Enjoying one of the spring鈥檚 first balmy Saturday afternoons, an enthusiastic crowd gathered April 5 on 草莓社区鈥檚 Thomas Plaza for a student-led auction to benefit the . The event raised more than $21,000.
SGA co-presidents and main auction organizers Christine Baer and Carissa Harnish say they didn鈥檛 know what to expect before the auction started. 鈥淲hen the first big item, a ceramic bowl by Jerry Lapp, went for $325, we were amazed,鈥� says Harnish.
Baer adds that local auctioneers John and Jack Bowman, who donated their time, 鈥渞eally knew how to keep the crowd engaged and laughing.鈥�
鈥淚 was very pleased with the kind of response and donations we got from students, the science department, alumni, parents, faculty and staff,鈥� says , executive director of development. 鈥淭he auction crowd wasn鈥檛 huge, but those who came were prepared to spend money.鈥�
The infamous shotglass (originally purchased as a 鈥渞osebud vase鈥� for a donor appreciation banquet) brought $300. Howard Zehr‘s recent book, “,” went for $300. A star guide from M.T. Brackbill鈥檚 1930s astronomy classes sold for $600. A large chest of drawers (possibly from the Ad Building) went for $750, and Esther Augsberger鈥檚 sculpture, 鈥淩obe of God,鈥� sold for $3200.
Students also bought bricks from previous buildings on campus, plants from the greenhouse and discarded glassware from science labs. Food tables of chili, cornbread and baked goods added $700 to the total.
鈥淚t inspires everyone when students engage in a project like this with their own creativity, commitment, and passion for a good cause,鈥� says Kirk Shisler, vice president for advancement.
A matching grant magnified the auction鈥檚 yield; for every $2 raised, an additional $1 was added by the Marietta McNeill Morgan and Samuel Tate Morgan Foundation, bringing the total to more than $21,000. Further donations made to the SGA campaign using this secure online form will be matched as well.
鈥淲hen we started planning for this campaign last semester, we drew inspiration from the famous Library drive of 1969, when students lead the campus community to raise more than $100,000 [in 1969 dollars] in four days,鈥� says Baer. 鈥淲e heard so many library drive stories from alumni and community folks as they dropped off donated items for the auction. That made it come alive for us.鈥�
The co-presidents admit their fundraising goals for the auction event were considerably more modest, between $5,000 and $10,000.
One lesson Harnish and Baer want to pass to future student leaders: 鈥淲ith all the institutional support here, from development to physical plant to faculty and staff, it is completely possible for students to organize successful fundraising campaigns for things they care about.鈥�
Young alum , who as a and major spent many hours in Suter Science Center, agrees. 鈥淚 thought the auction was fantastic: the type of event we should try to do every year, frankly. Not only did we raise money for a good cause, connections were made between students and alumni, and that’s what it’s all about.鈥�