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By Jessica Schweer
From: The Docket
Online, April 11, 2005
After months of planning and preparation, the Association for Public Interest Law (APIL) held its 8th Annual Auction, on Thursday, March 31. Students, faculty and staff gathered at the Hilton Arlington and Towers in Ballston to attend the Auction, which raised over $17,000 for a Summer Scholarship Program to support GMUSL students who will spend their summers working in unpaid public interest positions.
APIL auctioned off the approximately 100 donations the organization generously received from faculty, students, and businesses throughout the Washington, D.C. area. The attendees had the opportunity to bid on items ranging from a golf outing with Former Senator Chuck Robb and Assistant Dean Fred Wintrich to gift certificates for local restaurants.
The donation receiving the highest bid of the night, $1,000, was a cocktail party for eight people at Professor Green's house. A Supreme Court tour, donated by Professor O'Neill, sold for $700 dollars and a Poker night with Professor Wright went for $500. Other very popular items included the six (6) discounted BarBri review courses, which ranged from $600-$900 and two (2) White House tours donated by Former Dean Jack Wertzberger, selling for $525 and $425. Professor Davies' always-popular Supreme Court Justice Bobbleheads, which featured Justice O'Connor this year, sold for $175, $130, and $120.
The question of the most popular baseball team in town may have also been answered at the Auction, as tickets to a Washington Nationals game went for $180 and Baltimore Orioles tickets for $200.
This year's live auction featured a professional auctioneer. Stephen Karbelk, a George Mason University alumnus and professional auctioneer with Tranzon Fox, served as the event's auctioneer and delighted the crowd with his style. Reflecting on Karbelk's assistance, APIL Auction Director Katie Brouwer (3D) said, "His vibrancy, enthusiasm and commitment to the goal of the Auction definitely helped increase the bidding and kept the students entertained."
Attendees also participated in a silent auction, which consisted of more items than the silent auctions of past years. Among the items up for grabs were a massive exam survival basket donated by Stephanie Briscoe (3D), a Rajasthani sword courtesy of Barkha Patel (3D), an autographed poster of "GMUSL The Movie" from this year's edition of The Donkey, and a Teeth whitening kit donated by Reflection Dental.
Admission tickets, which were sold in advance for $5.00 or at the door for $8.00, included two complimentary drinks and an array of hors d'oeuvrs. In all, more than 150 tickets were sold. APIL Auction coordinators were pleased with the turnout and Brouwer noted, "It was great to see a number of GMUSL School Administration staff including Dean Richard, Dean Huber, Pat Hupalo, Carol Armstrong and others." Several professors attended as well, including Professor Bernstein, Professor Johnsen, and Professor Wright.
Brouwer said the Auction benefited from the generous assistance of the GMUSL community. "I would like to thank all the GMUSL students, faculty, and staff who helped with getting donations, selling tickets, and assisting on Auction night," she said. Additionally, the hard work of the APIL officers and the Auction committee, including Jennifer Ellis Lattamore (3D), Todd Davis (3D), Sarah Bruns (2D), Jill Maguire (2D), Mitchell Wunsh (1E), Tim Cole (1D), Jodie Herrmann (2D), Aimee Fox (2D) and Natalie Noel (2D), made this year's auction a night to remember.