The Southern University College of Business Advisory Council and the College of Business will hold their sixth annual Gala on the Bluff on Friday, Oct. 10 at the Sheraton Baton Rouge Convention Center Hotel.
Known to many as the premiere event during homecoming week, the gala throughout the years has been a vehicle used to raise scholarship funding for students majoring in business at Southern, according to a press release by the business department.
“In these difficult times, we know all to well that the cost of obtaining higher education can pose a challenge for many, often leading to low enrollment and making it harder to retain talented students,” said George Rogers, Jr., president of the College of Business Advisory Council.
According to their press release, over $300,000 dollars in scholarships have been given to students in the college of business.
One student who has benefited from the scholarship is senior marketing major from Baton Rouge Antoris Simms, who received the award for the fall 2007 and spring 2008.
Because of the scholarship, Simms who will be attending this year’s gala was able to afford a laptop computer.
“The scholarship helped me not to work as many hours and concentrate more on school,” said Simms who works two jobs. “I would also like to thank the many sponsors and college of business because I appreciate it.”
Simms said after she graduates in the fall she would also like to start a scholarship.
“This event is more important to the students and we want to give back to them,” said Business Development and Career Placement Coordinator Tony Jackson.
Major past contributors to the gala include The Shaw Group, Exxon Mobil and Our Lady of the Lake Health Systems.
Headlining this year’s event will be funk and R&B singer, writer and musician legend Jeffrey Osborn who spawned the hits “You Should Be Mine (The Woo Woo Song)” in 1986 and “She’s on the Left” in 1988.
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