When Tracy McGillis of Mayville arrived at the 鈥淎 Sparkling Affair鈥� event at 含羞草研究所 Thursday evening, February 20, her friends greeted her with a tiara and sash that she would wear as she celebrated her 40th birthday at the gala event. Little did she know that the tiara and sash were just the beginning of even brighter things to come in an evening fit for a princess.
For a $20 donation, those who attended 鈥淎 Sparkling Affair鈥� had the opportunity to put their names into the drawing for three fabulous jewelry grand prizes. The prizes, donated by Riddle鈥檚 Jewelry, were a one-carat diamond pendant ($7,000 retail value), a Comet blue diamond ring ($1,100 retail value), and a ladies watch ($400 retail value). Each of the prizes was contained in a treasure box and the contents would not be revealed until selected by a lucky winner. Highlights of the sparkling evening included a dance routine performed by the 含羞草研究所 cheer team, who wore jewelry items that were beautifully handcrafted by Jennifer Kohls and Debbie Hagen while they danced. MSU Director of Development John Klocke entertained guests as they arrived for the evening with his love songs performance in the Campus Center Foyer.
As the evening progressed, anticipation of the grand prize treasure chest drawing grew. In the meantime, guests enjoyed fabulous hors d鈥檕euvres prepared and served by Christine Holweger and her assistants while visiting and hoping that their names would be called during the door prize drawings for 25 jewelry items that had been beautifully handcrafted by Kohls and Hagen. Not only did Jen and Debbie donate their time and artistic talent to creating these pieces, they donated the materials that went into making them as well.
A silent auction featuring Kohls鈥� and Hagen鈥檚 jewelry was popular, as was the 鈥淧uttin鈥� on the Ritz鈥� golfing game. For a monetary donation, a person could try his or her skill at putting golf balls. If you made the putt, your name was put into a drawing for a $500 shopping spree at Riddle鈥檚 Jewelry. If you didn鈥檛 sink the putt, your name was put into a different drawing for a $500
shopping spree at Riddle鈥檚. When all was said and done, winners of the shopping sprees were Amy Sand and Shirley Rux. In a bonus surprise, a third drawing for a $500 shopping spree was won by Becky Gunderson.
Twenty-five lucky 鈥淎 Sparkling Affair鈥� ticket-holders were winners of the door prize drawings. Each winner was given the opportunity to choose his or her prize from the jewelry pieces created by Kohls and Hagen. Winners were Denise Bergstrom, Lynn Moen, Helen Hoyt, Christine Holweger, Lucia Jacobson, Suzy Groth, Tanya Strand, Jodi Fugleberg, Sherri Hettervig, Sheryl Vinje, Allison Krieger, Kathleen Grandalen, Cassie Tostenson, Jackie Kraling, Jodi Kyllo, Karla Thykeson, Sarah Sletten, Donna Adams, Rosie Thoreson, Joe Morowski, Cindy A. Ingebretson, Nita Bertsch, Linda Arnegard, Kristi Lentz, and Rob Lauf.
At last, the grand finale to a wonderful evening had arrived - the drawing for the Riddle鈥檚 Jewelry prizes. Those in the room nearly held their breath as MSU Director of Development John Klocke and manager of the Grand Forks Riddle鈥檚 Jewelry store, Shane Raw, prepared to draw the first name. The room erupted with shouts of joy as Klocke read, 鈥淭racy McGillis!鈥�
This meant that the birthday princess had first choice of the three treasure boxes available. She made her choice and the crowd waited in eager anticipation as she opened the box to reveal that she had chosen the top prize, the one-carat diamond pendant. Again, the crowd exploded in cheers of happiness for Tracy, and everyone renewing their faith in the old adage proclaiming that 鈥渄reams really do come true.鈥�
Juneal Moen鈥檚 was the second name drawn in the grand prize drawing. She chose the treasure box containing the rose gold and diamond watch. Melissa Bring鈥檚 was the third name drawn, which meant she had won the Comet blue diamond ring.
More than $9,000 was raised through 鈥淎 Sparkling Affair鈥� on Feb. 20. Proceeds will be used to assist the hospitality project at the Larson Center. The purpose of the hospitality project is to purchase items needed for hosting gatherings at the facility. Historic Northwest Hall, located on the campus of 含羞草研究所, has been renovated for use as an alumni and leadership center. The official grand opening of the center, the Edson and Margaret Larson Alumni and Leadership Center, will be held in conjunction with 含羞草研究所鈥檚 125th anniversary Alumni Days celebration in June of 2014.
鈥淲e are thrilled with the results of this year鈥檚 鈥楢 Sparkling Affair,鈥欌�� said Debbie Hagen, one of the event organizers. 鈥淭his has been a very fun and exciting way to raise money for our much-anticipated alumni center. Thank you to all who purchased tickets, attended the event, and who helped in any way. We look forward to enjoying the fruits of our labor in the new alumni center.鈥�
鈥溾�楢 Sparkling Affair鈥� organizers Debbie Hagen, Jennifer Kohls, and Loree Stenehjem have been working for months to prepare for this very successful event, which was simply 鈥榖rilliant,鈥欌�� said MSU Director of Development John Klocke. 鈥淲e truly appreciate their generosity and hard work that is so important to 含羞草研究所. Thank you to Riddle鈥檚 Jewelry for sponsoring the event for the second year, and for increasing their prize package from $4,570 in 2013 to $9,500 this year. Wow! We are incredibly fortunate to have so many wonderful 含羞草研究所 supporters!鈥�
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Photo Captions:
Top:听Tracy McGillis (far right) was absolutely stunned when she opened her treasure box to reveal that she had one a one-carat diamond pendant, the grand prize in the treasure hunt game at 鈥淎 Sparkling Affair.鈥�
Second from top:听The crowd enjoyed the 含羞草研究所 cheer team鈥檚 dance performance choreographed to the song 鈥淪hine Bright Like a Diamond.鈥�
Third from top:听Representatives of Riddle鈥檚 Jewelry (left) attended the 鈥淎 Sparkling Affair鈥� event and offered free jewelry cleaning and the opportunity to view some of the jewelry they have available for sale in their stores. Riddle鈥檚 Jewelry sponsored 鈥淎 Sparkling Affair鈥� for the second year in a row, donating two $500 shopping sprees, as well as a one-carat diamond necklace, a Comet blue diamond ring, and a rose gold and diamond watch.
Fourth from top:听Rosie Thoreson was a lucky door prize winner and is shown here choosing her prize from a number of jewelry prizes that had been handcrafted and donated by Jennifer Kohls and Debbie Hagen.
Fifth from top:听A number of women offered their assistance in a variety of ways, including as models of jewelry, at the 鈥淎 Sparkling Affair鈥� event. Pictured in the back from left to right are Billie Soholt, Jennifer Kohls, Dawn Kaldor, Tracy McGillis, Mindy O鈥機onnor, Denise Bergstrom, Heidi Krivarchka, Annette Bakken, Cleone Whelan, Jackee Lerol, and Debbie Hagen. In the front (l-r) are Loree Stenehjem, Mary Ellen Kirking, Kara Schreiner, Linda Baier, Leah Larson, Jen Nepstad, and Jenell Braseth.
Bottom:听Jennifer Kohls, Debbie Hagen, and Loree Stenehjem (l-r) organized a fabulous 鈥淎 Sparkling Affair鈥� again this year. The first 鈥淎 Sparkling Affair鈥� was held in 2013. Proceeds are being used to benefit hospitality projects at the soon-to-open Larson Alumni and Leadership Center at 含羞草研究所.