Correction appended
Shades of pink and loaded wallets flooded Simmons Dining Commons last night as students from the Schreyer Honors College Student Council hosted its third annual date auction for breast cancer.
Kate Ormsby (junior-English and history) and Daley Ford-Matz (sophomore-political science and psychology), both social chairs for the event, said the proceeds from the fundraiser will go toward the American Cancer Society and breast cancer research.
There were about 60 students strutting their stuff for the cause, including the Nittany Lion and Schreyer Honors College Dean Christian Brady, who each sold for an impressive $70.
"Anyone could have participated in this event, not just honor students," Ford-Matz said.
The night's two masters of ceremonies read the participants' self-created biographies as they all took the stage, grabbing the attention of the bidders in the crowd.
One student who walked the runway sold for $100 and became the highest bought participant of the night, beating out even the Nittany Lion.
But the night was not only about who wrote the most creative bio or who had the coolest style, as there were short breaks between the bidding to announce some alarming statistics about breast cancer and inform the audience of the deadly disease.
Ford-Matz said the council decided to fundraise for breast cancer when one of the scholar assistants in the Honors College held a breast cancer event earlier in the year and "we decided to continue the awareness," she said.
Kelsey Stewart (sophomore-sociology) said she decided to attend the event because she came last year and had a good time.
"I also came out because it is for breast cancer and this night is a lot of fun," Stewart said.
Ormsby added that this year she and Ford-Matz had high hopes for the event they worked so hard to facilitate, adding that the night could not have been made possible without the help of local organizations in downtown State College.
Organizations such as Rita's Italian Ice, Qdoba, Quizno's and The State Theatre were just some of the companies who donated certificates to be auctioned off randomly with some of the participants.
"Over the past two years we have raised around $1,500 with this event, but this year we are hoping to exceed this and make around $2,000," Ormsby said.
Ford-Matz added that aside from raising more money for breast cancer research, she and Ormsby had another goal in mind while organizing last night's event.
"This year we tried to really focus on the cause, but not lose the fun feel the night holds," Ford-Matz said.
Ormsby added, "The cause has been overshadowed in the past, but we are hoping this year is different."
This article incorrectly identified the top-selling participant. Rocco Panella (senior-chemical engineering) sold for $300 at the Schreyer Honors College date auction.
