Item after item, bid after bid, the LECOM Student Scholarship Auction raised the highest amount in the 19 year history of the event. The Annual Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine Student Scholarship Auction, held Saturday, Nov. 3rd, 2012, at the Bayfront Convention Center in Erie, Pa. saw over $1,000,000 generously donated by friends of LECOM, alumni and local area businesses. Nearly 1,000 guests were in attendance and all money raised benefited the LECOM Student Scholarship Fund.
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| Nearly 1,000 guests were in attendance and all money raised benefited the LECOM Student Scholarship Fund. | Many items created a bidding frenzy among attendees. Pictured above is Paola Ferretti, wife of Dr. Anthony Ferretti, D.O. |
Attendees placed generous bids on more than 700 silent and 28 live auction items. Items this year ranged from artwork to getaways in Cancun and New York City as well as household goods, holiday decorations, designer jewelry and sporting event tickets.
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| First-year dental student Jean Kim wowed the guests in Bradenton with her violin playing. The handcrafted violin was built by LECOM assistant dean of Preclinical Education Mark Coty, Ph.D. and was auctioned off for nearly $3,000. |
The night’s Honored guests included Bishop Lawrence Persico, who was recently installed as the tenth bishop of the Erie Catholic Diocese. Our government leaders Congressman Mike Kelly, former Congressman Phil English, former Pennsylvania First Lady Michele Ridge, Erie Mayor Joseph Sinnott, former mayor Joyce Savocchio, Erie City Councilman Bob Merski, Millcreek Township Supervisors Brian McGrath and Joe Kujawa, and candidates Sean Wiley and Ryan Bizzaro.
Also joining LECOM were the presidents of two colleges that have become great partners of LECOM: Dr. Joann Boyle from Seton Hill University, where LECOM holds classes for medical students and Dr. Thomas Gamble, President of Mercyhurst University, where LECOM sports medicine physicians serve as team physicians and Medical Associates of Erie provides student health services. Also in attendance was Baltimore Orioles left fielder Nolan Reimold, the brother of LECOM medical student Shamus Reimold.
The auction in Erie is the second of a two-part fundraising effort for the student scholarship fund. Held the weekend prior on October 27th, 2012, the LECOM Bradenton campus held their student scholarship auction and raised over $200,000.
The two auctions and related fundraisers throughout the year enabled LECOM to raise over $1,000,000 for the Student Scholarship Fund, a ten-percent increase from last year. LECOM’s Board of Directors will match the amount, which will provide scholarships for deserving medical, dental and pharmacy students. Many LECOM students also served as volunteers at the auction, and were appreciative of the hundreds of guests and donors who made the night such a success.