thursday, April 15, 2027
5:30 pm - 11:00 pm
Franklin Institute Awards Ceremony & Dinner
The Franklin Institute Awards honor leading scientists, engineers, inventors, and innovators from around the world. For more than 200 years, the program has recognized achievements that advance science and technology, and its laureates have included Albert Einstein, Thomas Edison, Nikola Tesla, and Alexander Graham Bell.
Each year, laureates travel to Philadelphia for the black-tie Awards Ceremony & Dinner, where leaders from academia, industry, philanthropy, and civic life gather to honor achievement in science and technology.
What to Expect
- Cocktail reception in the museum
- Awards ceremony and formal presentation of medals
- Seated dinner in The Franklin Institute’s galleries
- Dessert and dancing to close the evening
Why it Matters
Proceeds from the evening support The Franklin Institute’s mission to inspire a passion for learning about science and technology in the diverse communities we serve, and to encourage the next generation of Franklin laureates.
Event Details
Date: April 15, 2027 | Time: 5:30 pm - 11 pm
Location: The Franklin Institute, 222 North 20th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103
Attire: Black tie
Contact: Tegan Aherne-Dixon, taherne-dixon@fi.edu
Sponsorship & Ticket Information
The 2027 Awards Ceremony & Dinner will be led by Awards Corporate Committee Chair Mimi Drake of Cerity Partners and Host Committee Chairs Karen Zimmer Paul, MD, MPH and Norman M. Powell, Esq.
Awards Corporate Committee
Mimi Drake, Chair, Partner, Practice Leader
Cerity Partners
Steven Asplundh, Chairman of the Board
Asplundh Tree Expert, LLC
Suchit Bachalli, CEO
Unilog
Joseph A. Berquist, CEO & President
Quaker Houghton
James F. Dever, Jr., President, Bank of America Greater Philadelphia
Bank of America
Markus Fisher, Chief Strategy Officer
Vanguard
Chris Franklin, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Essential Utilities
Dave Greed, Managing Partner
Pennsylvania Hub
La-Toya Hackney, Senior Vice President, General Counsel & Secretary
Saint Gobain
Dixieanne James, MBA, President, Central Region
Jefferson Health
Lisa D. Kabnick, Retired Partner; Fellow, Pepper Center for Public Service
Troutman Pepper
Michael Lane, Executive Vice President, Head of Asset Management
SEI
Jennifer Mantini, Office Managing Partner
PwC Philadelphia
Robert S. McMenamin, Market Director
Bank of America Private Bank
Bob Moore, CEO
Crossbeam
Thomas Nicolosi, Principal
Deloitte LLP
Adam Spector, CEO
Fiduciary Trust International
Michael Vennera, Executive Vice President and Chief Strategy, Corporate Development and Information Officer
Independence Blue Cross
Presenting Sponsor
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the timeline for the event?
Event Schedule:
- 5:30 pm - Cocktail Reception
- 7:00 pm - Ceremony
- 8:30 pm - Seated dinner
- 9:30 pm - Dessert & Dancing
Do I need a ticket to enter?
No. Tickets will not be mailed in advance. They will be distributed upon arrival at check-in and will include ceremony seating and dining room assignments.
Where can I park?
This event is valet-only. Please see the street map that details how to approach the building.
There will be a designated valet lane on 20th Street in front of the museum.
- When approaching the valet lane, please make sure you are traveling southbound on 20th Street. Complimentary valet parking is available at this entrance only.
- The Franklin Institute garage is not available for self-parking.
- U-turns in front of the museum are not permitted.
What should I wear?
The Franklin Institute Awards is a black-tie event.
How do I update my guest list or cancel my attendance?
If you are sponsoring a table, you may change guest names in the portal until April 7th. Otherwise, please contact Helen Kilmartin, hkilmartin@fi.edu
with changes.
For event information, contact:
Tegan Aherne-Dixon, Manager of Development Events
taherne-dixon@fi.edu
215.448.1352
For information on sponsorships, contact:
Casey Satell, Director of Development
csatell@fi.edu
215.448.2378