Tailgating was this year’s theme for the auction, and participants were asked to wear their favorite collegiate wear. The WCHS band performed outside while bidders entered the auction.
OSU alum and former football player Archie Griffin made a special appearance at the event, mingling with bidders, signing autographs, and taking photos.The gym was decorated with Buckeye decorations and game-themed signs designed by Laura Stepp. Decorations were also provided by Exhibit Pro and Alphagraphics. Many of the auction areas had football themes like “End Zone” and “Take Down.” The area was also filled with “pump up” music such as “Hang on Sloopy” and “We are the Champions.”
This is the fourth year for the auction, and the goal for this year was to reach $140,000. The general attendance for the auction was around 400-500 people.
Though no one under 18 is allowed to participate in the auction, teenagers did help out. Students volunteered to serve food and drinks from Schmidt's, in addition to beverages from Crimson Cup Coffee. WCHS senior Tyler Mitchell acted as student emcee alongside WCHS theater teacher Dave O’Roark; they walked around informing bidders of items on display and announcing when auction areas were closing. Seniors Emily Bookheimer and Gabe Botkin played the parts of homecoming king and queen, with Emily wearing jewelry available for bidding.There were many items on display--everything from baked goods to paintings and even a “money tree” worth $300! The goal was that all the items up for the silent auction would be sold, but unfortunately some were not; “all the items that did not sell will go on Ebay,” comments Juile Nathan, WCS Director of Development.
The final events for the auction started with the Show Choir performing, followed by the Chorale. The live auction then began, with Dave O’Roark taking on the role as emcee. Julie Nathan noted that “The live auction was the best we’ve ever had. Some of the items up for sale went for more than their worth.”The biggest selling item was this year’s USC football tickets that were worth $138 and were sold for $ 3,000! “The one item that was really surprising was the homemade WCS quilt,” commented Julie Nathan: “it was just really cool to see that item bring in that amount of money.” The quilt was valued at $500 and sold for $1,500.
The night ended with a closing song by the Chorale in which Morgan Meyers sang the solo.
The Educating for Eternity Silent Auction was an eventful evening with many creative items from which to choose. “I didn’t get the Buckeye Cheesecake,” WCHS parent and bidder Becky Chodzin commented on her experience: “but it was a fabulous evening and I won the one thing I’ve wanted for the last 3 years!”Overall, the auction brought in $110,000. “Everything went very smoothly during the auction and I have very high hopes for next year,” Mrs. Nathan noted.
(Photographs courtesy of Brian Shindle, Creative Moments Photography and Ginger Gibson)
