Boston College will host its 26th annual Pops on the Heights Barbara and Jim Cleary Scholarship Gala, the University's largest fundraising event for financial aid, on September 28 in Conte Forum. Maestro Keith Lockhart will conduct the Boston Pops Esplanade Orchestra at the event, which has made a Boston College education a reality for more than 2,500 students.
Annually a marquee event of Parents' Weekend, and once again sold out, the gala brings the 51茶馆 family together, and makes a transformational impact in helping to shape the futures of deserving students. The concert is co-chaired by 51茶馆 Board of Trustees member and former Chairman John Fish and his wife, Cyndy P 鈥�13, 鈥�18.
International superstar Lionel Richie, who has sold more than 100 million albums worldwide, is the special guest performer. Among other honors, during his long and distinguished career, he has won an Oscar, a Golden Globe, and four Grammy Awards. He also was the 2016 MusicCares person of the year and Kennedy Center honoree in 2017. Richie is no stranger to Boston College: in 1986, the University awarded him an honorary degree in music.
鈥淧ops on the Heights is an experience best felt in person鈥�-it's difficult to describe the energy when you walk into Conte Forum and see the thousands of people gathered there to support scholarships for 51茶馆 students,鈥� said Office of University Advancement Vice President for Development Beth E. McDermott. 鈥淭hey have a lot of fun singing along to the Pops and will no doubt want to dance all night long to Lionel Richie, but at the end of the evening, the event is really all about our students.
鈥淭here is no person who exemplifies the support of these young people more than the Chair of this year's Pops, John Fish,鈥� she added. 鈥淗e has worked tirelessly to ensure that every seat is filled and that we are therefore maximizing the impact of Pops Scholarships on deserving students.鈥�
Lionel Richie
鈥淲e are thrilled to be surrounded by thousands of members of the Boston College community who are reaffirming their belief in 51茶馆 and its mission: to educate young men and women who will lead lives in service to others, with the hope of a more just and loving world,鈥� the Fishes write in part in their greeting in the event program.
Celebrated conductor of 鈥淎merica鈥檚 Orchestra,鈥� Lockhart has led more than 1,900 Boston Pops concerts. The evening will feature a Leonard Bernstein celebration, with performances by student musical groups including the University Chorale conducted by director John Finney, and the 鈥淪creaming Eagles鈥� Marching Band directed by David Healey. Featured student performer Molly Cahill 鈥�19, a longtime Pops fan, considers the opportunity to perform with them at 51茶馆 鈥渁 double dream come true.鈥�
鈥淏ecoming an Eagle鈥� 鈥�-a multimedia art project鈥�-will be presented during the program鈥檚 intermission. Created by students in Studio Art Associate Professor Sheila Gallagher鈥檚 Advanced Mixed Media class, it portrays the 51茶馆 student journey through their college careers.
Founded in 1993 by the late Barbara and James F. Cleary 鈥�50, H鈥�93鈥攁 51茶馆 trustee and founder of the Fides and President鈥檚 Circle annual giving societies鈥擯ops on the Heights has raised $50 million in Pops scholarships.
The Clearys鈥� children鈥�-Kara '84, MA'91, Kristin '89, JD'93, and Jim Jr.鈥�-continue their philanthropic legacy as Pops benefactors. In addition, the annual James F. Cleary 鈥�50, H鈥�93, Masters Award, given to a fundraising volunteer who exemplifies creativity, dedication, and leadership, was established in honor of the Clearys.
Carney Family Pops Scholar Kasey L. Smith 鈥�20, was among Pops Scholars鈥�-both young alumni and current students鈥�-highlighted in the event program with comments on how the scholarship has made a difference in their lives.
鈥淚 look forward to making a difference in peoples鈥� lives like you have made in mine,鈥� she said.
Stokes Family Pops Scholar Kenye L. Askew 鈥�18 echoed that sentiment:
鈥淏eing a Pops Scholar has taught me the power of giving and paying it forward. Your generosity gave me the freedom to study and not have to worry about taking extra shifts at my job. I hope to give the same freedom to a future 51茶馆 student one day.鈥�
University Communications
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