The SWOSU Athletic Association is pleased to announce that the 17th Annual SWOSU Athletic Live Auction & Dinner held August 19 in the Pioneer Cellular Event Center raised over $165,000 in support of the university’s student-athlete scholarships and athletic recruiting.
The spirited event treated over 225 guests to a cocktail hour, dinner, super silent auction, and live auction. The live auction was facilitated by SWOSU alumnus Corky Heard of United Country Heard Auction & Real Estate. Hailey Tucker, a record-setting SWOSU basketball alumna, served as emcee for the auction.
Longtime SWOSU benefactor Pioneer served as underwriting sponsor for the gathering which is SWOSU’s largest on-campus fundraising event each year.
SWOSU alumni, emeriti, and friends generously donated dozens of auction items for the fundraiser. Some of these items were auctioned prior to the August 19 event via an online auction. The online auction has gained in popularity in recent years as it allows donors, regardless of location, to bid and support SWOSU athletes.
The new Super Silent Auction allowed attendees to shop and bid on items during the cocktail hour prior to the live auction. There were ten items in the Super Silent auction and the Live Auction featured eighteen different donated packages and experiences.
Jett Distributing Company and Ben E. Keith Company served as hospitality sponsors for the event. Butcher’s Wine & Spirits sponsored a “Stock the Bar” raffle. Wright Wradio Network and United Country Heard Auction served as the event’s presenting sponsors.
“The SWOSU Athletic Auction is a great example of the charitable community that surrounds our university,” said SWOSU President Dr. Diana Lovell. “We are truly grateful to all those who donated items, who placed bids, and who attended the event. Your support is so important to the success of our student-athletes and programs.
Table Sponsors for the 2023 Athletic Auction included:
ASAP energy, Inc.
Blue Sky Bank
Matt Burd Construction
Corn Heritage village of Weatherford
Flex-Chem
Garcia Law
Great Plains Bank
HEARD AUCTION & Real Estate
Kelley Jewelers
Legacy Bank
The Litsch Family
Dr. Diana Lovell
MA+ Architecture
Mercy Hospital
Tod Nix
Pioneer
SWOSU FOUNDATION, INC.
M. WRIGHT Services
Wright Wradio Media
Bryce Wood and the Pioneer Cellular Events Center team worked with SWOSU alumnus Kyle Burrows of Burrows Pro Audio Visual to produce yet another spectacular event.
SWOSU Food Services Director and alumna Radonna Sawatzky and her team served the evening’s delicious meal.
The SWOSU Athletic Association is a subsidiary of the SWOSU Foundation, Inc. The Foundation was established in 1977 to promote philanthropy and distribute funds to support the activities and programs of SWOSU. For information on how to support SWOSU’s student-athletes and athletic programs through charitable investment please contact the SWOSU Foundation, Inc., at 580-774-3267 or visit www.GivetoSWOSUAthletics.com.