Cal U’s first Bow Ties & Pearls Ball was a sellout, with 300 guests filling a Convocation Center transformed into an elegant ballroom by Conference Services staff.
Emcees Andrew Stockey, of WTAE-TV, and Melanie Taylor, of STAR 100.7 radio, introduced the evening’s honorees as guests enjoyed a delicious meal prepared by AVI, Cal U’s dining services provider.
President Jones welcomed former student-athletes Helena Van Eysendeyk (tennis), Nate Forse (football), Kristin Heslop (softball) and Dr. Les Bakos (baseball) to the Cal U Athletic Hall of Fame. See the Hall of Fame videos
She also presented the Lillian M. Bassi Core Values Award to distinguished graduate Bill Booker ’74.
The fundraiser brought in about $100,000 from generous sponsors, donors and guests. Proceeds from the event support scholarships for Cal U students and alumni recognition projects on campus.
President Jones introduced one of those efforts – a donor-funded project called Champions Way.
“It will bring together, in one space, artworks honoring our national championship teams and information about members of our Athletic Hall of Fame,” she said.
“I envision Champions Way as an enduring point of pride not just for our Athletics Department, but for our entire Cal U community.”
In case you missed it, here are photos from the 2019 Bow Ties & Pearls Ball:
