School rocks!

Three recent events made school the rule, thanks to the City Year Gala, Tulane University's alumni awards, and Lutheran High School's Gryphon Gala. Learning and largesse underscored levity.

On a recent Thursday at Rosy's Jazz Hall, City Year New Orleans (aka CYNO) presented "School House Rock." An education-focused, national nonprofit organization that partners with public schools to keep students in school and to help them graduate, City Year brings together teams of young AmeriCorps members, who commit to a year of full-time service in schools.

The inaugural gala was quintessentially New Orleans, starting with the venue and its atrium, music hall and gardenia-filled patio, and moving on to decor, menu and music. In keeping with the "School House Rock" theme, the rooms were filled with school text books, red apples and chalkboards on which guests wrote "love" notes to and about their favorite teachers and subjects, as well as words of inspiration. Gourmet cafeteria favorites had folks queued up for fish sticks, miniature corndogs, mac 'n' cheese, and caramel and chocolate apples. As for libations, host committee member Tommy Lewis had a hit with his creation of "High School Crush, " the signature cocktail. For the scintillating sounds, the Big Jazz Band from the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts (NOCCA) entertained throughout the evening.

Honorary chaircouple Mayor Mitch and Cheryl Landrieu kicked off the program by welcoming guests and sharing their personal involvement in bringing City Year to the Crescent City in 2006. To express gratitude, CYNO board Chairwoman Diana M. Lewis presented them with personalized City Year red jackets, a gift that also befell Patty Riddlebarger, the gala's School House Rock Star and the director of Corporate Social Responsibility for Entergy Corporation.

More within the City Year constellation were Executive Director Peggy Mendoza, Gary Solomon pere et fils, Jay Altman, Carol and Harold Asher, Robbie and Tricia Vitrano, Mark Romig, Ben and Barbara Johnson, Preston and Karen Favorite, Brad and Laura Goodson, Rod Miller, Vera Triplett, Ana and Dr. Juan Gershanik, Councilwoman Susan Guidry and husband Hervin, and CYNO board members Virginia Barkley with dad Buckner, Norma Jane Sabiston, and Tim Williamson with wife Jenny. About 190 others, too, who packed the premises to mark CYNO's debut.

Not far from Rosy's Jazz Hall is the Audubon Tea Room, which was the site on a recent Sunday for the 2012 Awards Celebration given by Tulane University and the Tulane Alumni Association. A reception commenced at 11 a.m., followed by the luncheon and program at noon. Spring varieties of white flowers provided by Walden Designs centered the tables, where guests sat to enjoy a lunch of pre-set salad, red fish with lemon-butter sauce, and, as the sweet, the Audubon chocolate tea cup.

Then came the university's deserts. Tapped for the Distinguished Alumna recognition was Dr. Regina A. Benjamin, U.S. surgeon general; Dr. Julius L. Levy and Helen L. Schneidau for the Volunteer awards; and Lisa M. Laws, Young Alumna Volunteer Award. From the Levy family came the honoree's wife, Donna, and their daughter, Laurie Ann Goldman, while Susan Laws accompanied her honored daughter.

Further notables were Tulane Alumni Association (TAA) Board of Directors President Michelle Rinehart, Tulane University board Chairman James M. "Jay" Lapeyre Jr. and Sally, university Senior Vice President and School of Medicine Dean Dr. Benjamin Sachs with Tina, Freeman School of Business Dean Ira Solomon, and, with Catherine, David F. Edwards, who chairs the medical school's board.

Also, Rabbi Yonah Schiller for the invocation, TAA President-elect Sharon Bourgeois and husband St. Paul, association executive Director Charlotte Travieso, and City of New Orleans Health Commissioner Dr. Karen DeSalvo.

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City Year New Orleans presents 'School House Rock'