Dinner to raise scholarship money for female students

Eastern New Mexico University Women are selling tickets for their sixth annual scholarship fundraiser dinner and silent auction. The auction and the dinner are a way to raise money for the scholarships that are given out to female students, said ENMU math professor Ann Varela.

“We have several items,” Varela said. “We’ve gone to local businesses, but I don’t have all the items listed because I’m not the only one gathering things.”

Among the items up for auction are jewelry from Woody’s Jewelry, a mens and a womens tote bag from Beall’s Department Store, handmade necklaces, paintings and a coin collections.

“I’m donating a quilt, and Geralyn Million is donating one,” Varela said.

All the money that is collected goes toward two scholarships that ENMU Women give to returning female students at Eastern.

“The money comes from the donations that we auction off and the ticket sales for the dinner,” Varela said. “All the money that is collected will have to first pay for the meal, and the remaining proceeds go directly to the scholarships.”

To qualify for the scholarship, a student must be a female, currently attending ENMU with a GPA of 3.5.

Geralyn Million, the organization’s treasurer, said the fundraiser was the brainchild of a former member and the group has continued the event.

“Last year we gave two scholarships for $700 for a total of $1400,” Million said. “In the past our highest attendance has been 60 for the dinner.