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Leadership Boot Camp Participants Ring Closing Bell at New York Stock Exchange

Alvernia, Customers Bancorp, Inc. celebrate international graduates after two-week immersive experience

by Jon Fassnacht

Reading, PA (06/29/2026) — The New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) welcomed executives and guests of Alvernia University and Customers Bancorp, Inc. on Friday, June 26, 2026, to celebrate the spirit of entrepreneurship and free enterprise as the founders of the Never Ever Ever Give Up Global Youth Leadership Boot Camp in collaboration with YPO. To honor the occasion, Jay Sidhu, Executive Chair of Customers Bancorp, Inc., joined by Tara Dziedzic, NYSE Head of U.S. Listings, Alvernia University President, Glynis A. Fitzgerald, Ph.D. and select camp graduates rang The Closing Bell.

The ceremony capped off the immersive two-week summer experience designed for the teenage children of Young Presidents' Organization (YPO) members.

"We believe education is about far more than earning a degree. It is about discovering who you are, developing your gifts, and using those gifts to make a difference in the lives of others," said Fitzgerald. "The partnership that led to this camp is just one of the examples of how we prepare students not simply to do well, but to do good-to become leaders who combine knowledge with compassion, ambition with purpose, and success with service."

Named after Sidhu's 2023 Wall Street Journal bestseller "Never Ever, Ever Give Up," the camp brought over three dozen students from 10 countries and seven U.S. states to Alvernia's Reading campus for a high-touch leadership experience shaped by entrepreneurs and executives, including daily engagement with Sidhu and YPO champions, many from the Pennsylvania Chapter.

Participants also visited Philadelphia, where students toured Independence Hall and the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania; and Washington, D.C., where they met discussed current policy topics with U.S. Congresswoman Chrissy Houlahan, U.S. Congressman Dan Meuser, Director of the Office of Technology Commercialization and the Chief Commercialization Officer of the U.S. Department of Energy Anthony Pugliese, and senior staff from the office of U.S. Senator John Fetterman. Prior to ringing the New York Stock Exchange closing bell, participants toured the United Nations and met with US Ambassador Jeff Bartos at the U.S. Mission to the UN.

"Geopolitics are very critical," Sidhu said. "That's why we took them to Washington to meet with policymakers; took them to Philadelphia, so they understand where this country got started; took them to the United Nations, so they could have a flavor for how countries are getting together on a common role; and then took them to the center of capitalism in the world, which is the New York Stock Exchange. We were very lucky to be invited to ring the bell. Something that was just a dream. But reality came about because we started executing on the dream. That is leadership."

Speakers included Alvernia's Header School of Business namesake Greg Header '97, founder of Solar Innovations; Luvleen Sidhu, BM Technologies CEO; Michael Pavone, founder of the Pavone Group; Brian Johnson, founder of MailShark; Shailu Tipparaju, YPO Board Member and Found of MagnaEducation; Sam Sidhu, Customers Bank CEO; Alvernia Trustee Barry Schlouch, Schlouch Inc. president; and Sandy Solmon, Sweet Street founder & CEO.

"The power of this camp was not simply exposing students to extraordinary places and successful people, it was helping them translate those experiences into stronger judgment, greater confidence and a deeper sense of purpose," Alvernia Associate Professor and Program Director Travis A. Berger, Ph.D. "They learned that leadership is not a title. It is the ability to communicate effectively, solve meaningful problems, create value, and positively influence others. Ringing the closing bell at the New York Stock Exchange was an unforgettable conclusion, but the real impact will be measured by what these young leaders do next."

Participants had one more surprise in store following their graduation in the NYSE boardroom: Fitzgerald announced each graduating participant received a guaranteed merit scholarship upon acceptance to Alvernia University for full-time undergraduate programs.

"During the two weeks the participants were at Alvernia, we had the opportunity to observe them. We saw their curiosity, their creativity, their courage and their willingness to engage with people and ideas from around the world. They would be a perfect fit at Alvernia," Fitzgerald said.

The boot camp was presented with support from members of the YPO Pennsylvania Chapter and other global chapters.

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Image courtesy of NYSE Group. NYSE does not recommend or endorse any investments, investment strategies, companies, products or services.

Image courtesy of NYSE Group. NYSE does not recommend or endorse any investments, investment strategies, companies, products or services.

Image courtesy of NYSE Group. NYSE does not recommend or endorse any investments, investment strategies, companies, products or services.

Video courtesy of NYSE Group. NYSE does not recommend or endorse any investments, investment strategies, companies, products or services.

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