WESTFIELD – The second annual premier fundraiser for Westfield State University and the Westfield State Foundation will take place on the campus green near the Albert and Amelia Ferst Interfaith Chapel on Saturday beginning at 6 p.m. This year’s theme is Pathways to Excellence, celebrating the innovative work of students, faculty and staff.
“This unique event promises to be as exciting as last year’s Scholarship Gala that raised over $125,000 for the Foundation,” said Michael Knapik, executive director of the Foundation. “It is such a good cause, with 100 percent of the proceeds benefitting scholarships and science and innovation initiatives at the university.”
Also celebrating the 35th anniversary of the Westfield State Foundation, the evening will include an interactive showcase of the work of students from a variety of disciplines, which will benefit from the new Science and Innovation Center, slated to open on campus in the fall of 2016.
“We are especially proud of the student presentations planned for the evening, many of which will be interactive,” Lisa McMahon, foundation stewardship director explained. “Our exceptional students are eager to show off their research, coursework and projects, many of which have been presented at conferences throughout New England, in Washington D. C. and beyond
Entertainment for the evening will be offered by students, faculty and staff. These will include taped performances of “Pieces of Horace Mann,” alumnus Simon Brown’s musical tribute to the university’s founder, which the Westfield State Wind Symphony Ensemble and Westfield State Chorale presented last week at Dever Stage. There will also be a special live performance of songs from the Music Department’s acclaimed production of the Broadway musical, “Avenue Q.”
Westfield State alumnus Noah Lis, a finalist on NBC TV’s “The Voice” and popular regional entertainer will also participate, as will a jazz band, comprised of university faculty members and students and individual artists from the Music Department.
According to McMahon, Pathways to Excellence will surprise participants.
“We hope that we have crafted a distinctively different fundraiser, which shows off our students and campus, previewing the exciting future at Westfield State,” McMahon said. “It’s a unique, academic take on ‘a progressive dinner,’ featuring healthy servings of information, music, great food and lots of surprises.”
Barnes and Noble, The Expert Fitness Group, and Westfield Bank are the major sponsors of the event.
The fundraiser will also feature distinctive cocktails and “dinner-by-the byte,” served as hors d’oeuvres throughout the evening by Sodexo Catering Services, as well as standing food stations at various locations, including Wilson Hall, New Hall and under a tent on the campus green. The evening will conclude with a special dessert finale in the Dining Commons.
Tickets, which are $75 per person and $700 for groups of ten, may be purchased at the Westfield State Foundation Office across from the Tavern Restaurant at 2 Broad Street, online at westfieldalumni.org/gala2015 or telephone at 413-485-7360.
