"The community gets a wonderful dress-up event," Tuxedo Junction coordinator Tish Griffin said. "It's a chance to take out their fun clothes. It's a great night and only happens every two years."

Tickets are $75 and available at Hearthside Books and the UAS cashier on the Auke Lake campus. Ticket holders will be eligible for a door prize of a Caribbean or Alaska cruise for two from Holland America.

For the first time a corporate sponsor is helping with Tuxedo Junction. ACS provided $7,500 to help make the event a success. "We're excited to have ACS as a corporate sponsor in what is our premier community fund-raising event in support of UAS scholarships," said Lynne Johnson, UAS development director. "This is another example of how corporate partnerships can directly benefit students."

Tuxedo Junction takes place in downtown Juneau near the tram. Three different venues will offer three different kinds of entertainment. At the Top of the Tram, the Thunder Mountain Big Band will play with special guest Bruce Paulson. The Generation Gap plays rock 'n roll at the Twisted Fish, and the Robert Cohen jazz group will perform on an Allen Marine catamaran leaving every 45 minutes on a harbor dessert cruise.

Tuxedo Junction began in 1982 as a way to start an endowed scholarship. "We've raised over $180,000 for scholarships," Griffin said. "That means between 7 and 10 scholarships are available each year for SE students to attend UAS."

This year's Sept. 29 date was selected because it coincides with the last weekend of the tram season. "We also think the weather will be a little more positive for people moving between venues," Griffin laughs. "The chances are they won't have to deal with ice, sleet and snow!"

Griffin said Tuxedo Junction planning takes about six months for a committee of community volunteers. "It's a logistical challenge," she admits. "There's catering and music in three different locations and you want to decorate beautifully." This year's theme is Romance and Roses.