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 feature 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 featured 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 feature 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 Louisiana at Lafayette’s Alumni Association’s annual Spring Gala will feature 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.