Central Baptist College announces new date for Scholarship Gala
CONWAY — Central Baptist College has announced a new date for its second annual Scholarship Gala. Originally planned for Feb. 20, the event is now set to take place at 6 p.m. June 5 at the Conway Expo Center.
The black-tie-optional event will be catered by Central Baptist College Dining Services under the direction of chef Jill McCollum. The night will be a celebration of patriotism and faith and will feature keynote speaker retired Lt. Col. Brian Birdwell.
On Sept. 11, 2001, when American Airlines Flight 77 was crashed just yards from Birdwell’s second-floor Pentagon office, he was critically wounded and severely burned. Today, following 39 operations, months of hospitalization and numerous skin grafts, Birdwell has made a miraculous recovery.
In 2004, he authored a book, “Refined by Fire: A Family’s Triumph of Love and Faith,” with his wife, Mel. He has served in the Texas State Senate since 2010.
Proceeds from the event will benefit the Central Baptist College Scholarship Fund, which supports institutionally funded scholarships.
“Due to the ongoing uncertainty surrounding the COVID-19 health pandemic and with vaccine implementation currently underway, we felt it was best to postpone this event until late spring,” Central Baptist College President Terry Kimbrow said. “It is important to us to be able to host an in-person event and to hold the event when our supporters will feel more comfortable coming together to celebrate Christian higher education. I am excited for attendees to hear the inspirational message that retired Lt. Col. Birdwell will bring.”
“In early November, we announced that an anonymous couple had given a $400,000 matching gift for the 2021 Scholarship Gala,” said Amy Reed, Central Baptist College director of development. “All sponsorships, individual ticket sales and additional contributions will be matched dollar for dollar, up to $400,000. We are making good progress toward our event goal of $800,000, 100 percent of which will be used to fund student scholarships.”
The inaugural event held in September 2019 raised in excess of $500,000 through event sponsorships and private donations.
“Never has there been [more a need for] individuals, churches and businesses to come alongside Central Baptist College and support the transformational life change that education can provide,” Kimbrow said. “I cannot wait to celebrate with many others the red, white and blue, and to celebrate the amazing blessings bestowed upon us by God. Retired Lt. Col. Birdwell is dynamic and inspirational. His story is one of faith and miracles, as is the story of Central Baptist College.”
Event sponsorships begin at $2,000. Single tickets are on sale for $100 each. For more information, to purchase tickets or to make a donation to help CBC meet its matching-gift goal, visit cbc.edu/
gala or contact Amy Reed, director of development, at areed@cbc.
edu or (501) 205-8934.