An awards gala April 24 will not only honor nonprofits and the people who work with them, but it also will help build connections and relationships between nonprofits and the community.

The Nonprofit Academy Awards Gala honors people and groups making a difference in the community in several categories, in an event organized by students in Slippery Rock University’s Nonprofit Management, Empowerment and Diversity Studies program.

Melissa Swauger, a faculty member in the SRU program, said eight students in the program are putting together the ceremony, and it still is accepting nominations for awards.

“The coolest thing about it is it celebrates the accomplishments of nonprofit professionals; at the same time it allows students to get experience and networking with nonprofit professionals,” Swauger said.

“Students benefit from having practical experience and networking with pros at event. At the same time we are celebrating the nonprofit sector.”

Some of the award categories include participant of the year, youth volunteer of the year, community champion of the year and most creative special event of the year. Swauger said anyone can make nominations for the awards until the deadline Saturday.

Swauger said the gala has helped nonprofits connect to one another and introduced their leaders and staff members to SRU students.

“There are opportunities for people to nominate nonprofits,” Swauger said. “All of our classes have experiential learning, we have lots of opportunities for students to work with nonprofits.”

Swauger said the gala has a goal of raising about $7,500 through the gala, which, after the cost of putting it on, would raise the nonprofit management program about $1,500. She said that money goes toward helping students grow their opportunities in real-world nonprofit work.

Swauger added that the organization is seeking donors to provide baskets for the gala’s silent auction.

Organizing the gala is good experience for the students, Swauger said.

“They only have the semester to pull it off … It's part of their grade for the course,” she said. “They have to put together a gala to raise funds for the Institute for Nonprofit Leadership. We use the proceeds to fund student internships, student development opportunities.”

The gala begins at 6:30 p.m. April 24 at the Smith Student Center Ballroom on campus. To make nominations for the awards, or to register to attend the gala, visit institutefornonprofitleadership.org. Event tickets are $50 per person or $350 for a table of eight.