Alabama State University News July 25, 2010 Gala Celebrates Transformation at ASU, Supports Trust By Deonshay Danson ASU supporters gathered at the Dunn-Oliver Acadome on Friday, July 23 for the President's Gala, a black-tie event held to benefit the Trust for Educational Excellence. Alumni, faculty, staff, trustee members and friends of Alabama State University were dressed beautifully in formal attire as they strutted their stuff on a custom ASU dance floor during the President's Gala on Friday, July 23. But the black-tie event, held at the Dunn-Oliver Acadome, was about much more than fancy gowns and dance moves. The Gala was held to celebrate the transformation happening on ASU's campus and to support ASU's Trust for Educational Excellence, which provides scholarships for deserving students, lecture series and more. Anyone passing by or visiting ASU can see the immense changes taking place on the campus, and this year's event was appropriately themed "A Celebration of Transformation." "If you look at the landscape and look at where we are, you can see where we have been. All the places we have been, and the things we have seen are milestones to where we are going," ASU President William Harris said. The Gala provided attendees an opportunity to recognize ASU's new construction and renovation projects, academic successes and make generous contributions to the Trust for Educational Excellence, all while mingling with friends at the festive gathering. Tickets for the event cost $125 per person; corporate tables cost $2500 per table. Danielle Kennedy-Lamar, vice president of ASU's Division of Marketing and Communications, served as the Mistress of Ceremonies for the Gala. She encouraged the attendees to "feel it not robbery" to dig deep and make a generous donation to the University. Kennedy-Lamar addressed the audience saying, "You are the heroes for our students." Her statement was reiterated as Chantelle Robinson, a sophomore of the newly accredited Theatre Arts Department, sang Bette Midler's "Wing Beneath My Wings." A video presentation highlighted the many benefits of the Trust for Educational Excellence, including scholarships for deserving students, an endowment for chairs, an endowment for an eminent scholars program and a lecture series. After a dinner provided by Gourmet Services, and a performance by the Coleman-Woodson Group, the checkbooks came out and donations were made. Alumnus Nathaniel Lewis and ASU retiree Dr. Wallace Maryland donated $10,000 to the Trust. Bea Forniss, vice president of the National Alumni Association (NAA), presented another $10,000 on behalf of the NAA. Virginia Harper presented a check for $200,000 on behalf of the Alabama State University Foundation, and another $24,611 on behalf of alumni from the decade of the 1960s. Alfred Baker of Gourmet Services added another check for $200,000 to the donations. This year's Gala was especially important, as it marked the 15th year of the Trust for Educational Excellence, which was started as a result of the landmark Knight v. the State of Alabama case. Before the Trust, ASU's endowment totaled a mere $2 million and today it totals $65 million. In addition, this year marks the final year of the $1 million of matching funds from the Alabama Special Educational Trust Fund. "Although the matching funds will be gone, we will continue to raise money for the Trust," Kennedy-Lamar said enthusiastically. Harper of the ASU Foundation also emphasized the importance of supporting the Trust. "I think it is important to give to the Trust, because Alabama State University is our University, and if we won't give how do we expect others to give," she said. "We believe that ASU is worth it." MAKE A GIFT It's not too late for supporters to donate to the Trust for Educational Excellence. Gifts can be made online 24/7. Make your gift today<https://www.applyweb.com/public/contribute?s=asudon>. SANDRA M. PHOENIX Program Director HBCU Library Alliance sphoenix@hbculibraries.org<mailto:sphoenix@hbculibraries.org> www.hbculibraries.org<http://www.hbculibraries.org/> 404.592.4820 1438 West Peachtree Street NW Suite 200 Atlanta, GA 30309 Toll Free: 1.800.999.8558 (Lyrasis) Fax: 404.892.7879 www.lyrasis.org<http://www.lyrasis.org/> Honor the ancestors, honor the children. Register now http://www.hbculibraries.org/html/meeting-form.html for the October 24-26, 2010 HBCU Library Alliance 4th Membership Meeting and the "Conference on Advocacy" pre-conference in Montgomery, AL. The Pre-Conference and Membership meeting are open to directors and other librarians.