Excitement is rising for the annual Ashbrook fundraising dinner at Ashland University April 8. This dinner is the single most important fundraiser of the year, according to Peter Schramm, director of the Ashbrook Center.

The doors will open at 6 p.m., and the dinner will begin around 7 p.m. in the John C. Myers Convocation Center.

This year’s dinner will offer a speech by the United States House of Representative Speaker John Boehner.

“I am looking forward to [the dinner],” freshman Ashbrook scholar Katie Mounts said. “It’s different than other Ashbrook events because it’s not every day that you get to hear the Speaker of the House in person.”

Although the topics of his speech have not been finalized, it is expected that items such as United States budget cuts, fiscal issues and reestablishment of a limited constitutional government may be covered.

“The most exciting part of the evening is watching the students get to hear and see a nationally well-known figure and to get to meet him,” Schramm said. “It is also very exciting to see the number of people who attend. Each of these people has a real appreciation for the work that goes on in the Ashbrook program.”

Prior to the dinner, Ashbrook students are given the opportunity to meet and ask questions of Boehner. Then, the students will join the rest of the supporters for dinner and his speech.

“I am excited to interact with the other patrons who attend the annual Ashbrook dinner [in order] to show the public the type of students the program produces,” freshman Ashbrook scholar Andrew Clark said.

The dinner provides funding for the students of the Ashbrook program. Tickets to the dinner are $250 and of that amount, $200 is tax deductable. Two hundred dollars from every ticket will go to the Ashbrook Center fund.

“Another exciting part about this dinner is the atmosphere,” Schramm said. “A lot of times, programs like this one will be stiff and very formalized, but with our annual dinner, we encourage everyone to be relaxed and enjoy themselves.”

The reception, dinner, and speech will last between three and four hours, Schramm said.

The Ashbrook Center expects around 800 people to attend, but they encourage people to call and order their tickets now to reserve their places.

This year’s dinner will be the 26th annual Ashbrook dinner at Ashland University since 1983, when Ronald Reagan was the event’s first speaker.