More than 800 unique live and silent auction items were up for bid Saturday, Nov. 11 at the 24th Annual LECOM Student Scholarship Auction at the Bayfront Convention Center in Erie. All proceeds help deserving LECOM students defray the cost of medical, dental and pharmacy school.
A couple looks at silent auction items.
Most medical, pharmacy and dental students graduate with student loan debts in excess of $250,000. Despite the fact that LECOM boasts the second lowest tuition in the nation, the challenges of a new climate in the medical field coupled with uncertainty and instability in the economic forecast make the monies raised at the yearly event even more welcome and necessary for these praiseworthy students as all proceeds from the event benefit the scholarship fund.
Those proceeds, along with other fundraising efforts, amount to $4 million in scholarships each year, and since LECOM opened in 1993, more than $25 million in scholarship dollars have been given to LECOM students.
More than 1,000 guests attended this year’s event, and as is ever the trend at the LECOM Auction Gala, many interesting and unusual items drew the attention of the bidders.
Auctioneer, Corey Brown, drives up the bids during the live auction.
In the live auction, Interstate Mitsubishi is donateda 2017 Mitsubishi Mirage ES 5-Door Hatchback, which features a 10 year/ 100,000-mile powertrain limited warranty, keyless entry, automatic Halogen headlights and LED taillights, active stability control, tire pressure monitoring system, audio system with four speakers, USB port, rear heater floor ducts, and front and back intermittent wipers.
Another exciting item was tickets to a 2018 Notre Dame football game, donated by Paul Hakel, of Hakel Fabrizio Financial Group.
Many other must-have items were included in the auction, including tickets to professional baseball, football and basketball games; professional sports memorabilia, jewelry and unique gift ideas for the holidays.
More than 250 LECOM students and 100 employees volunteered their services during the auction.