Contact:
Regina Boone
Development and Public Relations
919-546-8269
For Immediate Release

Two Shaw University Students to be Featured on Local UNCF An Evening of Stars
(Raleigh, NC) – December 17, 2003 – The United Negro College Fund (UNCF) will kick off the new year with the national airing of An Evening of Stars (AEOS) – 25^th Anniversary Tribute to Lou Rawls, on Saturday, January 10^th.*  The program will air from 11:30 p.m. until 3:30 a.m. in the Triangle Market on ABC affiliate, WTVD-11.  The four-hour broadcast will air on nearly 70 stations across the country. 

This star-studded event will also feature compelling success stories from UNCF students and alumni, and inspiring messages about our nation’s historically black colleges and universities.   Two Shaw University students, Adrian Hall, a computer science major and senior from Atlanta, GA, and Annette Baker, a criminal justice major and a junior from Trenton, NJ, will be featured on the local segment of An Evening of Stars.  Adrian and Annette were both raised in single parent homes and are the first in their immediate families to attend college.

Shaw University’s President, Dr. Clarence G. Newsome, recently participated in the local taping for AEOS. President Newsome underscores the importance of an AEOS and The College Fund/UNCF. “More than 90% of Shaw University students rely on some form of financial aid in order to attend college.  Many of these students would not have the opportunity to obtain a degree if it were not for the scholarships offered by organizations like The College Fund/UNCF, said President Newsome. “Students who have stories like Adrian and Annette can be found at any of our nation’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities.  As the community listens to their stories on January 10^th, I am confident  that they will feel compelled to give to such a worthy cause as education,” concluded President Newsome.

This year’s show honors Lou Rawls, whose idea created the UNCF television special 25 years ago.  Since its inception, the program has raised nearly $200 million to help deserving students gain access to a higher education.

The show will feature all-star performances by Shaw University alumi, Shirley Caesar,  and The O’Jays. In addition, Stevie Wonder, Yolanda Adams, Ashanti, Beyonce’, Vivian Green, Fred Hammond & Radical for Christ, Jaheim, Chaka Khan, Gerald Levert, Donnie McClurkin, Musiq, and Smokie Norful are a part of the star-studded line up.

The show will also feature clips of more than 330 entertainers who have participated on the show over the last 25 years including Shaw Alumnus Ray Charles, Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds, Patti LaBelle, Lauryn Hill, LL Cool J, India Arie, Luther Vandross, Frank Sinatra with Count Basie, Michael Jackson, Paul Simon, Sammy Davis, Jr., Aretha Franklin, Phil Collins, and the late Bob Hope and the late Barry White.

The mission of this nationally televised special is to celebrate educational excellence and underscore the importance of higher education, while spotlighting the achievements of UNCF’s students and alumni, member institutions, and of course, their supporters.

This year’s national corporate sponsors are AT&T, American Airlines, JPMorgan Chase, Prudential Financial, Target and Toyota.

Founded in 1944, the United Negro College Fund is the nation’s oldest and most successful minority higher education assistance organization. Its mission is to enhance the quality of education by providing financial assistance to deserving students, raising operating funds for UNCF’s 39 member colleges and universities, and increasing access to technology for students and faculty. UNCF administers more than 450 scholarships and fellowships to students and faculty who attend UNCF member colleges and universities, other historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) and majority institutions throughout the country. In its 59-year history, UNCF has raised more than $2.1 billion to promote higher education achievement and has helped more than 300,000 students earn undergraduate and graduate degrees. For more information about UNCF, visit www.uncf.org.