Earl Wilson, savvy founder and chair of the Gateway Classic Foundation, knows “filling the Dome” with football fans and community folks for the Gateway Classic in September won’t happen all at the last minute. So he started getting his hype on last Friday at a reception at the Marriott Hotel, which went off in spectacular fashion.
Earl was crunching some big numbers. “We got encouragement from Tuskegee, which is selling 10,000 tickets, and UAPB has already sold 8,000. This is going to be our biggest year ever. We will fill the Dome this year.”
Still, the biggest number here is how much college money he can get to kids. “The key is giving kids full four-year scholarships to go to college,” Earl said. The Gateway Class Foundation has provided about $1.8 million in scholarships over the years.
Seven Gateway Classic Scholars graduated in Spring 2005, bringing the total number of graduates to 37. Six freshmen Gateway Classic Scholars will begin school in the fall, including my girl, the reigning Miss Gateway Classic, Jessica Miller, who served as a St. Louis American intern this year, helping me with Hot Sheet and hot stuff like that. Did a great job. We all loved her. Girlfriend will attend Alabama A&M in the fall. Come visit us, girl.
Mark your calendars for the GC weekend now. For details on events, call (314) 621-1994.