It’s not everyday that residents of DeSoto County have the opportunity to eat pizza, served by area celebrities, while being entertained by the Northwest Jazz Band, all while raising money for scholarships that will go to DeSoto County students.

That unique dining opportunity will happen on Monday, Oct. 29 when Northwest Mississippi Community College and the University of Mississippi present the Domino’s Pizza 2+2 Celebrity Pizza Buffet. The event will take place at DeSoto Center, located on Church Road in Southaven, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m.

Pizza will be served during the lunch hour by celebrities ranging from Otis Sanford, Editor/Opinions and Editorials with The Commercial Appeal, to Northwest Assistant Baseball Coach and former professional baseball player Bill Selby of Nesbit.

Adding to the festive atmosphere at both sessions will be Northwest Cheerleaders. Other local celebrities who will be assisting in the event, which is part of the 2+2 Scholarship Initiative, are Milton Kuykendall, superintendent of Education of DeSoto County, State Sen. Doug Davis, Channel 5’s Joe Birch, Olive Branch Mayor Sam Rikard and Southaven Mayor Greg Davis.

Clubs and organizations at DeSoto Center have been selling tickets, which are $10, according to Ashley Jones, coordinator of Student Services for The University of Mississippi-DeSoto. “A pizza-eating contest will get underway with members of the Northwest and Ole Miss faculty at 11:45,” she said.

“The uniqueness continues in that the two foundations (Northwest and Ole Miss) have joined hands and hearts to raise $1 million for a scholarship endowment to benefit education majors at DeSoto Center,” said Sybil Canon, director of Development for Northwest. “After the recent BancorpSouth 2+2 Golf Tournament in September, we have reached the sum of $700,000 in that effort.”

For those who want to support the effort but can’t make a trip to DeSoto Center, tickets can be used to purchase a large, two-topping pizza at Domino’s locations in Southaven, Horn Lake, Hernando, Olive Branch, Senatobia, Batesville, Oxford or Grenada.

Tickets are available at DeSoto Center, and on Northwest’s Senatobia campus in the Foundation and Public Relations offices. Tickets will also be available the day of the event at the door. For more information call (662) 560-1103 or (662) 342-4765.