Two Manhattanville University Alumni Named Wunderkinds by Westchester Magazine’s 914INC

Purchase, N.Y., May 2026 – Two Manhattanville University alumni, Dillon Faulkner ’19 and Edward (Teddy) Bugniazet ’16, have been named 2026 Wunderkinds by Westchester Magazine’s 914Inc. The annual Wunderkinds list honors the region’s most talented and innovative professionals under the age of 35.

Faulkner is the president of Backyard Sports, an organization dedicated to nurturing a love of sports, recreation, and community and bringing youth sports programming to children of all ability levels, pre-k through high school. He also leads its nonprofit arm, Backyard Sports Cares, which provides free and low-cost sports programming to underserved youth and children with special needs.

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Faulkner earned an MS in Sports Business Management from Manhattanville, where he graduated with a 4.0 GPA. Faulkner credits his education at Manhattanville with helping him translate his passion for athletics into a thriving career. “I had a lot of great professors, but I'd say the person that I really spoke with and stayed in touch with the most was probably Dave Torromeo, head of the Sport Business Management Program,” recalls Faulkner.

Faulkner, who lived in several towns in Westchester while growing up, now lives in Somers with his wife and young son. He remains deeply connected to Manhattanville, regularly bringing on students and alumni as interns, staff, and volunteers. He advises today’s students to get out of their comfort zones as much as possible. “Try different things, get uncomfortable,” he says. “Have some faith that you're going to get to where you need to be and trust the process.”

Bugniazet is a Commercial Risk Advisor with Marsh McLennan Agency, where he works with middle-market and small businesses to design strategic insurance programs tailored to their needs. Since joining the firm three years ago, he has built a strong professional network across Westchester County through organizations such as the Business Council of Westchester and the Westchester County Association, reflecting his commitment to relationship-building and community engagement.

A Westchester native who grew up in Rye and now lives in Port Chester, Bugniazet credits his success to persistence, consistency, and the power of meaningful connections. “Relationships are built on shared experiences,” he says. “You have to keep showing up, meeting people, and investing in those connections over time.”

Bugniazet, who majored in sports studies at Manhattanville after transferring from Loyola University Maryland, says his time at Manhattanville University helped shape his intellectual curiosity and professional approach. He particularly credits his work with Professor Lawson Bowling in shaping his education and having an impact on his career. In addition to his professional work, Bugniazet is involved in the community through his role on the junior board of the nonprofit Access Support and actively participates in regional networking and charitable events. He was nominated for the Wunderkinds honor by professional peers he met through these connections, underscoring the importance of community engagement in his career journey.

Chosen by the editors of 914Inc for their unique talents, groundbreaking ideas, and commitment to their communities, the Wunderkinds are featured in the May/June issue of 914Inc and were also honored at a special awards cocktail reception held on May 19.

About Manhattanville University
Manhattanville University (formerly Manhattanville College) is a private liberal arts institution dedicated to academic excellence, purposeful education, and social responsibility. “U.S. News and World Report” ranks Manhattanville among the Top Performers of Social Mobility in Regional Universities North. The university has been recognized among the best colleges in The Princeton Review for close to 20 years. Located 30 miles from New York City on a 100-acre suburban campus in the heart of Westchester County, Manhattanville enables easy access to entertainment offerings, educational resources, and business opportunities for its diverse student body. The university serves more than 1,400 undergraduate students and nearly 1,000 graduate students from more than 44 countries and 33 states. Founded in 1841, the university offers more than 75 undergraduate and graduate areas of study in the arts and sciences, education, nursing and health sciences, business, and creative writing, as well as continuing and executive education programs. Graduate students can choose from over 70 graduate and certificate programs. Extracurricular offerings include more than 45 clubs and activities, and 23 NCAA Division III teams. For more information, visit mville.edu