FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 6, 2008
Contact Ben Chambers, (770) 537-5756
SARA EVANS A BIG DRAW FOR WCTC CONCERT
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| Sara Evans |
For its Seventh Annual Black Tie & Boots concert August 9, the West Central Technical College Foundation has found a way to pack a few more tables into the Murphy Campus Conference Center – but not enough to satisfy everyone on the waiting list for tickets.
It seems country music sensation Sara Evans is just too popular.
“The demand for tickets this year has really been incredible,” Vice President of Institutional Advancement Dawn Cook said. “We found a way to fit a few more tables in the room, but honestly one of the biggest selling points of this concert is getting to see a major star in a very intimate setting.
“Sure, we could set up 1,000 chairs in the conference center and hold a concert, but part of the elegance of the evening is in the atmosphere, the beautiful meal, the decorations, the professional photography, the valet parking. We really, literally roll out the red carpet for our guests,” Cook said.
Cook credits corporate sponsors for enabling the WCTC Foundation to land such big-name talent.
“I can’t thank our sponsors enough. They have caught the vision of technical education and what it means to our communities,” Cook said. “Having their support gives the Foundation the resources needed to support the College as it offers students the education and skills needed for high-tech, 21st century jobs.”
Cook also said with 2008 being a banner year – the 40th anniversary of what started out as Carroll County Area Vocational Technical Institute – the College really wanted to make this year’s concert an event to be remembered.
“You only celebrate 40 years one time. We are working to make the entire year a celebration, and I think our Black Tie & Boots guests will see that this concert is an important part of that,” Cook said. “We’ll have the formal ceremony September 5 in Carrollton, but the party starts Saturday.”
Cook has carefully planned a seating chart to accommodate 450 guests – up about 100 from last year. That’s 450 very enthusiastic folks to see a big-name artist up close. WCTC President Skip Sullivan said the concert is certainly unique among the Technical College System of Georgia.
"Some of our sister colleges have big fundraising galas and events, but no one else does what we do with the level of celebrity we are bringing to the state,” Sullivan said.
Cook said she’s been contacted by sister institutions who want to replicate the event. In fact, Cook said representatives from a couple of other colleges likely will be present Saturday night, looking for ideas.
Sullivan said in the two years he’s been president, he has been struck at the level of enthusiasm and curiosity people have for Black Tie & Boots.
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| Sara Evans |
“As soon as one concert is over, people want to know who will be there next year,” he said. “It has definitely become something the community and our sponsors look forward to each year. We’re very happy we can contribute to the fabric of our community.”
Evans is a big draw, and it’s easy to see why. She crept on the country scene in 1997, but a 1998 duet with perennial hit-maker Vince Gill, “No Place That Far” shot to No. 1 on the country charts and made the Billboard Top 40 as well. Hits – “Born to Fly,” “I Could Not Ask for More,” “Suds in the Bucket” – and awards – including the Academy of Country Music’s 2006 Top Female Vocalist – have continued since.
But it was a bit of controversy that brought Evans national fame.
Already a big name in country music, in 2006 Evans made a breakthrough as the first country artist to appear on the ABC hit “Dancing with the Stars.” Evans left the TV show early, citing personal reasons, and it was later announced that she was divorcing her husband of 13 years. Allegations of impropriety flew from both Evans and husband Craig Schelske.
In the year after her very public divorce, Evans concentrated on production of her “Greatest Hits” CD featuring four new songs, and she leveraged her national exposure into an appearance on HGTV’s “Design Star.” Evans also hosted the 2007 CMA Awards with LeAnn Rimes.
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| Ashley Monroe |
This year’s June marriage to former University of Alabama quarterback Jay Barker drew notice from Tide fans. She and her three children have since moved to Birmingham where Barker hosts a radio show.
Sara Evans isn’t the only entertainment for “Black Tie & Boots” this year. For the first time, the Foundation welcomes an opening act to the stage, up-and-coming country singer Ashley Monroe, best known for a 2007 duet with Ronnie Dunn, “I Don’t Want To.”
“We’re very excited about having Ashley Monroe with us,” Cook said. “Not only is it the first time we’ve had an opening act, but it’s also a chance for our guests to hear someone who might become a really big star.”
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| Ashley Monroe |
The Black Tie & Boots benefit includes a seated meal at 7 p.m. and the concert at 8 p.m. and is the WCTC Foundation’s largest fundraiser of the year, Cook said.
West Central Technical College, with campuses in Carroll, Coweta, Douglas and Haralson counties, offers over 90 associate degree, diploma and technical certificate programs of study. A unit of the Technical College System of Georgia, West Central last year served over 10,000 students including credit enrollment, adult education, ESL classes, continuing education and corporate training. West Central Tech is one of the fastest-growing colleges in Georgia.
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