Fort Lewis College’s TLC for FLC annual fundraiser reminds all of the attendees what the school means to its students and the community.
This year’s full-house crowd made its way to the Ballroom at the Student Union on April 25. It was clear the evening would be special before guests even walked through the door as they were led to the entrance by a trail of golden aspen leaves before finding the doorway flanked by two mini-aspen trees bedecked in lights and with their “roots” floating in a sea of blue-gray tulle.
The ceiling inside the ballroom was also draped with the same tulle and sparkling lights, making it all very festive. While two big screens showed a repeating slideshow of the different faculty grants and scholarships awarded thanks to earlier TLCs for FLC, guests cruised a significant silent auction that was loaded with art, jewelry and lots of experiences – be a guest disc jockey on KDUR-FM public radio; enjoy a clambake courtesy of Terry Bacon and Debra Parmenter at their Electra Lake cabin; partake of either a mystery or sweet and dinner courtesy of longtime TLC for FLC organizer Margie Deane Gray and her husband, Will; or maybe have a pancake breakfast at the home of FLC President Dene Kay Thomas and her husband, Gordon. She tells me he’s a maestro at breakfast and bakes a mean apple pie, too.
Passed appetizers included a housemade Gorgonzola cracker with red pepper mousse, kataifi-wrapped (shredded phyllo dough) beef with mushroom-and-horseradish glaze and a caprese on pipette.
Music student Tong Wang accompanied the schmoozing, noshing and bidding on the piano. Originally a high school exchange student here, he liked it so much, he stayed for college.
Sodexo pulled out all the stops on the international-themed buffet, and Chef Gulsidel Velazquez Ayala came out to take a rightfully earned ovation. You might want to get a tissue out in case you drool during the next part.
Guests could choose from carved-to-order Argentinian-marinated sirloin served with a soft-boiled egg and finished with a Spanish- and Portuguese-inspired chorizo sauce, or Southern-style buttermilk-marinated chicken, served with classic Southern slaw. Vegetarians enjoyed Italian eggplant canneloni stuffed with mixed roasted vegetables and navy bean pâté and topped with a tomato-vodka sauce.
“On the side from around the world” was how the extravagant buffet table was described, and it included fennel salad with apples, cilantro and parsley in a ginger-citrus vinaigrette; fresh grapefruit combined with green grapes and a rosemary syrup; a potato gratin with Spanish Manchego and Italian provolone cheeses; roasted Brussel sprouts finished with a strawberry-balsamic reduction; baby bok choy seasoned with kimchi spices; blanched and roasted potato “pearls” with dried chimichurri spices; and a Mediterranean orzo pasta salad with fresh herbs and citrus dressing.
It might be hard to believe, but most people still had room to enjoy the centerpiece desserts, which included dark chocolate-dipped strawberries, truffles, petit fours and a croquembouche – a mini-tower of cream puffs encased in spun sugar.
This event used to be held at several downtown restaurants before everyone gathered at First National Bank of Durango for the auction portion. It is so much more effective to have it on campus, with everyone in one room for the entire evening.
And one way it’s more effective is that it allows organizers to bring student scholarship recipients to share what their education means to them and remind everyone why they’re there. This year, Conor DeLeon, recipient of the Don Whalen Scholarship and a sophomore geology major; Shea Wales, a first-generation college student who is justifiably proud of her cumulative 4.0 grade point average, as she has achieved that while dealing with dyslexia; and Cassandra Seaney, a senior math major who will enter the engineering department next year, all represented their fellow scholarship recipients with panache.
Theater professor Ginny Davis introduced three of the stars of the college’s recent production of “The Producers.” Ian Noble, Brin Devore and Adam Sowards gave the crowd a treat with a couple of numbers.
Al and Carol Harper are generous with the nonprofit sector all the time, but they were a gold sponsor at this event, and Al Harper shared what his education at a public liberal arts college had meant for his career – and it was a lot. Steve Short, chairman of the board of First National Bank, which was the other gold sponsor, spoke about why the bank has been such a longtime supporter.
A spirited live auction featured more experiences, stays in Panama, Paris, Telluride and the Colorado Trails Dude Ranch and either a working ride on the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad as the engineer or a luxurious trip aboard the General Palmer car, complete with private attendant.
Perhaps the most light-hearted part of the evening was billed as the “Crate of Wine Coin Toss” but was really a silly way to get people out of their seats, all hoping to win a crate of $300 worth of fine wines collected from Star, Wagon Wheel and Wildcat Canyon liquors, The Wine Merchant and W.J. Doyle Wine and Spirits. Before each coin toss, those standing were asked to put a hand either on their head or their tail, so to speak. Those who guessed wrong were eliminated after each toss, quickly winnowing the crowd down to five, then two, then the last man standing, pianist Tong Wang, who I’m guessing threw the swankiest graduation party ever.
Elizabeth Bussian, FLC’s director of community relations, took over heading up the mammoth enterprise after Deane Gray retired, and I’m afraid she’ll be on the hook to do it for years to come. That’s what happens when you do a beautiful job. Joining her in the massive enterprise were Mark Jastorff, vice president for advancement, FLC Foundation Chairman Gene Bradley and Executive Committee member Parmenter, Anna McBrayer and Bill Grimes, FLC Marketing and Communications, who were responsible for those beautiful decorations, Sandy Jameson, JC Perteet, Monica Pirrone, Ana Zeller and Kim Schwartz, all from the Office of Advancement, and Gigi Baty, director of Continuing Education, who helped with wine auction items.
And without further ado, the event raised a whopping $48,000.
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Happy Taurus birthday greetings go out to Jack Llewellyn, Diana Longwell, Winston Marugg, Greg Sparks, Mark Dickmann, Diane Welle, Betsy Morriss, John Loftis, Karen Mordi, Leigh Morris, Violet Trujillo, Sue Jackson, Barbara Bruning, Jeanne Park, Paulette Simmons, Sherrill Dickinson, Mark Chiarito, Steven Chiarito, Paul Duft, Lucas Spaeder, Rollie Roth, David Kidd, Diane Estes and Peggy Lynch.
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There might be enough water in the Animas River right now for these folks to enjoy a rafting trip for their anniversaries – Tom and Karla Sluis, Duane and Mary Mykra, Al and Sue Mages, Rap and Chris Dunker, Rod and Laurie Barker, Roger and Cora Landgren, Clark and Caroline Kinser, Rob and Maria Kolter, Tom and Ashley Geyer, Willie and Megan Krischke and Vance and Carrie Thurman.
abutler@durangoherald.com
