PHOTOS: Sold Out Alexandria “Adult Prom” Paints the Town Red for 40th Anniversary Ruby Gala

Updated April 24 to reflect fundraising tally

Alexandria, VA – It is widely known as “Alexandria’s Adult Prom.” On Saturday evening April 18, the city’s hottest ticket of the year took on a distinctively radiant, crimson glow. The Scholarship Fund of Alexandria celebrated its landmark 40th anniversary with a “Ruby Gala” that was so highly anticipated, it officially sold out on Monday, April 13—days before the first tuxedo was even zipped.

The Hilton Mark Center was awash in glitz and glitter as a crowd of nearly 500 attendees arrived for the marquee affair. The black-tie gala and silent auction is Alexandria’s premier ball of the year and is a veritable Who’s Who of the city’s movers and shakers.

The cavernous ballroom was a sea of scarlet and vermillion, with women in stunning red ball gowns, clutching red purses, and men sporting ruby-hued bow ties. During the two-hour cocktail reception, glamorous guests socialized over delicate passed hors d’oeuvres, though the longest line was for the signature cocktail: The Ruby Sipper.

The Scholarship Fund of Alexandria was established in 1986 to help needy Alexandria high school students afford post-secondary education. The 2026 proceeds are up to $600,000, surging past the 500K goal. More money is still coming in from donors.

“What a joy it is to celebrate 40 years of impact together!” SFA Executive Director Jasmine Milone greeted the packed dinner hall. “This ballroom is filled with so many incredible people who care tremendously about our students and their families and know how truly life-changing access to post-secondary opportunities can be.”

Milone and SFA board chair Kevin Jahns paid homage to Kitty Porterfield, who founded SFA forty years ago and was named an Alexandria Living Legend this past November.

“Our recipients tell us time and time and again that they are astonished to learn that people they have never even met care so much and believe in their potential to do incredible things,” Milone continued.

215 scholarships will be awarded next month out of 436 submitted.

Earlier, The Zebra caught up with Mayor Alyia Gaskins as she shook hands with constituents.

“It’s one of those moments when you walk in and it’s the Who’s Who, the Alexandria’s prom,” Gaskins shared, smiling broadly. “It’s a chance to see people that you maybe see every day, but others that maybe you haven’t seen in a while. And everyone’s here with a smile and radiating joy. Because they know we’re here for a good cause.”

Gaskins emphasized that the SFA ensures finances are not a barrier to success, “no matter [a student’s] income and no matter their background.”

The conversation turned toward the city’s economic future. Referencing a recent Brookings Institution presentation—which noted that Alexandria has faced significant private-sector job losses and the highest unemployment rate in Northern Virginia since 2025— Zebra asked the mayor if she hopes today’s scholarship recipients will return to Alexandria after graduation.

“Always,” Gaskins nodded. “My hope is that every young person who chooses to go off to college or university sees Alexandria not just as their home, but as their place where they can come back and put that learning into practice.” Gaskins added that the city is looking at incentive packages to entice these young adults to return to the city they call home.

Nearby, Alexandria School Board Chair Dr. Michelle Rief shared her confidence in the next generation.

“We opened the new Minnie Howard building two years ago and introduced the Academies at Alexandria City, which is exposing students to different career options that they can have after they graduate from high school,” she told Zebra. “We’re seeing this approach really growing nationally because we want students to have hands-on learning, real-world experience and it really sparks their interest in different career fields. It’s really about exposing students to all the possibilities and trying to find that hook.”

Rief added that Virginia’s New Husband-in-Chief Adam Spanberger recently visited a robotics classroom. “Being in that classroom with him felt very cutting edge. Some of the work we’re doing is really preparing students for the careers of tomorrow.”

The highlight of the awards ceremony was the presentation of the Louis Kokonis Teaching Legend Scholarship, named for the legendary Alexandria high school math teacher. Mr. Kokonis worked practically until the day he died in January 2024 at the age of 91. He began his ACPS teaching career in 1959.

That award went to senior Allyson C. who is headed for Tulane University in New Orleans. Allyson told Zebra she plans to pursue a career in education and is particularly drawn to middle school students, since those school years were a pivotal time for her.

“I think those students are still tiny enough where you can reprimand them and they understand, but they’re old enough to have those serious conversations.”

Allyson is the first in her family to attend college. 

As guests lingered over chocolate dessert and coffee, it was time to find out who won the high-stakes grand raffle, donated by Alexandria Toyota. Zebra Publisher Mary Wadland announced the winner. Melissa Bennett was ecstatic. 

I’m so excited! she gushed to Zebra. “The Scholarship Fund of Alexandria is obviously doing amazing work, and we’ve been involved because of our friend Kevin Jahns.” Jahns is SFA board chair. “We’ve been waiting for him to have a winner. I’m excited to be that winner!”

Will Bennett take the car or the $25,000 cash prize? She replied that she’ll talk it over with her family before deciding which to accept. 

As the red-themed tables were cleared, a live band rocked the stage and got the guests up on their feet, proving that even after 40 years, Alexandria’s “Adult Prom” still knows how to throw the most vibrant party in town.

All photos by Lucelle O’Flaherty/Zebra Press