The annual Flint Hills Technical College Night of Inspiration Gala and benefit auction certainly lived up to its name Friday night.
Hundreds of residents were in attendance for the evening’s event at White Auditorium that inspired a tremendous amount of generosity from start to finish. The evening’s auction generated a preliminary total of more than $130,000 to benefit scholarships for FHTC students.
FHTC Vice President of Advancement Mike Crouch says the evening was much more than just a fundraiser, it was a celebration as well.
In addition to the dollars given to existing FHTC scholarships, organizers, in partnership with the EL and Irene Hopkins Foundation, surprised current FHTC President Dr. Dean Hollenbeck with the announcement and official endowment of a brand new scholarship in his honor. The original plan was to raise $15,000 Friday evening in honor of Hollenbeck’s 15 years of service to the college.
Instead, the generous pledges of those in attendance Friday night and a $7,500 matching donation by the Hopkins Foundation generated a total of $40,000 for the scholarship leaving Hollenbeck nearly speechless.
Hollenbeck is set to retire in June and has led the college since 2006.
Also Friday night, Ed Rathke, the former longtime facilities manager at White Auditorium was recognized as an FHTC Distinguished Alumni.
Final totals from the gala will be announced at a later time.
Photos by Tagan Trahoon/KVOE News
{gallery}042321 FHTC Night of Inspiration Gala{/gallery}
