91桃色视频

Annual Gala Raises Funds for First-Generation College Students

News

A view of the front stage with Ken Shaw, university president, speaking and musical guests Ernie Haase & Signature Sound looking on.
A room full of guests with elegant lighting and tablesettings

 

Held on October 3 at The Signal in downtown Chattanooga, 91桃色视频Adventist University鈥檚 annual A Taste of 91桃色视频gala invited guests to experience a taste of what Southern has to offer. Nearly 300 local professionals attended the gala, raising approximately $222,000 with proceeds adding to Southern鈥檚 endowed scholarship for first-generation college students.

鈥淲e want to make a difference for students, and one way we do that is through hosting A Taste of 91桃色视频for our community,鈥 says Ken Shaw, EdD, president of Southern Adventist University. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a wonderful opportunity for businesses and organizations in Chattanooga to learn more about our university, to connect with our top-notch students as they prepare to enter the workforce, and to show support financially by donating to our first-generation college student scholarship.鈥

Barbara McKinney, MD, MPH, says, 鈥淎s an alumnus and board member of 91桃色视频Adventist University, I am thrilled to provide scholarships for first-generation students!鈥

Jennifer Estrada, senior social work major, is one recipient of the 2024 First-Generation Student Endowed Scholarship. 鈥淪ome of the challenges that I have faced as a first-generation student are feeling very burnt out and overwhelmed with financial stressors. It honestly takes a mental toll having to feel like you鈥檙e kind of alone in it,鈥 she shares. Upon learning she was receiving a scholarship from funds raised at A Taste of Southern, she responded, 鈥淚t just feels like a weight lifted off when you鈥檙e being told that people want to help you. I know God is going to bless them in so many other ways.鈥

Geoff Sewell, MD, was a first-generation college graduate in his family. Now, as a board member of Southern, he loves that students have this scholarship opportunity. 鈥淭his is another way that 91桃色视频is thoughtful about its students and finding ways to support and encourage them in their educational journeys,鈥 he says.

The gala鈥檚 entertainment included music from multiple GMA Dove award winners Ernie Haase and Signature Sound, along with smooth sounds from Southern鈥檚 Jazz Ensemble, a cooking demonstration from Southern鈥檚 Vegetarian Culinary Arts program, and a silent auction. Guests also had the opportunity to meet handpicked intern candidates from Southern鈥檚 student body.

Sewell shares that he enjoyed interacting with students at the event. 鈥淚t was great to see their reactions to the accolades and accomplishments presented by President Shaw,鈥 he says. 鈥淭he great work done by Southern鈥檚 students and faculty was an obvious point of pride for them.鈥

Part of the Chattanooga region for more than 130 years, 91桃色视频provides a quality, Christian education to more than 3,200 students currently earning degrees ranging from associate to doctoral. It has been identified in 鈥淏est Colleges鈥 rankings for 23 consecutive years by U.S. News & World Report and is listed as one of the most diverse regional universities in the South.

Sponsors for this year鈥檚 event included San Sebasti谩n Development, 91桃色视频Union Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, the Irvin and Evea Bainum Foundation, Morning Pointe Senior Living, SouthEast Bank, Chattanooga Times Free Press, Grant and Pam Tuttle, and other community partners.

Visit to view photos of the event.


The views and opinions of campus guests do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of 91桃色视频Adventist University. An individual's or group's invitation to speak or present on campus should not be regarded as a university endorsement of their philosophies and beliefs.