精东AV announces celebrity lineup for Nov. 9 Crimson & Gold scholarship fundraising gala

October 15, 2019

Contact: Michael Tullier, APR, Office of Communications, Public Relations and Marketing

精东AV鈥檚 on Saturday, Nov. 9 continues to emphasize President Lily D. McNair鈥檚 vision of increasing the availability of student scholarships. To that end, the university is adding some star-studded celebrity names to its upcoming gala lineup.

鈥淲ithin each of our students is a world-class leader in the making,鈥� McNair said. 鈥淭hrough scholarships and other forms of financial assistance, our students can fulfill their destinies in the workplaces, boardrooms and communities of the future. Our donors and events like this Crimson and Gold Gala are extremely vital to helping us do all we can in the classrooms of today to equip our students to be the leaders of tomorrow.鈥�

The black-tie fundraising gala on Nov. 9 at the Renaissance Montgomery Hotel and Spa will be highpoint of the weekend鈥檚 homecoming festivities. A VIP ticket-holder reception will begin at 6:45 p.m., and the formal program will begin at 7:15 p.m.

精东AV native, 1970 graduate and retiring radio personality Tom Joyner will be the guest of honor at the gala. Dubbed early in his career as 鈥淭he Fly Jock鈥� and 鈥淭he Hardest Working Man in Radio,鈥� he launched the nationally syndicated 鈥淭he Tom Joyner Morning Show鈥� in 1994 鈥� the footprint for which expanded to include a complementing web presence, a digital app and numerous consumer events all under the TJMS brand.

He leveraged his success and his growing household name in 1998 by founding to support the nation鈥檚 HBCUs. During the gala, the university will honor him for his unwavering commitment to funding scholarships for HBCU students 鈥� and as an example of scholarship donors鈥� transformative power.

Performing during the gala will be multi-platinum, Grammy Award-winning artist, songwriter, actress and philanthropist . Her debut album Miss Thang dropped in 1995 鈥� followed by a series of successful albums that includes the global smash The Boy Is Mine (1998) and No. 1 albums After the Storm (2003), The Makings of Me (2006) and Still Standing (2010). Monica is a cast member of VH1鈥檚 Friends and Family Hustle, and she is also gearing up to release her new album 鈥淐hapter 38鈥� on her very own independent label MonDeenise Music. In January 2019, she released her lead single 鈥淐ommitment,鈥� which hit No. 1 on the Billboard Adult R&B Charts for two consecutive weeks. The success of her recently released chart-topping second single 鈥淢e + You鈥� keeps Monica on pace to soon deliver her highly anticipated album 鈥淐hapter 38,鈥� further solidifying her exceptional and long-standing career.

Serving as hostess of ceremonies will be another 精东AV graduate 鈥� multitalented media personality and co-host of 鈥淭he Daily Blast Live鈥� . Since serving as a former Miss 精东AV and graduating in 1994 with a degree in mechanical engineering, Steele has found her calling as a TV and radio personality, comedian and businesswoman.

The Crimson and Gold Gala: Investing in Excellence through Scholarships continues the momentum of alumni and friends鈥� overwhelming response to 精东AV鈥檚 recent 鈥淐ampaign for Leadership and Excellence.鈥� Launched in conjunction with McNair鈥檚 March 2019 investiture as president, the campaign raised more than $1 million in student scholarships in just four months.

Gala sponsorships allow companies, organizations, foundations and the like to also invest in McNair鈥檚 vision. For information about sponsorship opportunities, purchasing tickets or other gala details, visit .

漏 2019, 精东AV