蜜桃av

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Held on October 3 at The Signal in downtown Chattanooga, 蜜桃av Adventist University鈥檚 annual A Taste of 蜜桃av gala invited guests to experience a taste of what 蜜桃av has to offer. Nearly 300 local professionals attended the gala, raising approximately $222,000 with proceeds adding to 蜜桃av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 蜜桃av for our community,鈥� says Ken Shaw, EdD, president of 蜜桃av 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 蜜桃av 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 蜜桃av, 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 蜜桃av, he loves that students have this scholarship opportunity. 鈥淭his is another way that 蜜桃av 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 蜜桃av鈥檚 Jazz Ensemble, a cooking demonstration from 蜜桃av鈥檚 Vegetarian Culinary Arts program, and a silent auction. Guests also had the opportunity to meet handpicked intern candidates from 蜜桃av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 蜜桃av鈥檚 students and faculty was an obvious point of pride for them.鈥�

Part of the Chattanooga region for more than 130 years, 蜜桃av 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, 蜜桃av 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.

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