OREM, Utah — Utah Valley University (UVU) announced today that its annual President’s Scholarship Ball will be on October 22 at the UCCU Center on the Orem Campus with a reception at 5:30 p.m., followed by dinner and a program at 7 p.m.

Since 1991, the ball has helped thousands of students complete their degrees and create a better future for themselves, their families, and their communities. Donations raised in 2021 funded full-tuition scholarships for 357 UVU Presidential Scholars.

“UVU’s annual President’s Scholarship Ball is the event of the year and the one I look forward to the most,” said Astrid S. Tuminez, president of Utah Valley University. “It is always an unforgettable evening when many of Utah’s best and brightest come to celebrate students and support them in their higher education journey. The atmosphere is always sparkling and joyful. We hear stories of students who succeed because of our community’s generosity, eat delectable food prepared by our Culinary Arts Institute students, and enjoy entertainment from UVU’s award-winning School of the Arts.”

The President’s Scholarship Ball is just one of many UVU initiatives that help students graduate without financial burden. According to U.S. News & World Report, the lack of finances is the number one reason people drop out of college. A recent study by the University Professional and Continuing Education Association (UPCEA) shows that two in five (42%) of college dropouts cite financial reasons for leaving school, outweighing the percentage of students who left for other reasons like family commitments (32%) and health reasons (15%).

“This year’s President’s Scholarship Ball will mark a significant chapter in the university’s history,” said Mark Arstein, vice president of Institutional Advancement at UVU. “As the university continues to grow to meet the needs of the community, region, and state, we are committed to supporting Presidential Scholars who continue to make an impact through the education they have received at UVU.

“I realized that healing was my passion when I participated in the Futuredocs Abroad program in Vietnam with the National Leadership Academies, said Laura Randall, UVU second-year student, and Presidential Scholarship recipient. “Without the UVU Presidential Scholarship, I would not be able to follow my passion for healing as I study to become a nurse. I am eternally grateful for the people who made it possible for me to continue my education and help others every day.”

Thirty-eight percent of UVU students are awarded need-based scholarships or grants, many of whom are first-generation students and those from underrepresented populations, who are, in most cases, unable to pursue higher education without financial assistance.

“I come from a lower-middle class family, and without this scholarship, I would be unable to attend higher education,” said UVU computer science major Jonathan Forsgren. “Thanks to the donors' generous contributions, I am able to achieve my dream of getting a college education and a bachelor's degree in computer science.”

Tickets for the scholarship ball are $275 each or $2,750 per table. For more information or to purchase tickets, please visit the Executive Events website.