Northwestern College's annual Gala Auction raises support for students

The 30th annual Northwestern College Gala Scholarship Auction, held Feb. 16, raised $33,000.

 Proceeds will help fund $1,000 Alumni Scholarships for more than 30 students next year.

Around 300 community members attended the event at Northwestern College. Bids were submitted on nearly 400 items. The silent auction once again included a popular “Buy it Now” feature that brought donations exceeding many items’ fair market value.

Items that secured generous bids included vacations to Branson, Mo., and northern Minnesota. Golf packages and tickets to a Minnesota Twins game also sold well, as did a Kindle Fire.

Event coordinator Aletha Beeson praised community members for adapting to the auction’s new morning time and their unfailing support for the auction and, ultimately, Northwestern’s students.

“People just really embrace the college and the students,” said Beeson. “They know supporting Northwestern students means they’re also supporting all the world-changing things they’ll do when they leave here. Peers at other colleges tell me they envy the relationship our college has with its community.”