Savannah State University's President’s Scholarship Gala will be held Saturday, April 7, 7:30 p.m. at the Savannah International Trade and Convention Center. Net proceeds from the university’s premier fundraising event will support student scholarships. With the theme of “An Intellectual Renaissance,” SSU will celebrate the rich culture of the 1920s Harlem Renaissance while recognizing the scholars and community leaders of today. During the black-tie affair, the university will present Awards of Excellence in philanthropy, leadership, entrepreneurship, scholarship and service. Tickets and further information are available at savannahstate.edu/gala and by following #SSUGala.

For generously supporting the university's academic scholarships, there will be two philanthropy awards. The Fred and Mattie Jackson Foundation was started by Cyrus Jackson ’77 looking for a way to honor his parents. Cyrus Jackson is one of 13 family members to graduate from SSU. Gus Bell has spent more than 50 years with the firm of Hussey Gay Bell. A civil engineer, Bell has devoted time and resources to community improvements such as regional water issues and serving on medical boards.

Two leadership awards will honor Don Waters and Cathy Hill. Waters heads up Waters Capital Partners, LLC, and serves as the area regent for the University System of Georgia. A native of Savannah, Waters currently serves on the Board of Trustees of the Chatham County Hospital Authority, the Board of Trustees of the Augusta University Health System, and on the Board of Curators of the Georgia Historical Society.

Cathy Hill, a retired executive with Georgia Power, was one of the company’s first female engineers. After nine years heading up the coastal region office, Hill became the VP of land development for the energy company.

Kevin “Catfish” Jackson will accept the entrepreneurship award. Jackson is president and CEO of EnviroVac – The Clean Company, an industrial cleaning company that serves the entire southeast. Jackson is also known as a defensive lineman on the 1981 UGA SEC championship team.

In honor of outstanding academic careers, Robert Louis Stevenson, Ph.D., and Charles J. Elmore, Ph.D., will receive the excellence in scholarship award. Stevenson taught at SSU for 38 years in the theater and English departments. He served as chair of fine arts and retired with professor emeritus status. Elmore, professor emeritus and historian, taught at Savannah State for 35 years, leading the journalism and mass communication program to accreditation and reaccreditation.

For excellence in community, Union Mission will receive the service award. Since 1936, Union Mission has worked to prevent and end homelessness by providing a pathway to self-sufficiency. In addition to shelter, the agency offers employment training, mental health counseling and more.

The gala co-chairs are Edna B. Jackson, former mayor of Savannah, and Eric Johnson, Fellow of the American Institute of Architects. Robert Jepson, CEO of Jepson Associates, is the honorary gala chair.

The title sponsor is the SSU Foundation, Inc.