Bethesda Academy will host its Fifth Annual Scholarship Gala on Friday, May 18, to support the Gateway Scholarship Fund and celebrate the graduating class of 2018.

The gala will be held from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. at the Plantation Club at The Landings. The gala is open to the public, and tickets are $150.00. All proceeds from the gala provide assistance through scholarship funds for Bethesda students who would otherwise be unable to afford tuition.

Bob Jepson Jr., chairman and chief executive officer of Jepson Associates Inc., will be the keynote speaker. Jepson Jr. founded the Jepson School of Leadership Studies at the University of Richmond and is the current chair of the Georgia Ports Authority. He is the chair and chief executive officer of Jepson Associates Inc., a private-equity firm and was the founding chair and CEO of The Jepson Corporation. Jepson Jr. currently serves as chairman of the Board of Curators for the Georgia Historical Society.

There are 14 students participating in the graduation ceremony, 6 of whom were dual enrolled and will be graduating with college credits.

Overall, 95 percent of Bethesda’s students graduate on time and 85 percent attend college.

“We are so proud to have witnessed these 14 young men grow so much in friendship and in character,” said Mike Hughes, president of Bethesda Academy. “It will be exciting to see the impact each will have on their communities as they leave Bethesda.”

Sponsors supporting this year’s Scholarship Gala include Mr. & Mrs. R. Kevin Jackson, Mr. & Mrs. James Trolinger, Dr. & Mrs. Jeff Bolch, Mr. & Mrs. Angus Littlejohn, South State Bank, Sterling Seacrest Partners, THA Group, Enmarket, MacAljon, Dr. & Mrs. Ted Moore, Gavilon Fertilizer, West Construction, Georgia Power, Dr. Linda Bleicken, Holland, Bromley, Barnhill & Brett LLP, Georgia Ports Authority, Savannah Airport Commission, Rubnitz Thompson Ziblut, Visit Savannah and Blue Force Gear.

The gala calls for business formal attire. To buy tickets, visit https://app.etapestry.com/cart/BethesdaAcademy/default/item.php?ref=1229.0.185029681.