Every summer, Drake State Community & Technical College hosts its annual Jazz in the City fundraiser, bringing the community together for an evening of live music, food, and philanthropy in support of the Drake State Foundation. This year, the tradition hit a milestone and celebrated it in style!

For its 5th anniversary, Jazz in the City, presented by Wells Fargo and Mazda-Toyota Manufacturing, found a new home at the Mars City Music Hall at the Von Braun Center, trading the outdoor garden setting for a weather-proof, upscale jazz club atmosphere complete with craft drinks and catered food, elevating the entire experience.

This year’s event carried extra meaning, as Jazz in the City fell on Juneteenth, the holiday commemorating the end of slavery in the United States and the freedom it finally delivered. That connection carries particular weight for Drake State; a Historically Black Community College originally founded 65 years ago to open doors of opportunity for African Americans that had long been closed. Celebrating jazz and the freedom it represents on Juneteenth was a fitting reflection of the college’s own mission and history.

An Evening to Remember

Jazz in the City veterans Nina Marie Live and Ryon Schultz returned to open the show, each delivering electric performances. Nina Marie serenaded the audience with soulful vocals on a set of classic songs, while Ryon Schultz followed with a saxophone driven set backed by his full band that had the crowd on its feet.

DJ Lashay B’s intermission kept the energy high, turning the room into a line-dancing floor before the night’s headliner took the stage: AJ Ghent and His Singing Guitar. The viral social media sensation brought his signature “singing guitar” technique to Mars City Music Hall, blending soulful melodies with rhythmic showmanship for a performance the crowd won’t soon forget.

A Night That Meant More

As the night wound down, the DJ Lashay B closed things out, once again filling the dance floor before guests called it a night.

Beyond the music, Jazz in the City raised vital funds for the Drake State Foundation, supporting scholarships and student resources across the college. This year’s event carried extra significance, doubling as part of the celebration of 65 years of Drake State serving the Huntsville community.

By every measure, Jazz in the City was a smashing success, and a fitting tribute to 65 years of impact, community, and connection. We hope everyone had a great time, and we cannot wait to see you all again next year!

This year we had the honor of hosting one of Drake State’s most dedicated and longstanding partners, the Glenn family. During the week of Commencement, we held a special luncheon to show our gratitude and honor the gift of their generosity. During the luncheon, the family got to hear from staff and students about the tremendous impact their emergency fund has had on Drake State, and how transformative it has been by alleviating financial barriers for students in need.

The Glenn family was also treated to front row seats at our Nurse Pinning, Honors Day, and Graduation ceremonies this year to see the effect of their commitment. Through their support of the Glenn Family Emergency Fund, more than 130 students have been able to overcome financial barriers and stay on track toward completing their education. Their investment has opened doors across multiple programs, including nursing, business, advanced manufacturing, and skilled trades.

What makes this partnership especially significant is the Glenn Family’s commitment to students hundreds of miles away, demonstrating the power of generosity to transform lives and strengthen communities beyond geographic boundaries.

Because of their support, students are not only continuing their education, they are reaching the finish line. The students’ whose futures they have funded have walked across the stage as graduates, equipped with the skills and opportunities to help them build meaningful careers beyond their time at Drake.

At Drake State, the Glenn family has quietly built a beautiful legacy that continues to change lives, and we are proud to call them friends of the Drake State Foundation, and part of the Drake State family.

Drake State Community and Technical College is proud to announce the creation of the Ellenae Fairhurst Endowed Scholarship, a permanent source of financial support for students, funded by a principal gift of $500,000 and named in honor of one of Huntsville’s most remarkable trailblazers.

Who Was Ellenae Fairhurst?

Ellenae Hart-Fairhurst was a force. A native of Dayton, Ohio, she launched her career at Ford Motor Company before making history as the first African American woman in North America to own both an Infiniti and a Lexus dealership. For decades, she ran the successful Huntsville Autoplex, building a legacy defined by courage, innovation, and an unshakeable belief in the power of education to transform lives.

Her story is one of perseverance, of breaking barriers others said couldn’t be broken, and of lifting others as she climbed. This scholarship is a direct extension of that spirit.