Students helped raise around $6,000 last night at the second annual scholarship date night auction hosted by the Student Government Association and the UA chapter of the National Society of Black Engineers.
With the money raised from ticket sales and bidding at the auction, the SGA and NSBE gave 10 students each a $500 tuition scholarship, which were raffled off at the end of evening, said Chris Vinson, SGA vice president of financial affairs.
Starting bids for dates ranged from 38 cents to $100 dollars, and winning bids ranged from $25 to the highest at $660 dollars. Sarah Suggs, president of the UA Panhellenic Association, had the highest bid out of the 21 students auctioned off.
The winning bidders and their dates will go on a group date at Desperado’s on Tuesday.
The emcees for the event, as well as two people who were auctioned, were starting quarterback Greg McElroy and SGA President Steven Oliver. They introduced each prospective date by sharing things about the students like their best Valentine’s Day present and their most embarrassing moments.
Millard Simpler, president of the Order of Omega, said he had volunteered to be auctioned off at the fundraiser because he had heard that last year’s auction had been a great success for what he said was a great cause.
“I went for $250, and I was very pleased,” Simpler said. “I was happy to get anything. Once they got past the first bid and I wasn’t just standing there, I was happy.”
Allie Shepard, a sophomore majoring in food science and nutrition, said that she was ecstatic when she found out that she had won one of the scholarships.
“This is great,” Shepard said. “Since my mom lost her job, I am all on loans so I have been having to pay for everything. This really makes all the difference for me. “
The NSBE received $1,000 for their fundraising efforts, said NSBE president Isaiah Clemons. The NSBE, who has been hosting the event for several years now, teamed up with the SGA last year and allowed them to co-host the event. Clemons said it helped them to reach a greater demographic in student leaders to be auctioned off.
“I thought it was a great turnout and a lot of fun,” Clemons said. “I really enjoyed working with the SGA and looking forward to a third, fourth and fifth year with them at the auction.”
Clemons said the money the NSBE receives goes toward community service events the group hosts as well as helping fund send its members to regional and national meetings and conferences.
As well as awarding student scholarships, the NSBE and SGA raffled off gift certificates and freebies to student who purchased the $2 tickets to the event.
