NSU’s Emerald Gala shatters records with over $900K raised in support for student success

TAHLEQUAH, Okla. – Northeastern State University’s premier annual fundraising gala, The Emerald, reached historic heights on April 11, at the Chota Conference Center in Tahlequah. Presented by the Cherokee Nation, the sold-out event hosted over 300 supporters and contributed to a record-breaking $901,342 in total commitments for student success.

The evening’s centerpiece featured six exceptional students showcasing their diverse talents while competing for a prestigious reward. Following a live audience vote, Baptiste Linet was named the 2026 Emerald scholarship winner.

Linet, a self-taught pianist and finance major from Nantes, France, who also competes on the NSU men’s tennis team, received a full one-year scholarship covering in-state tuition and mandatory fees for 30 credit hours, a value of nearly $8,000.

The five remaining finalists each received a $1,000 scholarship for their outstanding performance:

• Rosselyn Lozano (Tulsa, Okla.): Social work major; performed a traditional Mexican ballet folklórico.
• Antonio Ortiz (Fort Gibson, Okla.): Drama and marketing major; performed Frank Sinatra’s "New York, New York."
• Jacey Crayton (Mechanicsburg, Penn.): Clinical mental health counseling graduate student; performed a classical flute piece and a "beatbox flute" rendition of the Mario Brothers theme.
• Mishael Bynum (Inola, Okla.): Library media and information technology graduate student; sang "Taylor, the Latte Boy."
• Han Wang (Hunan Province, China): International student; performed a classical Chinese dance.

According to officials, since the Emerald became a student talent competition in 2022, the most raised that night was $50,827 in 2023. Peggy Glenn, Director of Development at the NSU Foundation, explained the weight of the evening’s impact.

“NSU staff and community volunteers presented the idea of using a portion of the Yield Giving funds from MacKenzie Scott as a match to NSU President Rodney Hanley, who enthusiastically endorsed it. Allowing The Emerald patrons to donate to any NSU fund they were passionate about led to a 787% increase in donations that evening. With the match, we crushed The Emerald’s record in 2023 by 1673%!”

NSU President Hanley spoke to this impactful investment in students.

"The Emerald has always been a celebration of talent, but this year it became a movement,” Hanley said. “By doubling the impact of our donors through the Yield Giving match, we’ve sent a clear message: NSU is the driving force for giving back to our region, the state and beyond. When we open doors for our students, they graduate ready to lead, serve and innovate.”

To learn more about the NSU Foundation and how you can donate, visit nsugiving.com.

###