College supporters return to the '50s
Norma Pittman, of Warden, bids on a silent auction item during the Cellarbration! fundraiser Saturday at Big Bend Community College.
MOSES LAKE - Wearing her husband's letterman's sweater and his high school class ring, Vickey Melcher was showing her support for Big Bend Community College Saturday.
Along with her poodle skirt, penny loafers and hair pulled back into a pony tail, Melcher was dressed for the 1950s theme of the college's Cellarbration! scholarship fundraising event.
She is a college foundation board member from Odessa and was among about 180 people attending the event Saturday.
The event featured a five-course meal, raffle and auction.
The Melchers' son Jayson and his wife, Stephanie, were also dressed to the theme.
Doug Sly, the college foundation's executive director, said for the last couple of years, event volunteers were trying to reach a $100,000 goal.
They've been raising totals in the $90,000 range for the past few years.
He credited college supporters for their help during the declining economy, as fundraising amounts didn't decrease in recent years.
The total amount of money raised Saturday wasn't available Sunday.
The winner of the "Big Bend Bling" 1.01 carat diamond was Beth Erickson, the daughter of Big Bend instructor Gail Erickson.
Beth donated the diamond back to the auction and an additional $3,000 was raised, said Judy Oakes, a foundation board member from Moses Lake.
The princess-cut diamond was donated by the Ephrata business Harrison's Diamonds & Designs.
Oakes worked on finding auction sponsors and support with fellow board member Sherry Keeler-Hull, of Moses Lake.
Believing in the college and students helped inspire them, Keeler-Hull explained.
"You're asking for opportunities," she added.
They also talked about the importance of having an influx of private money to help students with the rising cost of tuition.
Most of the college's applicants are from Grant County and Adams County.
Keeler-Hull also serves on the college's scholarship committee and learned about the obstacles students face to complete the college application process.
This year's Cellarbration! for Education Committee also includes Valerie Kirkwood, Erika Hennings, Karen Bonaudi, MaryAnn Simmons, Paul and Ginny Hirai, Felix Ramon, Marilyn Bertram and John Townsend.
Saturday night, attendees were visiting, sipping wine and bidding on silent auction items before dinner was served and the live auction started.
Live auction items included five yards of concrete, a child's ATV, one night at the Davenport Hotel in Spokane, a Dutch oven dinner for 12 and a Couer d'Alene romantic getaway.
Many sponsors made the event possible. The sustaining sponsor was Simplot and the event sponsor is the college foundation.
The foundation's first Cellarbration! type event was held in 2002 and titled "Gourmet Wine Dinner and Auction," raising $25,000.
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