Northwestern College hosts annual Gala Auction

Zoo and amusement park passes, a Kindle Fire, lattes, movies and more are among the more than 400 items up for bid at the Northwestern College Alumni Association’s 29th annual Gala Auction on Saturday, Feb. 11.

Items on the silent auction will be available for browsing and bidding beginning at 3:30 p.m. in the Rowenhorst Student Center (RSC) Mini-Gym on the 11th. This year’s silent auction will include a “buy it now” feature that enables bidders to halt bidding and purchase the item for its “buy it now” price.

The popular audible auction begins at 7 p.m. in the RSC. The items that will be up for bid on Feb. 11 are available for online browsing at www.nwciowa.edu/auction. Those unable to attend the Feb. 11 auction can email events@nwciowa.edu to request a proxy bidder.

Golf packages for courses from Iowa to Arizona will be on the block. Tickets for Adventureland, Chanhassen Dinner Theatre, and King’s Pointe Waterpark in Storm Lake will also be up for bid.

Technology enthusiasts can bid on an Auvio HDTV or an Xbox Kinect. Food lovers may go home with Iowa pork chops or gift certificates to area restaurants.

Northwestern’s online auction offers select items available for bidding until noon on Feb. 24. The online auction also includes a “buy it now” feature that enables auction participants to purchase the item immediately for a specified price. Items available via www.nwciowa.edu/bidnow include a Kindle Fire, guided deep sea fishing, and a Legoland California vacation package.

“A majority of the items are available only at the live auction this year because that’s been the most popular and active,” said Aletha Beeson, Northwestern events coordinator. “People enjoy the social aspect of sitting around tables with their family and friends."

“But we want to involve alumni and friends from further away too, so we’re offering the online auction with items available exclusively to web-based bidders,” she added. “That way, online bidders won’t be out-bid the night of the auction.”

All of the auction proceeds support scholarships, student life programs and teaching excellence at Northwestern. Last year’s auction was attended by nearly 800 guests and raised around $33,000; 40 students received $1,000 Alumni Association scholarships for this school year.

As a warm-up to the auction, Northwestern fans are invited to watch the Red Raider basketball teams take on the Doane Tigers Saturday afternoon. Both games will be in the Bultman Center; the women play at 2 p.m., the men play at 4.

A family-friendly pre-auction meal of hot dogs and pulled-pork sandwiches will be served in the RSC gym beginning at 5 p.m. The cost is $5 for adults and $3 for kids age 6-12; children under 5 eat free. Free refreshments will be available during the auction.

Childcare is available beginning at 5 p.m., provided by students raising support for Spring Service Project trips. Parents can pre-register at 712-707-7134 or events@nwciowa.edu, or register the night of the auction.

Bidders’ books with a complete listing of the items will be available beginning Friday, Feb. 3, at the RSC desk, Orange City businesses and MJ’s Sinclair in Sioux Center.