The SWOSU Athletic Association is pleased to announce that the 18th Annual SWOSU Athletic Auction & Benefit Dinner held August 10 in the Pioneer Event Center raised over $172,000 to support the university’s student-athlete scholarships and athletic recruiting.
The spirited event treated over 320 guests to a cocktail hour, dinner, a super silent auction, and a live auction.
SWOSU alumnus Corky Heard of United Country Heard Auction & Real Estate facilitated the live auction. Hailey Tucker, a record-setting SWOSU basketball alumna and 2024 SWOSU Athletic Hall of Fame inductee, served as emcee for the auction.
SWOSU alumni, emeriti, and friends generously donated hundreds of auction items for the fundraiser. Some of these items were auctioned before the August 10 event via an online auction. The online auction has gained popularity in recent years, allowing donors, regardless of location, to bid and support SWOSU athletes. This year’s online auction featured more than 100 items and attracted 178 bidders from 11 states.
The Super Silent Auction allowed attendees to shop and bid on items during the cocktail hour before the live auction. 11 items were in the Super Silent auction, and the Live Auction featured 17 different donated packages and premium experiences.
Jett Distributing Company, Ben E. Keith Company, and Clinton Textile Corporation were Hospitality Sponsors for the event. Butcher’s Wine & Spirits sponsored a “Stock the Bar” raffle. Wright Media and United Country Heard Auction were the event’s Presenting Sponsors.
“The SWOSU Athletic Auction is a great example of the charitable community surrounding our university,” said SWOSU President Dr. Diana Lovell. We are truly grateful to all those who donated items, placed bids and attended the event. Booster support is so vital to the success of our student-athletes and programs.”
Table Sponsors for the 2024 Athletic Auction included:
ASAP Energy, Inc.
Bank of Western Oklahoma
Blue Sky Bank
Corn Heritage Village of Weatherford
Flex-Chem
Full Sail Capital
Garcia Law
Great Plains Bank of Weatherford
Heard Auction & Real Estate
Kelley Jewelers
Legacy Bank
M. Wright Services
MA+ Architecture
Magill Insurance & Real Estate
Mercy Health
New Cordell Tag Agency
Sue and Pat Cornell
SWOSU President Dr. Diana Lovell & Dr. Stephen O’ Grady
The Litsch Family
The Werk Floors & More
Vanessa Nix
Weatherford Regional Hospital
Wright Media
The Pioneer Event Center team worked with SWOSU alumnus Kyle Burrows and his team at Burrows Pro Audio Visual to produce a spectacular show.
SWOSU Food Services Director and alumna Radonna Sawatzky and Jamies Thomas and her catering 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 SWOSU’s activities and programs. 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.