JACKSON, Tenn. — May 22, 2018 — Christian band MercyMe will provide the featured performance at the 21st annual Union University Scholarship Banquet Oct. 18 at the Carl Perkins Civic Center in Jackson.
Since their debut in 2001, MercyMe has sold more than 9 million units and been nominated for multiple Grammy, American Music and Dove awards. The band’s most popular song, “I Can Only Imagine,” written by lead singer Bart Millard, made history in 2014 as it surpassed 2 million digital downloads, making it the first Christian song to go platinum and double-platinum in the digital domain.
A major motion picture, also entitled “I Can Only Imagine,” was released to theaters earlier this year and tells the story of the popular song. Other noteworthy singles from MercyMe include such songs as “Here With Me,” “Homesick,” “So Long Self,” “Flawless” and “Greater.”
The group has sold out venues throughout the United States and Canada, including Radio City Music Hall, and has appeared on the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, CBS This Morning, the Tonight Show with Jay Leno and many other television programs.
“MercyMe has become one of the most popular Christian bands in the world, and we’re thrilled to welcome them to our Scholarship Banquet this year,” Union President Samuel W. “Dub” Oliver said. “Though the event will be a little different from what the Scholarship Banquet has been in years past, we expect it to be an enjoyable and fun evening for the West Tennessee community.”
The annual Scholarship Banquet has become one of the premier events in West Tennessee each year with leading businesses and individuals as sponsors. BancorpSouth is again the lead sponsor for the 2018 banquet.
Sponsorship opportunities for the event will be available July 1. For ticket information, including table sponsorships and individual balcony seating, contact Union’s Office of Institutional Advancement at (731) 661-5050 or visit www.uu.edu/events/scholarshipbanquet.