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Largest StepUP Gala Ever Celebrates Hope

The StepUP® Gala on October 29 was a night of celebration for the StepUP Program, with a record-capacity crowd, a special guest appearance by Senator Amy Klobuchar, and generous support for StepUP’s students and the future of the program.

This year’s Gala generated nearly $500,000 for the program in one evening – with $150,000 raised from the Fund-a-Need. Thank you to the StepUP Board, the Gala committee, and co-chairs Gina Gage and Cindy Piper, for an evening to remember, which included some notable highlights:

• 500 guests in attendance
• 100+ StepUP Program alumni and students
• Barbara and Skip Gage and family received the Toby Piper LaBelle Award
• The Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation received the inaugural Keystone Award
 Alumni speaker Peter Hubbard ’10 shared his experiences connecting students with alumni

Thanks to all who attended and made the event such a success!

 

Dog Therapy

-Blake HalvorsonBlake H. hugging a dog as big as him.

Meet Charlie pictured on the right. A Great Dane who joined the students on campus this last week for part of the finals week therapy dog visit. Weighing in at 160 pounds and over 6 feet tall Charlie, along with many other dogs and their owners, was a delight to have on campus.

Playing with these dogs was a great stress relief before finals. Students would gather around in different locations on campus such as the Lindell Library and the Christensen Center to release some stress before they went studying for finals. The dogs were well behaved and loved the attention. I could just simply take a step away from my paper in the library and receive some kisses froClose up photo of the same dog in the previous picture.m the dogs and then get back to work, I loved it.

Finals week therapy dog visits are just another great benefit students receive from being an Auggie. A huge thank you goes out to the owners who were willing to help us end the semester on a good note.