Celebrity memorabilia included in April 28 auction
Kesha Williams
April 24, 2007
If you haven’t added celebrity memorabilia to your collection, mark your calendar for 6:30 p.m. Saturday at the Kermit E. White Graduate and Continuing Education Center. Elizabeth City State University’s Foundation will hold the annual gala and auction merchandise priced from $75 to $300. The selection includes an Allen Iverson NBA jersey a 5 x 7 James Dean collectible photo a ticket to the 2007 US Women’s Open Championship a photo featuring Presidents Nixon, Ford, Carter, Reagan and Bush. That item features brass plates, each with the replica signature of the five presidents. According to Felicia Garcia, coordinator of the ECSU Foundation Golf Classic, bidding is simple for the auction which is held in conjunction with the golf challenge. "We will have a silent auction and a live auction. The silent auction allows participants to view the merchandise, then submit their written bid. We will have a live auctioneer conducting the live auction where we will move the items one at a time," Garcia said. "We have 10 items for both auctions." The gala/auction will follow the annual golf classic which is scheduled this year at The Pines Country Club, an 18-hole golf course in Elizabeth City. Now in its 11th year, the golf classic is credited with raising nearly $300,000 in scholarships. Among the golfers are The Divas, a female golf team of ECSU staff and faculty, that faithfully raises funds for the university’s student golf team. Kansas City Chief’s star running back Larry Johnson is one of the foundation’s special guest golfers who will also appear at the gala/auction. Garcia admits the golf classic appeals mostly to golfers but the gala/auction draws a larger segment of the population. "It’s open to anyone who wants to spend money while contributing to scholarships. Since the money supports the foundation’s scholarships, the participants can list the money spent as a tax deduction," Garcia said. "Participants enjoyed it last year because we had collectors’ items-items many people are already searching for." The attire for the gala/auction is semi-formal. The ECSU Foundation welcomes the public to attend. Citizens can make a tax deductible donation in the amount of their choice to support scholarships. ECSU is a 116-year old public institution in the University of North Carolina system proudly serving nearly 3,000 students. Some enter the university immediately after high school, while others transfer to the university from nearby community colleges. Up to 25 percent of ECSU’s students are non traditional students-those age 25 or older who are taking undergraduate courses. Up to 674 students are between the ages of 25 and 64. Many are currently working adults who would like to begin a new career or simply expand their knowledge base in a particular field of study. ECSU also serves area college graduates who enroll for additional certification or an additional degree. Scholarships allow outstanding students at ECSU to earn their degrees in northeastern North Carolina and, in many cases, to remain in the region as educated professionals who contribute to the region’s tax base.