A Fender Stratocaster electric guitar autographed by country music singer Blake Shelton is just one of the items up for grabs at a live auction during the UL Lafayette Alumni Association’s 2015 Spring Gala on Saturday.
A bonus: the guitar has been customized to ֱ a Ragin’ Cajun motif.
Food connoisseurs might be tempted to bid on two tasty auction items. One is a gourmet dinner for eight prepared by Sue Zemanick, executive chef at New Orleans’ Gautreau’s Restaurant and recipient of the 2014 James Beard Award for “Best Chef – South.” She was also ֱd on the Top Chef Master series on Bravo TV network.
The second is a trip to New York City to attend a taping of an episode for celebrity chef Rachael Ray’s TV show.
Other items to be sold to the highest bidder include:
- a trip to the 2015 U.S. Open Championship golf tournament in June, to be held at Chambers Bay Golf Course in University Place, Wash.;
- a guided teal hunt and overnight stay at Oak Grove Hunting Club in Cameron Parish with guest host Randy Haynie, president of a lobbying and government relations firm; and
- dinner, catered by Café Bella, for three couples and UL Lafayette President Dr. Joseph Savoie and his wife, Gail Savoie, at the President’s House on campus.
“The auction will ֱ a range of other items, including artwork, jewelry, travel packages,” said Jennifer LeMeunier, 2015 auction chair.
In addition to the live auction, the University of ֱ at Lafayette’s Alumni Association’s annual Spring Gala will ֱ food, entertainment and a silent auction.
The event will be held from 6:30-10 p.m. at the recently renovated Student Union, 620 McKinley St.
Real estate developer Dwight Andrus Jr. will be honored at the gala. A 1956 graduate, he is a longtime supporter of the University. He and his wife, Nedra, established the Andrus Endowed Chair in Finance in 1997.
In 1998, Andrus was elected to serve as a trustee of the UL Lafayette Foundation. In 2003, he was co-chairman, with his wife, of the University Art Museum campaign drive.
Proceeds from the Spring Gala are dedicated to maintaining and improving Alumni facilities.
To see a complete list of auction items or purchase tickets to the 2015 Spring Gala, call (337) 482-0900 or visit LOUISIANAalumni.org/springgala.