Edison Names 2014 Holiday Evening Chair

Thomas Milligan named 2014 Holiday Evening Chair.

Edison Community College has named Thomas Milligan as the Chair of the 17th Annual Holiday Evening. Holiday Evening, held on Thursday, December 4, is a fund-raising event that directly supports Edison’s General Scholarship Fund, which provides financial assistance to traditional and non-traditional students in their academic pursuits.

As a member of Edison’s Board of Trustees since 1999, Milligan is accustomed to the College and is aware of the importance this event holds in creating student scholarship opportunities. “The heart of our mission as an institution is to provide access to higher education for students, helping to break barriers to entry where they exist, among them financial barriers, and to provide an environment that helps students be successful in attaining their educational goals,” said Milligan. “The scholarships provided from Holiday Evening are critical to achieving that mission.”

Milligan’s stewardship on the Edison Board includes testifying before the Ohio Senate Education Committee on the importance of public and private alliances and their role in enhancing the quality of community college education throughout Ohio. While serving as Board Chair from 2006-2008, he was essential in creating partnerships during The Campaign for Edison Community College, which funded most of the cost to build the 35,000 square foot Emerson Center at the Piqua campus. In 2009, Milligan was chosen to receive the Excellence in Trusteeship Award sponsored by the Ohio Association of Community Colleges.

In addition to his contributions as a trustee, Milligan is a successful entrepreneur serving as the president, founder and owner of Western Ohio Cut Stone in Sidney since 1995. In 2013, he was recognized for his contributions to the rock products industry as an inductee into the Ohio Aggregates and Industrial Minerals Association Hall of Fame.

Currently residing in Sidney with his wife Martha, Milligan is aware of what a great asset Edison is to the community and is pleased to act as the 2014 Holiday Evening Chair. “Since I became an Edison trustee 15 years ago, I have tried to look for opportunities where I see I can be of most help to Edison’s mission,” added Milligan. “This year, leading Holiday Evening presented itself as such an opportunity.”

This year’s Holiday Evening event will feature The Manhattan Transfer, a highly regarded a cappella, jazz fusion group. “We are excited to have this Grammy award winning act come to Edison. The Manhattan Transfer will bring high energy and first class entertainment to the Edison stage,” added Milligan. “We feel it offers something for an audience of all ages.”

The annual holiday event has previously included performances by renowned musicians The Return, Tim Janis, Australia’s The Ten Tenors, Straight No Chaser, The Toledo Symphony Orchestra and former Tonight Show bandleader Doc Severinson.

Now in its 17th year, the annual occasion has become a staple of the holiday season for many. Attendees spend the evening with family and friends while enjoying quality entertainment and cuisine. “It’s a fun event that brings many people from our region to Edison for an evening of fine food and entertainment,” added Milligan. “Save the date and make plans to be a part of the Holiday Evening.”

Tickets are limited and tend to sell out quickly. Various levels of sponsorship are available for those interested in attending the event. Sponsorship for the evening will support more than 3,500 students who attend classes at Edison annually. For further information or to be added to the Holiday Evening mailing list, contact Julie Slattery at jslattery@edisonohio.edu or 937-778-7805.