Our Mother of Mercy to hold gala for scholarships

By Sarah Dupre, ETC

An elegant evening of dinner and music is in store April 28 to help support Our Mother of Mercy Catholic School, Beaumont.
The Scholarship Gala, themed “A Legacy of Education,” will be held at the MCM Elegante, 2355 I-10 South, Beaumont, with special guest soprano Cecelia Chaisson and accompanist Dwight Pierce. Fox News anchor Angel San Juan will serve as master of ceremonies.

All the proceeds from the gala will go toward scholarships to help boost school enrollment.

“Our school has been losing enrollment, and we’re going to raise as much scholarship money as we can to provide assistance to our families,” Dottie Johnson, event co-chair, said.

Normally, the annual event is held on the school grounds, but event co-chair Elise Fulton Smith said this year they wanted it open it up to all.

“We want all of Beaumont to know we are thriving here. We feel that the school really does play an important role in the educational landscape of Beaumont, and it has been around for a long time,” Smith said.

Chaisson is an alumna of Our Mother of Mercy and Beaumont native. After graduating from Lamar University, Beaumont, Chaisson went on to earn her master’s degree in vocal performance from the New England Conservatory in Boston.

Her musical career has taken her throughout the East Coast performing with the Baltimore Opera Company as well as several solo performances including two at the White House. Chaisson also recorded a classical album “Mosaics in Music” in 2007.

Now she will be performing live to help raise funds for her alma mater.

Smith first heard Chaisson perform in Houston, and after finding out about her Beaumont roots, Smith knew she would be perfect for the event.

Tickets for the gala are $50. For more information and to purchase tickets, contact Johnson at (409) 794-3871 or Smith at (409) 866-1184.