Faculty, students and ambassadors will mingle in style at the 88th annual Diplomatic Ball tonight.

The event, held in the Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium near the National Mall, will honor the Mellon auditorium’s claim to fame as the site of the signing of the North American Trade Organization defense pact in 1949 with its theme, “Strength in Unity.”

According to Diplomatic Ball Planning Committee Co-Chair Alex Pommier (SFS ’15), a record 950 guests will don ball gowns and tuxedos for this year’s event. Among the diplomatic guests are representatives from 43 embassies, including 30 ambassadors, including Egyptian Ambassador Mohamed M. Tawfik, Argentinean Ambassador CeciliaNahón and Italian Ambassador Claudio Bisogniero,

This year marks the first time Walsh School of Foreign Service Dean Carol Lancaster, who will deliver welcoming remarks, will attend.

“We’re really excited,” planning committee member Steffany Arzate (SFS ’15) said. “A lot of ambassadors ask about her.”

The 10 students that comprise the planning committee have had the venue and other logistics set since the beginning of the fall semester, with the help of the SFS Academic Council and BSFSProgram Special Assistant Ben Zimmerman. The prominent guest list means the event requires extensive security, including identification checks for all attendees, provided by the university.

Through fundraising, the committee was able to provide free tickets to student performers, contest winners and faculty members whose work is particularly relevant, like former ambassadors and current professors Touqir Hussain and Donald McHenry, both of whom attend this year.

“There are always [faculty] that kind of fit the theme, like former ambassadors or people who have had some connection to the State Department,” Arzate said.

Invitations are also extended to alumni and professors who have attended in the past.

Visiting associate professor of Arabic and two-time attendee Terrence Potter will once again attend this year.

“I enjoy the company of students — talented, energetic, optimistic and intelligent people, who seek to be dedicated professionals in the future,” Potter said.

Potter stressed the value of Dip Ball not only to students, but also to faculty members.

“Faculty can gain an appreciation for where students are coming from, including what preconceived notions they have, what expectations they have and how they will be fitting in,” Potter said. “Of course, faculty can learn how difficult it may be to convey the reality of what service entails.”

Arzate emphasized that Dip Ball is not limited to those affiliated with the SFS.

“When I sell tickets, I always find a lot of kids from the College go, a lot of the kids from the SFS go,”Arzate said. “It’s one of the biggest myths that it’s an SFS-only event.”

This year, 41.8 percent of student tickets were purchased by SFS students, while 40.4 percent were to students in the College. The remaining 13 percent of student tickets are distributed between both undergraduates from the McDonough School of Business and the School of Nursing and Health Sciences as well as graduate students. .

Most student attendees are freshmen and seniors, who make up 36.3 and 37.2 percent of student attendees, respectively.

Michael Fischer (SFS ’13), who has attended each year, stressed the significance of the event.

“The opportunity to meet classmates, diplomats, and faculty in an exciting and unusual context is what keeps bringing me back,” Fischer said. “Whether it be learning about the upcoming SFS Centennial to hearing interesting behind-the-scenes tales of diplomatic endeavors, guests at [the ball] are always excited to be there and readily accessible for passionate conversation.”

The program will include a performance by Georgetown Jazz, a presentation by the SFS Faculty of the Year award and performances from Georgetown Superfood and the Georgetown Ballroom Dance Team.