Sacramento State’s fourth annual Green and Gold Gala raised money for student veterans in the Troops to College program and honored actress and singer Carol Channing with an award for her contributions to the community.

The Troops to College program was created to provide scholarships and enhance support services to help the nation’s veterans return home to civilian life and obtain a college education.

The proceeds from the 390 ticket sales will go to the Troops to College program.

The program has helped student veterans such as Janelle Adams, junior dietetic major, with support from other student veterans.

Adams served in Iraq, Afghanistan and Kosovo. She said her experiences there changed her for the better because it taught her to cope with stressful and difficult times. Adams moved from Germany to Sacramento and applied to Sac State.

“It was a big transition. It’s good to meet other people who understand where you came from,” Adams said.

Troops to College was created by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to get veterans into California’s universities and colleges, but the state didn’t provide funding for the program when it was created in 2006.

President Alexander Gonzalez and George Crandell, the University Foundation chair, made a goal to raise $100,000 to finance Troops to College.

Gonzalez said the university has raised $75,000 so far.

Jeff Weston, Veterans Affairs coordinator, said Crandell made a $25,000 donation to jump-start the program.

“The money (from the event) will help Troops to College directly in the form of veteran scholarships and building of the veteran’s program,” Weston said.

Gonzalez said Channing’s appearance would be even more helpful in asking people to support the returning veterans.

“It’s going to help us continue the relationship that we have with the community to bring into the campus to support the university,” Gonzalez said.

The gala was sponsored by businesses such as SMUD and Wells Fargo. Gonzalez said Wells Fargo gave $100,000 to Sac State to benefit programs such as the Honor’s Program and Troops to College.

Weston said there has been a huge increase in veteran students since the Troops to College program was started and the program is still trying to do more outreach and talk to community colleges.

“We’re trying to market this demographic and bring in more people,” Weston said.

Although an increasing number of veterans are going to college, some have trouble thinking about attending. James Blackburn, Enrollment Management Services director, said the men and women from the military are often distracted from college by their families’ personal and financial needs.

“It also is not uncommon that other students with the best of intentions will treat veterans in ways that may make them feel uncomfortable,” Blackburn said.

Blackburn said the educational benefits will improve substantially Aug. 1, when the new GI Bill comes into effect.

According to Military.com, the new bill will pay full tuition, fees and a $1,000 a year stipend for books and supplies for veterans who served after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

“The CSU offers high quality education at an extremely attractive price. The veterans’ dollars will go farther at a CSU than almost any other institution of higher education,” Blackburn said.

News 10’s Christina Mendonsa and KFBK’s Kitty O’Neal, both Sac State alumnae, emceed the gala.

Channing, a three-time Tony award-winning singer and actress, and her husband Harold Kullijian spoke to the audience about how arts must be brought back to public schools to inspire students in reading, writing and arithmetic.

“Art is the catalyst for all education, and we have to start when children are little,” Kullijian said.

Kullijian said two million children drop out of school in California. He wrote a letter to First Lady Michelle Obama, to help the children.

“If we lose another generation of children, we’re going to lose our country,” Kullijian said.

Congresswoman Jackie Speier gave the letter to the first lady and told Kullijian that he will receive an answer.

“I reminded (Obama), you can’t have a world class education without the arts,” Kullijian said.

Channing and Kullijian established a scholarship for Sac State’s performing arts students called the Dr. Carol Channing and Harry Kullijian Endowment for Arts Education.

Jeffery Mason, College of Arts and Letters dean, said Channing is someone the university values tremendously because she’s a terrific personality.

Channing was featured in a variety show and performed with theater and dance students at Sac State in April 2007 that benefited scholarships in the performing arts.

“I think she really appreciates what our young performers do. She honors what they do. She has great respect for them,” Mason said.

Channing went to Bennington College before going to Broadway. She received an honorary doctoral degree at the 44th annual CSU, Stanislaus Commencement ceremony in May 2004.

She travels to different schools to lecture and perform for students.

“Once you’re exposed to the arts, the whole world looks like a work of art. All of a sudden, everything comes to life. The art with me is dancing,” Channing said.

Mason said the students she worked with were entranced. They see her as a wonderful example of what they want to be as performers.

The gala included a live performance by the The Bucket Boys. Associated Students, Inc., Vice President of University Affairs Felix Barba even gave a salsa and cha-cha lessons to those on the dance floor.

Channing sang “Let’s keep the arts alive” to the crowd who returned with a round of applause.

“She has become a very durable figure in the theater world because of her generosity and her spirit and her wonderful attitude toward the value of the arts,” Mason said.

Mason said the students she worked with were entranced and see her as a wonderful example of what they want to be as performers.

The gala included a live performance by the The Bucket Boys. Executive Vice President of University Affairs Felix Barba even gave a salsa and cha cha dance lesson to those on the dance floor.

Catherine Robledo can be reached at [email protected].