A red carpet, formal fashions, awards galore and big-screen entertainment.

The Academy Awards won't just be celebrated at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, several student organizations will be having their own Oscar festivities Sunday night on campus.

The Student Film Organization will be watching the Academy Awards pre-show 6:30 p.m. Sunday in 102 Thomas.

"It's going to be a lot of fun to see what everyone is wearing," SFO's Secretary Lauren Bellizzi (sophomore-film and video) said.

Local Oscar events Student Film Organization What: Viewing of Academy Awards pre-show Time: 6:30 p.m. Date: Sunday Place: 102 Thomas ARHS, NRT and SFO What: A pre-show, catered dinner will be followed by Academy Award viewing on the big screen. NRT will perform two-minute sketches during commerical breaks. Cash prizes will also be awarded to the students who make the best and worst predictions. Time: Dinner at 6:30 p.m., viewing at 8 p.m. Date: Sunday Place: Heritage Hall

SFO's pre-show is open to all students. Attendees are encouraged to dress up and sparkling cider and cheese and crackers will be served for the event.

Jennifer Shelley (sophomore-film and video and photography), who along with Bellizzi, is organizing the event, said she looks forward to predicting the outcome of the awards with other film buffs.

"Part of the purpose of SFO is to get people who are interested in films together," she said.

To watch the Academy Awards ceremony, SFO plans to join the Association of Resident Hall Students and No Refund Theatre in the HUB-Robeson Center.

ARHS and NRT will be hosting a nightlong Oscar event in Heritage Hall. At 6:30 p.m., there will be a catered dinner. Tickets are required for the dinner.

At 8 p.m., the Hall, complete with a red carpet, opens for all students to see the Academy Awards on a big screen.

Refreshments will be served, awards will be given for best-dressed person in the audience, and commercial break entertainment will be provided by NRT's Last Minute Improv Players, said Kirstin Thode (senior-biology), the event's coordinator.

There will also be a contest to predict Oscar winners. Ballots for the contest are available in 221A HUB, but must be turned in by 6:30 p.m. Sunday.

The most-accurate predictor will receive a $75 gift certificate to Target while the least-accurate predictor will receive a $25 Target gift certificate.

During the commercial breaks NRT members will perform two-minute improvisational skits on the five films nominated for Best Picture — A Beautiful Mind, Gosford Park, In the Bedroom, The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Rings and Moulin Rouge.

"There's never been an event like this that caters to the students' interests," said Thode.

Thode had the idea for an Oscar night event after attending one held by NRT in 2000.

NRT President Mike Still said NRT used to have an Oscar party just for the organization, but this is the first year it is open to the entire campus.

State College AIDS Project will also have an information table set up at the event and students may make donations to the Project.

Thode and Still both decided to include a charitable organization in the event.

Thode said her favorite part of the Academy Awards is when the nominees for each category are announced.

"I love seeing everyone sitting there, watching their reactions and trying to guess who will win."

"This is my favorite TV event of the year," said Shelley.

"I've been reading my Entertainment Weekly, watching the week-long Oscar coverage on E! and asking my friends for their predictions."