[caption id="attachment_218359" align="aligncenter" width="1200"] Delaware State University's Class of 1961 donated more than $15,000 at the 11th annual Scholarship Ball on Dec. 11. | PHOTO COURTESY OF DSU[/caption] WILMINGTON – The 11th annual Delaware State University Scholarship Ball was held on Dec. 11 at the Chase Center on the Riverfront in Wilmington. This was the first year the event was hosted in Wilmington, with over 900 in attendance at the sold-out event. The annual Scholarship Ball is the premier celebration of student success at Delaware State University, with 100% of the proceeds going directly to student scholarships providing significant financial support to more than 90% of the students enrolled at DSU who require financial assistance to attend and complete their college degree. [caption id="attachment_218358" align="alignleft" width="300"] DSU President Tony Allen poses with Bank of America Market President Chip Rossi at the ball. | PHOTO COURTESY OF DSU[/caption] With the help of a record number of attendees and corporate sponsors, including Barclays, Corteva Agriscience, Delmarva Power, JPMorgan Chase, SodexoMagic, The Propel Center, Bank of America, Sallie Mae, Bloom Energy, Christiana Care, Discover, FMC, Highmark, Incyte, M&T, and Thrivent, Delaware State University was able to raise over $600,000. President Tony Allen highlighted DSU’s belief in access, opportunity, and excellence regardless of where you come from, what you look like, or how much money you might have. Furthermore, Allen expressed the university’s gratefulness for the generosity of the donors and corporate partners that enable student success. [caption id="attachment_218360" align="alignright" width="300"] Babyface performed at the annual Scholarship Ball for the HBCU. | PHOTO COURTESY OF DSU[/caption] The evening commenced with a serenade from the DSU Jazz Combo, which acted as a precursor for the featured artist of the evening, Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds. Guests were dazzled throughout the evening with heartfelt student testimonials and dignitaries like U.S. Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester. The evening concluded in dancing with a performance by the Urban Guerilla Orchestra. The ball was also an opportunity for DSU to honor some of its key partners in 2021. Award recipients were Bank of America, accepted by Delaware Market President Chip Rossi for their exemplary service as a corporate partner; Ashley Christopher for her work with HBCU week; and Nicole Dye Anderson and Duane Dey for their ongoing service and commitment to the university. Allen also announced the creation of the Franklin Marshall Scholarship for Character, Courage and Consequence. Marshall, a 1965 graduate, recently lost his house and most of his possessions in a fire. "When I spoke to him just a few days later, I found a thankful, resilient warrior speaking only about God's great grace on his life and how overwhelmed he was with the outpouring of love and support he received from his classmates and his beloved alma mater," Allen said. Current junior accounting major Tysun Hicks was announced as the first winner of the scholarship. "I can only aspire to live up to Mr. Marshall's example," Hicks said. Next year’s Scholarship Ball will take place on Dec. 10, 2022. Details will be forthcoming on sponsorships and tickets. Editor's note: This story has been updated to reflect a correct final total of $600,000 rather than the originally reported $400,000.