May 20, 2021
The Shawnee State University Development Foundation’s annual President’s Gala has raised over $31,000 for the Friends of Shawnee Scholarship fund. Held virtually in place of the annual on-campus event, the Gala provided an opportunity to connect attending guests with student stories and updates on upcoming university programs and projects.
“We wanted to take an opportunity to open our doors in a virtual way,” Chris Moore, Executive Director of the SSU Development Foundation said. “Since our guests could not come to campus this year, we decided to bring the students to them.”
Attendees at this year’s Gala received a Gala Box made up of items made on campus by Shawnee State students and alumni – showcasing the work and creativity of different programs and departments. In addition to the Gala Box, attendees had the opportunity to buy in to the Split the Pot Raffle with half of the proceeds benefiting the scholarship fund. The Gala also featured President Jeff Bauer’s annual President’s Gala Address and short highlight video clips of work the students have completed in the classroom.
“We had over 125 donors to this year’s event whether they chose to become a sponsor, purchase a Gala Box, or to simply join the Split the Pot Raffle,” Moore said. “Every donor, no matter how they chose to give, helped to grow the Friends of Shawnee Scholarship fund.”
The Friends of Shawnee Scholarship fund was established in 2002 to provide additional tuition assistance to those students in need. Since its first year being awarded, the fund has awarded over $250,000 in scholarship aid to more than 250 students. In the 2020-2021 academic year, over $55,000 in support was awarded to more than 30 students.
“The funds raised during this year’s President’s Gala allows the SSU Development Foundation to continue to meet the increased need for scholarship support among Shawnee State students,” Moore said. “We cannot thank our donors and supporters enough for helping us continue to make college possible in our region.”
To learn more about the SSU Development Foundation and its impact on Shawnee State’s campus, visit givetossu.com or contact Chris Moore, Executive Director of the SSU Development Foundation at cmoore@shawnee.edu or by calling (740) 351-3082.