Category: Events || By Jacqueline Dell

Betel Gebre and Matthew Curcio, members of the Penn State Greater Allegheny Lion Ambassadors, join MC Bill Flanagan on stage during the campus' "All That's Jazz" scholarship benefit Nov. 8. (Penn State photo)

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The Nittany Lion stood at the door of the Student Community Center at Penn State Greater Allegheny, as the house grew full for the 11th annual All That's Jazz scholarship benefit on Nov. 8. As guests entered the building, they heard the melodic voices of the Penn State Greater A Capella Melody Lions, led by Doretta Whalen, adjunct instructor in music.

All That's Jazz is an annual scholarship fundraising event that hosts donors from around the state. Nancy Herron, interim chancellor of Penn State Greater Allegheny Campus, said the fundraiser helps students with great financial needs. Since 2004, the All That's Jazz event has raised $820,000 for students.

"The first year we raised $20,000 in scholarships," said Clifford Wise, president of the Penn State Greater Allegheny Advisory Board.

This year's event, which raised $95,476 for the McKeesport area campus, included improvisational musical-comedy group "Broadway's Next H!T Musical," a silent auction and Italian food. Music was provided by David Pellow, Mark Strickland, and Benny Benack Jr.

Several volunteers who organize the event were honored from the stage, including Nancy Seifert, who has worked on "All That's Jazz" for all 11 years of its existence. The stage in the Student Community Center, where All That's Jazz takes place, is named in memory of Seifert's husband, William A. Seifert Jr. He was a drummer and a member of the Nemacolin Bird Dogs, along with trumpet player Benny Benack Sr. and James Pellow, saxophone player.

Herron said a commemorative brick inscribed with Seifert's name is being placed in the campus' "Pathway to Success."

"It's a labor of love," Seifert said. "We're proud to have made this all possible."

Several recipients of scholarships made possible by All That's Jazz also took the stage, including Betel Gebre and Matthew Curcio, both members of the Penn State Greater Allegheny Lion Ambassadors.

"Scholarships from All That's Jazz help me and other students so that we can afford a quality Penn State education," Curcio said. "We can concentrate on our classes without having to spend all of our time worrying about how we will pay for college."

Bill Flanagan, executive vice-president for corporate relations for the Allegheny Conference on Community Development and host of the weekly television program "Our Region's Business," served as master of ceremonies. Flanagan is a member of the Penn State Greater Allegheny Advisory Board.

"It's a wonderful night and it's wonderful to be here," said Mark Gruskin, advisory board member and donor who provided funds for the campus' Gruskin Learning Center, which provides free academic support for all students.

Jacqueline Dell is a member of the Penn State Lion Ambassadors and is a senior majoring in communications at Penn State Greater Allegheny. She wrote this article for Penn State's website.