3 Reasons Why You Should Support the Scholarship Auction on October 17^th

By Steve Butler, FAICP

The Student Scholarship Auction will be held on Thursday, October 17^th, at this year’s APA WA Chapter conference in Bellevue. All of the Auction proceeds will benefit students at Washington's three accredited Planning colleges.  This fun event will include a live auction and a “raise the paddle” option. 

Here are some reasons why you should seriously consider making a donation at the Scholarship Auction:

1. It’s for an amazingly worthy cause – student scholarships.
2. There will be several incredible auction items.
3. You will be the subject of respect and goodwill among your peers when you donate money to such a good cause.

With the "raise the paddle" option, you will have the chance to directly support student scholarships by raising your paddle and making a donation at specified monetary levels. If you are unable to attend the auction event in person but would like to raise a ‘virtual paddle’ and contribute to the student scholarship fund, please contact Steve Butler ([email protected])  or Kirk Rappe  ([email protected]).

Here is a small sampling of the items upon which you will be able to bid:

Puget Sound Whale Watching Tour for two

Departing from the Edmonds marina, the Swiftsure is the fastest, quietest, and most comfortable whale watching boat in the Northwest. This extraordinary half-day tour features a menagerie of orcas, whales, porpoises, dolphins, seals, sea lions, otters, shorebirds and many other species of marine life, something different every trip. The boat is operated by Puget Sound Express and has spacious, comfortable indoor seating and large windows, restrooms, outside viewing decks, and a great galley/cafe. The gift certificate is good from October through December of 2024 or spring of 2025. Thank you to Joe Tovar for arranging this auction item.

Four-Night Stay at the WorldMark Resort in Seaside, Oregon 

Ready for a vacation on the coast at a beach-side resort in Seaside, Oregon? This 2-bedroom, 2-bath modern unit sleeps 6 with 1 king bed, 2 twin beds, and 1 queen Murphy bed.  The spacious unit has an open main room area, a full kitchen, and an in-unit washer and dryer. The resort includes an activities center and fitness center as well as outside amenities. Check in at 4 pm on Monday, June 9, 2025, and check out by 10 am on Friday, June 13, 2025.  Seaside and the surrounding areas along the Oregon coast provide a variety of outdoor and recreational activities as well as artistic, educational, and dining experiences. Thank you to Esther Larsen for donating this stay.

Artwork, Pendleton Blanket, and Autographed Gallery Booklets by Artist Preston Singletary

Preston Singletary is a renowned artist, whose art is displayed in art galleries throughout the U.S. and internationally. He draws upon his Tlingit cultural heritage to produce stunning art and designs. The Pendleton blanket being auctioned off is out-of-print and no longer available for purchase, except of course to the successful bidder at the Student Scholarship Auction. More information about Preston Singletary may be found at this link. Thank you to Michael Cardwell for donating these items.

Half-Day Sailboat Trip

This auction item is a 3-4 hour day sail out of Olympia, WA for four adults. Story is a 36’ Cape George Cutter rig built and restored in Port Townsend Washington. She was born to sail around the world, which she plans on doing after 2025, but for now she enjoys regular day-sailing in South Puget Sound, hailing from the Olympia Yacht Club.  This auction item is for up to 4 people (21+), with beverages and light snacks included. An agreeable date can be arranged for any time through June of 2026. Thank you to Kell Rowen for donating this wonderful experience!

The abovementioned descriptions are just a few of the auction items that will be available for bidding during the Scholarship Auction. You owe it to yourself to check out all of the “goodies” that will be available at the auction. You will also have the chance to directly support student scholarships by raising your paddle and making a donation at specified monetary levels.

For more information about the Auction, please contact the Student Scholarship Auction Committee co-chairs: Steve Butler ([email protected]) and Kirk Rappe ([email protected]).

We look forward to seeing you at the Student Scholarship Auction to be held during the conference luncheon on October 17th in Bellevue!