Dr. Phil Schubert will attend his first President’s Circle Dinner as president of the university on Saturday from 5-7 p.m. in the Teague Special Events Center.

The dinner, a tradition since 1969, gives the president the chance to recognize all of the university’s donors, said Suzanne Allmon, senior adviser to the president.

“It’s really an opportunity for the president to thank donors in person, with a nice dinner, while on campus,” Allmon said.

The President’s Office, University Events and the Advancement Office assembles the event, said Caroline Jeter, executive assistant to the vice president for advancement.

People donating $1,000 a year or more to the university – called President’s Circle members – and those in the Heritage society – people who have included ACU in their estate plans – are invited to come to the annual dinner, which always takes place during the weekend of Sing Song.

Allmon said the schedule for the evening varies from year to year, but on Saturday, a member of the Board of Trustees will speak, and Schubert will speak about what it means to be “outliving your life” and show a video highlighting a few alumni who have been doing just that.

More than 450 people will attend the dinner from inside and outside the state, Jeter said.

A variety of attendees have been invited, including first-time donors and first-time President’s Circle members, creating a fresh environment each year, Allmon said.

“It’s an annual event that people really love coming to,” Allmon said. “It’s such a long-standing tradition that people really look forward to, yet there’s always the freshness and newness of recent donors coming.”