Celebrating “Firsts” never gets old! Save the date and make plans to attend Chattanooga State’s Dinner of Firsts 10th anniversary celebration on Thursday evening, October 28, 2021, at the Chattanooga Convention Center. The Dinner of Firsts is our signature “FUNdraising” event with a toast and roast honoring a community leader who is the first in their family to attend college.

This tenth annual dinner event will honor the president of Chattanooga State Community College, Rebecca Ashford Ed.D., who is not only a first-generation college student but a community college graduate as well. Stacy Lightfoot is the Event Chair and will also be one of the roasters. Those roasting Rebecca will include Molly Blankenship, Miles Huff, Tom Griscom, Richard O’Neal, and David Wade. David Steele will serve as Master of Ceremonies.

We are honored to have Jay Dale, market president of First Horizon Bank along with Greg Vital, president and CEO of Morning Pointe Senior Living, as our presenting sponsors and evening co-hosts.

Proceeds from the event fund scholarships for first-generation students and are divided equally between the annual First in the Family Scholarship and the Tom Edd Wilson First in the Family Endowed Scholarship. In fall 2020, one in three entering freshmen at Chattanooga State were the first in their families to attend college. Earnings from the first nine years have provided more than $532,000 in scholarship support for first-generation students.

For additional information on sponsorship levels and tables for Dinner of Firsts 2021, please contact Tammy Sawyers at tammy.sawyers@chattanoogastate.edu or call (423) 697-3359.

Presidential:  $6,000. Full-page recognition ad in the program, social media recognition, company or individual listed on large screens and sponsor boards at the event, and one table with prime seating for 8.

Summa Cum Laude:  $3,500. Half-page recognition ad in the program, social media recognition, listing on all sponsor boards on display at the event, and one table with priority seating for 8.

Magna Cum Laude:  $2,500. Quarter-page recognition ad in the program, listing on all sponsor boards on display at the event, and one table with preferred seating for 8.

Cum Laude:  $1,700. Listing in the program and one table with seating for 8.

General seating is available at $200 each. If you are unable to attend, please consider a donation in honor of Rebecca Ashford to the Tom Edd Wilson First in the Family Endowed Scholarship.