Five alumni who have excelled in their careers each will be presented a 2011 John Jay Award for distinguished professional achievement on Wednesday, March 2, at the annual John Jay Awards Dinner.

This year’s honorees are Andrew Barth ’83, president, Capital Guardian Trust; Alexander Navab ’87, partner and co-head of North American Private Equity, Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co.; Kenneth Ofori-Atta ’84, executive chairman and co-founder, Databank Financial Services; Michael Oren ’77, Israeli ambassador to the United States; and Elizabeth D. Rubin ’87, a journalist.

Cipriani 42nd Street will host the John Jay Awards Dinner again this year. PHOTO: EILEEN BARROSOThey will be feted at a black-tie dinner at Cipriani 42nd Street on New York City’s East Side. The dinner proceeds benefit the John Jay Scholars Program, which aims to extend and enhance academic and extracurricular experiences for outstanding first-year College students. John Jay Scholars are offered the opportunity to participate in special programs such as panels, discussions and outings.

Speakers at the dinner will include President Lee C. Bollinger, Dean Michele Moody-Adams and an accomplished student participating in the John Jay Scholars Program, as well as the honorees.

The event is named for founding father and first secretary of the treasury John Jay (Class of 1764), and the awards showcase the accomplishments of the alumni population and the variety of careers that they pursue. Last year’s honorees, for example, were attorney Brian C. Krisberg ’81, financiers Frank Lopez-Balboa ’82 and Tracy V. Maitland ’82, the Meyer Schapiro Professor of Art History David Rosand ’59 and stage and film actress Julia Stiles ’05.

For more information on the dinner, contact Meghan Eschmann, associate director of alumni affairs: me2363@columbia.edu or 212-851-7399.

Lisa Palladino