A celebration gala honoring the retirement of Southeast Missouri State University's 17th president, Kenneth Dobbins, and his wife, Jeanine Larson Dobbins, is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. May 15 in the Bedell Performance Hall at Southeast's River Campus.

The event will feature testimonials honoring the couple, entertainment by graduating seniors who will perform songs, monologues and dance pieces, and student artists who will be on hand in the Cultural Arts Center atrium.

Music selections will include Devin Lorenz performing Prelude No. 5 "Dance" by Michael Burritt on marimba; Weston Sharp of Nashville, Illinois, playing "Gigue" from "Suite No. 2 for Violoncello Alone" by J.S. Bach on trombone; and Connor Joyce playing "Un Sospiro" by Franz Liszt on piano.

Theater and dance pieces will feature Hannah Lundy of Columbia, Illinois, performing "Carried Away" from "On the Town" and "Unusual Way" from "Nine"; Allison Wolz of Cape Girardeau performing "Here I Am" from "Dirty Rotten Scoundrels" and a monologue from "Call of the Revolution"; Shannon O'Keefe of Festus, Missouri, performing "The Most Astounding Fact," choreographed by Corey Meyer of St. Louis; and Sarah Anderson of Belleville, Illinois, performing "Screw Loose" from "Cry Baby." Rebecca Nelson will provide accompaniment.

Tickets are $10, and proceeds will benefit the Kenneth W. and Jeanine Larson Dobbins University Tribute Scholarship fund. Tickets may be purchased by contacting the River Campus box office, in the Cultural Arts Center, 518 S. Fountain St., weekdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., by calling 651-2265 or online at RiverCampusEvents.com.

Pertinent address:

518 S. Fountain St., Cape Girardeau, Mo.