When Brian Setterlund, Gem State Adventist Academy's new network administrator, arrived on campus he found a Windows 2000 operating system and many vintage 1998 computers.
To help Setterlund and the school, several friends of the school met a few weeks later and began planning a dinner auction to raise funds. In just two short months, the volunteer team acquired 90 quality donations, with items such as: a signed Boise State University Bronco football, a white-water raft trip, an airplane flight to McCall, Idaho, with dinner at the Shore Lodge Inn, an exquisite hand-carved bird, a golf outing at SpurWing Country Club, and box seats at the Morrison Center for the Performing Arts.
Eighty-five eager supporters purchased tickets to the first Gem of Gems Auction Gala held on Nov. 16, 2008, at the SpurWing Country Club. This elegant and memorable event generated more than $20,000 for computer technology and when, toward the end of the evening, the auctioneer made a "call to the heart," those eager bidders contributed an additional $4,500 for worthy student scholarships.
The Gem of Gems planning committee is already working on the 2009 event. Their vision is to ensure GSAA students have every opportunity to prepare themselves to be leaders in the 21st century.
Volunteers host a dinner auction to raise funds for Gem State Academy. (Silent K Photography)
The 2008 Gem of Gems auction organizing team, from left: (back) Laura Bohlman, Ruthie Engelhart, Tori Mace, Sandy Schnell, Jon Kattenhorn, Shari Krall, Peter McPherson; (front) Zendi Meharry, Edgar Edge, Yvonne Iwasa, Kathy Burton, Jeanette Kattenhorn, Linda Klinger. Not pictured: Tracy Cook, Suzette Maxwell. (Silent K Photography)
The guests get an up close look at the signed football up for auction. (Silent K Photography)
