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ALBANY – Roll out the red carpet, and catch the camera’s eye, which was flashing continuously as Albany State University’s alumni, guests, friends, and honorees waltzed their way into a night under the stars at ASU’s Blue and Gold Scholarship Gala Saturday.

Where the unsinkable and resilient university brought in guests from all walks of life, the commonality of the night was togetherness, an opportunity to share bittersweet tears, triumphs, and loaded conversations of memories between colleagues that last forever.

Kicked off with a spicy cocktail hour at 6 p.m., guests were starry-eyed when they strutted confidently in heels and high bottoms to take their seats at the start of the program an hour later. The Albany Symphony Orchestra kept guests on theme with harmonious tones in strings and in chords filled with warmth and delightful comfort.

As the night took off, with ASU officials honoring special alums with awards for their remarkable, trail-blazing deeds, honorees like Shirley Sherrod gave a historical speech for the crowd highlighting her late husband, Charles Sherrod’s, legacy. Accepting Dr. Joseph Holley’s lifetime achievement award, Sherrod reminded everyone of the bravery, strong-held mission, outspoken yet educated voice, and the weight of Sherrod’s stubbornness in that which he persevered in the darkest times of his life.

Sherrod said that her husband was so persistent in not only creating change, but directing and demanding it.

“We had to pull him back when he got into President’s Kennedy’s face because Kennedy wanted him to focus just on voter registration,” she said.

Sherrod spoke about wanting her husband to take a little step back from his work and even move away, as she was seeing the frustration, struggle, and incarceration first-hand by his side. Sherrod said that Charles Sherrod responded, “No. I have work to do in Albany.”

Local TV personality Karla Heath Sands was a favorite of the night, as she swayed guest with melodic symphonies such as Ray Charles’ “Georgia on My Mind.”

It wasn’t long after that tears trickled down some cheeks, as noted speakers like state Rep. Teddy Reese, Patricia Holmes, Sen. Jon Ossoff, and the University System of Georgia’s Sonny Perdue gave their last farewells and congratulatory regards for outgoing ASU President Marion Fedrick. Fedrick said that ASU and its students could never leave her mind with the significance it has brought her and the increasingly overall betterment and student success that they have helped accomplish. Though Fedrick is leaving ASU, she said, “I will be calling to check in on everyone and my students.”

Mouhamed Gueye, a native of Senegal and rising senior at ASU, whose studies are in Health and Human Performance with a minor in Exercise Science, was one of three ASU Scholarship recipients who commented on Fedrick’s impact.

“From freshman year in college, I was really lost and didn’t know what my purpose was here,” he said. “[Fedrick] was inspiring and in my corner, along with other students.”

Gueye said that he felt no neglect nor discrimination from anyone at the university as he practiced his Islamic faith.

“She was there for me from the time I walked in the doors on campus,” he said. “She was so influential and welcomed me with open arms. I have the upmost respect for Dr. Fedrick.”

With Fedrick’s help, Gueye said he was able to accomplish getting the cafeteria to stay open one extra hour for students of the Islamic faith.

Gueye said he plans to keep ASU’s “Ramily” going by residing in Albany after he graduates and bringing purpose to the Albany area.

Christopher Sykes, the 11th Mr. Albany State University and a senior studying criminal justice, shared his regards for Fedrick as well. Sykes put strong emphasis on how the ASU president and the university have expanded the standard of wellness, in both physical and mental health. He said that having therapists and on-sight counselors helped him open up to his professional and personal skills.

“I live by the quote that ‘When you come to this institution, you will never leave the same’,” Sykes said.

Skykes said that he remembered a time of leadership when learning how to get students out of their dorm rooms and become engaged with one another, no matter where in the world they are from.

“You don’t have to look at me as an enemy, because we have something in common,” he said.

Sykes said that he gained a sense of community involvement and student engagement by “prioritizing our mental health as well.”

In Fedrick’s farewell speech, she hinted at ASU plans to build two new buildings in a couple of months, one being an early learning educational center and the other a 64-room residence hall for students.

The Night Under the Stars closed with the auctioning off of two Grover Stewart signed game jerseys. Stewart’s blue jersey sold for $500 and his white jersey for $600.

As the elegant night ended, attendees left filled with the spirit that has guided Albany State University throughout its storied history.

Special Photos: Reginald Christian/Albany State UniversitySpecial Photo: Reginald Christian/ASU