"Opening Doors" is the fitting theme of the 2010 UB Scholarship Gala, which enables students, regardless of financial need, to attend the University at Buffalo.
This year will be the fifth annual Scholarship Gala, an event which raises funds for undergraduate and graduate student scholarships. It helps open doors for those who hope to attend UB or students who are already enrolled but need financial assistance.
"President John B. Simpson initiated the Scholarship Gala in 2006 as one of the university's premier events to raise funds for student scholarships," said Ann R. Brown, senior director of development communications.
UB raised around $650,000 for scholarships through the past four galas. Simpson attends the gala with hundreds of university and community supporters.
"Our students are, very literally, our future – the future of UB, and of the larger communities we serve, here in Western New York and across the globe," Simpson said.
Scholarships, including those made possible through funds raised at the gala, help guarantee that top students continue to choose to attend UB. The UB 2020 strategic plan has been designed to transform the institution into a model 21st century public university. To achieve this, the university seeks to attract the best and brightest students.
More than half of UB undergraduate students receive financial need-based scholarships or grants, and almost two-thirds of students who graduate with a bachelor's degree have loans averaging $29,000.
The Scholarship Gala is just one of many efforts to help ensure that every promising student has the opportunity to pursue a first-rate education; unrestrained access to higher education is an essential element of UB's mission as a public research university.
The event will include dinner and a night of dancing, as well as auctions, raffles and student entertainment. Last year, members of the Zodiaque Dance Company paired with the gala attendees to perform dance routines in a mock version of ABC-TV's Dancing with the Stars.
"I made my grand debut and grand finale as a dancer at last year's Gala," said Dennis Black, vice president for student affairs. "It's safe to say I will happily stay in the field of higher education."
In addition to the Zodiaque Dance Company, many students assist with the gala every year as volunteers and performers. These volunteers include the Thunder of the East Marching Band, student athletes and cheerleaders, the Buffalo Chips, members of the theatre department's production of Caberet and students from the Schools of Engineering, Dental Medicine, Management and the Honors College.
"There are different fun activities each year that get university and community together to support student scholarships," Black said. "The money raised allows quality students in the Buffalo area to attend their hometown university."
This year, marketing students in the MFC 274 Applied Marketing course are participating in an apprentice-style fundraising competition. Seven teams of students were assigned to develop creative marketing plans to raise money for student scholarships. Students have decided to use homemade cookies as their product to raise funds.
Their ultimate goal is to use their marketing skills to convince the audience that a donation to student scholarships is a worthy investment. Students will be fundraising before and during the Scholarship Gala.
"I am excited to have been given the opportunity to give back to the UB community. This project has helped to further develop marketing skills while helping your peers," said JoAnna Datz a senior business and communication major and MFC 274 student. "Our group is collecting donations from alumni, friends, family and community members who care about the success of UB students. Our marketing slogan is ‘Help S'more Students Get an Affordable Education.'"
The 2010 Scholarship Gala will be held on Saturday from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. in the Edward L. Wright Practice Facility in Alumni Arena on North Campus. Attendees are encouraged to wear UB "creative blue tie" attire.
Andrew and Helen Cappuccino, longtime supporters and alumni of UB, are the 2010 co-chairs. Sponsors of this year's gala are BlueCross BlueShield of Western New York and Turner Construction.
Tickets are $200, with sponsorship opportunities and tables starting at $2,500.
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
