Sixth annual scholarship fundraiser, All That's Jazz, tops $50K

Saturday, Oct. 3, more than 200 alumni, friends, faculty, staff, and student volunteers gathered to help raise money for the Penn State Greater Allegheny Scholarship Fund at the campus? sixth annual All That?s Jazz event.  By the end of the evening, the final tally was $50,141, which brings the overall total raised since 2004 to more than $264,000.

The campus? Student Community Center was transformed into an Irish pub theme and live musicians entertained the guests throughout the evening.  The jazz vocalists headlining the event were Tamara Tunie, star of Broadway, film, and the TV show, Law and Order: SVU and her husband, Gregory Generet.

?The entertainment, fare, and ambience added to the excellent achievement of the evening,? said Chancellor Curtiss E. Porter.  ?Everyone who contributed to this event should be extremely proud.  We will have the funds available to help students pursue their educational goals here at Penn State Greater Allegheny.?

Two student speakers, Barblin Essien, originally from Torino, Italy, and Ryan Novosedliak of Harrison City, Pa., explained to the crowd how their student scholarships benefited them and how without that financial support their educational goals would not be possible.

The ?All That?s Jazz? leadership included Mark Gruskin, event chair; Clifford Wise, sponsorship chair; Nancy Seifert and David Pellow, entertainment co-chairs; Jan Pokrifka and Brian Hohman, auction co-chairs; Amy Michaliszyn and Bill Flanagan, publicity co-chairs; and Curtiss E. Porter, chancellor.