“Tonight's the Night,” is the theme for the 19th-annual Shawnee State University President's Gala on May 12 in the Selby Lobby of the Vern Riffe Center for the Arts.

Susan Warsaw, SSU director of development, said proceeeds from the gala will benefit the “Poised For Tomorrow” campaign.

“Poised for Tomorrow,” is a $12 million capital endowment campaign that will support seven initiatives, including undergraduate research, new technologies, specialized studies, faculty development, scholarships, enhanced clinical experiences and an enhanced quality of life for the region.

“The President's Gala is our only fundraising activity each year, so we try to make it very special,” Warsaw said. “It's as much a friend-raiser as it is a fundraiser.”

Tickets for the gala are $125 per person and include dinner and admission to a talent show. The talent show is being produced and directed by Michael Barnhart, senior music instructor at SSU, with Leo Schlosser, Vern Riffe Center for the Arts technical director, serving as the technical director of the production.

Performing will be: Shirley Crothers-Marley and Bill Hannah, Chris Boyles, Karen Arthur, Doug Parsley and Angela Walker, Cirque d'Art, Nick Meriweather and Tim Hamilton, the SSU theater department and members of the SSU cheerleaders and dance team.

Warsaw said tickets also can be purchased for just the talent show for $15.

“The talent show is truly something for everyone,” she said. “There's going to be some classical music, some jazz, some easy listening and I just think it's going to be an evening that everyone will love.”

The gala is open to the public. For more information or to make a reservation to attend the gala, contact the development office at (740) 351-3284.

“And we need to know about anyone who plans to attend as soon as possible, because we make a program and we certainly don't want to leave anyone out,” Warsaw said.

FRANK LEWIS can be reached at (740) 353-3101, ext. 232.