Sherman, Texas -- Austin College hosted its annual Emergency Fund Auction on November 20 in Wright Campus Center, raising over $8,000 to support students, faculty, and staff facing unforeseen financial hardships.
The Emergency Fund Auction started over 30 years ago when the College recognized a growing need to assist members of the Austin College community confronted with unexpected, urgent expenses. Since then, the fund has supported individuals in moments of crisis—for example, providing rent assistance, covering emergency surgery and dental work, and securing last-minute travel home, among other impactful interventions. In the past four years alone, the Emergency Fund has covered $26,664.74 in emergency costs for Austin College students, faculty, and staff.
Each year, campus departments and individual faculty and staff members assemble themed baskets for the Austin College community to bid on, while local businesses demonstrate their ongoing commitment to the AC community by donating goods. This year, 903 Brewers, Ash & Barrel, Pivot Plants, Bella Fontana Spa & Wellness, QT (at Texoma and 82), La Piazza, Texoma FC, Sherman Shadowcats, Sherman ISD, Sweetberries, Habitat ReStore, the Sherman Symphony Orchestra, and the AC Bookstore contributed items to the auction, helping ensure the auction’s continued success. And, of course, the auction would not be as successful without Sara Jerome, a local professional auctioneer and realtor, who has volunteered her services for the past several years to give the auction its signature energy.
“The auction is more than a fundraiser, it’s a reminder of how deeply we care for one another at Austin College. Each contribution directly helps someone navigate a difficult moment, and that’s what keeps us motivated year after year,” said First Lady Cece O’Day, head of the Emergency Fund Auction Committee. She leads the effort alongside Chaplain and Director of Church Relations Rev. Dr. John Williams ’84, Controller and Director of Business Services Keri Goodwin, Assistant Director of Student Success Kayla Brooks, Associate Professor of Political Science and Political Science Department Chair Dr. Audrey Flemming, Coordinator of Center for Environmental Studies Rebecca Jones, Associate Professor of Biology and Environmental Science Dr. Keith Kisselle, Executive Director of Student Success and Transition Traci Howard Moore, Director of Corporate Foundation and Government Relations Lisa Holloway, and Laurie Mealy (Executive Director of Habitat for Humanity Grayson County). Any Austin College student or employee can apply to the fund for financial assistance when facing an unexpected hardship. The auction event also includes a raffle for gift certificates to local businesses, ensuring that students can also get in on the fun.
This year’s event carries special meaning: it marks the First Lady’s final auction, as she and President Steven P. O’Day will be retiring next summer. “I’m grateful for all the years we’ve spent building this tradition of care, and I’m proud of how much good the fund has done for our community.”
Austin College, a private national liberal arts college located north of Dallas in Sherman, Texas, has earned a reputation for excellence in academic preparation, pre-professional foundations, committed faculty, and hands-on, adventurous learning opportunities. One of 45 schools profiled in Loren Pope’s influential book Colleges That Change Lives, Austin College boasts a welcoming community that embraces diversity and individuality, with more than 50 percent of students identifying as persons of color. The residential student body of approximately 1,300 students and an expert faculty of more than 100 educators allow an 11:1 student-faculty ratio and personalized attention. Related by covenant to the Presbyterian Church (USA), Austin College cultivates an inclusive atmosphere that supports students’ faith journeys regardless of religious tradition. The College, founded in 1849, is the oldest institution of higher education in Texas operating under original name and charter.
