University of Rio Grande and Rio Grande Community College proudly announces the upcoming Changing Tomorrows Scholarship Dinner, a fundraising event dedicated to fostering education and creating opportunities for students facing financial challenges. The dinner is scheduled for Thursday, May 2, 2024, at 6 pm, and will take place at the Holzer Leadership & Innovation Center, located at 254 Jackson Pike, Gallipolis.

The dinner aims to raise funds for the Changing Tomorrows Scholarship Fund, providing crucial financial support to students with limited means. The evening will feature live and silent auctions, a social hour with special musical performances by the Grande Chorale, a Rio update from President Ryan Smith, and inspiring stories from talented students who have experienced the transformative power of scholarship.

“As an institution committed to providing quality education and transforming lives, Rio understands the financial obstacles that can hinder students' pursuit of higher education,” said Ashley Knight, Director of Institutional Advancement at Rio.

Rio offers one of the state’s most competitive tuition pricing structures for both two-year and four-year degrees. However, over 85% of Rio's students are first-generation and/or PELL eligible. Knight added that enrollment growth has also increased the need for scholarship support.

A Silver Spoon Drawing will be held at the event. The winning spoon number will be drawn live before the live auction and the winner will be able to choose the live auction item of their choice before bidding takes place. Just 75 spoons will be sold.

A full list of auction items are now available for viewing.

All proceeds from this event impact the scholarship fund, opening doors of opportunity for students aspiring to pursue academic endeavors. For those wishing to attend or sponsor the event through monetary donation or auction items, please visit www.rio.edu/scholarship-dinner to learn more. To discuss the impact of sponsorship, ask questions, or confirm support, please contact Ashley Knight at aknight@rio.edu or 740-245-7200.

For those that cannot attend, but will still like to watch the event, a live stream will be available on our YouTube Channel.

Thank you to our event sponsors, University Housing Solutions and Mid-American Cleaning Contractors!