SLIPPERY ROCK — Slippery Rock University's Alumni House bustled Wednesday night with red carpets and Oscar-like awards.

University students from the nonprofit philanthropy class, the Student Nonprofit Alliance and those with a major or minor in philanthropy and nonprofit management, organized the Nonprofit Academy Awards Gala.

“It's practical experience, and it's networking,” said Parker Maynard, a student organizer for the event.

Maynard, a nontraditional student from New Wilmington, said the program's certification track and its instructor, Alice Del Vechio, convinced him to pursue a career in the nonprofit sector.

“This is the only program in the state that offers a certification with it,” Maynard said. “It's what brought me back to school.”

In addition to the students' experience, local nonprofits and their members were honored with awards, like Board Member of the Year, Participant of the Year and Youth Volunteer of the Year, among others.

Board Member of the Year honoree Bob Crafton of the Slippery Rock Community Library said he doesn't work for recognition.

“I do what I do because it's worthwhile doing,” Crafton said. “Recognition is never sort of on my mind about this.”

Crafton said the event helped spread the word about the library's presence and its new facility being built on North Main Street. The library currently is set in the Slippery Rock Park building.

“There's still so many people in the Slippery Rock community who don't know we have a public library,” Crafton said. “(The new library is) about 80 percent complete now.”

Charles Allen of the Lighthouse Foundation serves his nonprofit as a resident manager for the Penny House on East Brady Street in Butler. He works with a handful of young men who were formerly homeless.

“The Lighthouse Foundation supports them in job searches, life skills and establishing financial literacy,” Allen said.

Allen was recognized as the Professional Staff Member of the Year for his efforts, despite being new to social services.

He said he had worked for 25 years in the business sector before his transition, and the recognition assures him that he is on the path to success in his new role.

“It's a tremendous honor,” Allen said. “I came very late to the social services field, but I enjoy it tremendously.”

Karen Brackett of NexTier Bank co-hosted the event along with some student organizers.

“We are here tonight because of the effort and the unwavering commitment they have to the nonprofit sector,” Brackett said.

Brackett said she and the bank have a lot of professional experience and relationships with nonprofits.

“We are a financial provider for a lot of the nonprofits in the area,” she said.

She said her work with the nonprofits has put her in touch with amazing people who make their organizations a success, and she is glad those people were recognized for their efforts.

“To be able to co-host means a lot to me,” Brackett said. “I have witnessed firsthand the time, the work and the hearts that go into these nonprofits.”

She said she also enjoyed seeing the student involvement at the event and being able to meet future leaders of nonprofits.

“They're wonderful,” Brackett said. “The students are going to be the next generation.”