‘A Night at the Ballet’ gourmet dinner offers food, fun, help raising NIACC scholarships

By Bob Steenson, bsteenson@charlescitypress.com

Members of the NIACC Charles City Scholarship Committee were busy this week putting finishing touches on their plans for the upcoming “A Night at the Ballet” fundraiser.

“We’re touching base on how many people we have so far, publicity on getting more people, and making sure everybody got what they need to get for auction items, because this is a dinner and auction – silent and live auction,” said committee member Ann Troge.

Committee member Andrea Mujica, who is the assistant director for institutional advancement at the North Iowa Area Community College, said the important thing now is getting the word out to people about how they can get tickets.

“They could call the NIACC Foundation, at 641-422-4386, or they can go online to www.niacc.edu/give, and they just need to specify when they do that it’s for the Charles City dinner. The other thing they could do is email scholarship@niacc.edu if they have questions,” Mujica said.

“A Night at the Ballet” will be held Thursday, Sept, 8, at the Charles City Elks Lodge. Proceeds from the gourmet dinner benefit the NIACC Charles City Area Scholarship Fund, and tickets are available for $50 per person or $350 for a table for eight. Reservations need to be made by Sept. 1.

Troge said it’s a night of good food, entertainment, celebrity wait staff and potential good deals on some neat auction items – “It’s just a fun event all-around.”

“It’s an experience, because it’s a well-rounded event. It’s a lovely meal,” she said, adding that the Elks Lodge will be decorated beautifully in the event’s theme colors of pink, white and black.

The meal is being prepared by NIACC Director of Dining Services and Chef Scott Nelson. The menu is chicken poulette, garlic mashed potatoes, fall-themed garden salad, seasonal steamed fresh vegetables, and raspberry white chocolate layer cake. Each ticket also includes two drink tickets.

The event begins at 5:30 p.m. with live music by Charles City High School string orchestra students, followed by the dinner at 6:30 p.m.

Celebrity wait staff for the night are expected to include Charles City Mayor Dean and Marcie Andrews, Fire Chief Eric Whipple, Charles City High School head boys basketball coach Ben Klapperich and others.

Ballet dancers from the Dance Center will be carrying donated items around to display them during the auction, and auctioneer Scott Wright always makes the auction a lot of fun, Troge said.

Auction items include two tickets to a NIACC Performing Arts Series show with reserved parking, two tickets to the Iowa vs. Iowa State football game given by First Security Bank, a fishing excursion with NIACC President Dr. Steve Schulz, a sightseeing flight given by Northeast Iowa Regional Airport Manager Bill Kyle, and a handmade quilt made by Miriam Leaman.

This scholarship program is different from many others in that it is aimed at part-time students. Eligible students must be at least 18, live within 20 miles of Charles City, and be taking at least two but no more than 11 credit hours per term, at either the Mason City campus or the Charles City Center.

Committee member Jane Larson said that, as a NIACC alum, she thinks it’s important for part-time students to have an opportunity for scholarships.

Troge agreed, saying she believes in the value of education and that no education is ever wasted.

“I like the idea that part-time students are not being forgotten, because eventually those part-time students do get their degrees on their own time, and financially oftentimes there’s often a big gap for those that don’t go full time,” Troge said.