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Northern Alumni Auction set for Friday at SUB Ballroom

Montana State University-Northern Alumni Foundation is hosting the annual Northern Alumni Auction Friday at 6 p.m., with doors opening at 5:30 p.m., at Northern’s Student Union Building Ballroom.

“What it involves and makes it unique is our paddle auction and the interaction with the students,” Northern Alumni Foundation Executive Director Shantel Cronk said. “One thing that we do along with our silent auction and our live auction is we have raffles throughout the night which makes it completely fun and engaging for everybody attending.”

Items included in the auctions are pieces of artwork, desserts, package deals and more donated from businesses around the community.

Cronk said that for the paddle auction Northern students have numbered paddles and bidders give them a $1 to raise their paddle. The auctioneer reads off the numbers as fast as he or she can. When the paddle number is read, the paddle is lowered and a bidder pays another adollar to have it raised again. The last number called at the end of the time period wins that item.

“The fundraiser is completely fun, interactive and energetic,” she said.

She added that the fundraiser will have guest callers throughout the evening calling out numbers as the students gather the cash bids that will all go toward Northern scholarships.

Cronk said the guest speakers are going to be left as a surprise for those attending the event.

People can purchase tickets for $30 up to the day of the event, which features a dinner.

“This money goes back to our students and we give a scholarship to the different athletic groups as well as the different departments,” Cronk said.

“This is also the only event that provides scholarships for graduate students, so through this fundraiser we are able to hit all different avenues of the university to help our students.”

A purchased ticket also automatically qualifies the buyer for a drawing for a $1,200 travel voucher. The travel voucher can be used to travel anywhere, used for hotels or whatever the winner would like, she said.

She added that those who are unable to attend can still purchase a ticket to be entered for the drawing for the travel voucher.

People who would like to purchase a ticket can call 265-3711, stop by the Alumni Foundation Office, Cowan Hall Room 305 at Northern, or by the Havre Area Chamber of Commerce.

“I’m looking forward to seeing the students. I’ve participated in the event as a person who attended, bid on things, ate dinner and had drinks, and now, for me, it’s a different relationship because I care so much for the university and the students,” said Cronk, who took over as head of the Alumni Foundation in August. “It’s also a little more emotional for me because I can see where this money is going and all the people who will be influenced by it.”

 

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