ISU College of Arts and Letters raises over $100,000 at fourth annual New Year’s Eve Gala

Idaho State University’s College of Arts and Letters raised more than $100,000 at their fourth annual New Year’s Eve Gala, more than doubling what was raised at last year’s event. After expenses, the remaining proceeds will benefit Arts and Letters students.

            The New Year’s Eve Gala is held at the L.E. and Thelma E. Stephens Performing Arts Center every year to raise money for students in the visual and performing arts. The Gala also allows guests to experience a night of elegance and see the talent that ISU has to offer.

            “The Gala is a great way for our students to show off their talents, as well as gain professional experience,” said Kandi Turley-Ames, dean of the College of Arts and Letters. “We are proud of our students and their accomplishments, and we love that our community gets to see them perform.”

            The night’s entertainment included theatre students performing puppet shows, cabaret songs, pantomime and sword fighting, dance students performing original pieces, art students did live sketching of the dancers as well as displaying their work, and the ISU Big Band helped ring in the new year. 

Classical pop music fusion trio Time for Three was a featured guest for the evening, and played covers of hit songs including “Stairway to Heaven,” “Bittersweet Symphony” and “Sweet Child O’ Mine.” The group also collaborated with the ISU Big Band on two of their original songs.

            Students and professors in the Department of Art created pieces to be given away during the Gala including a necklace designed by student Laura Makowski, a tea set created by visiting professor Chris Pickett, a bronze casted sculpture by art chair Jeff Adams and a lithograph print done by lecturer Juliet Feige. ISU Credit Union also donated two tickets to Disney on Ice.

            The Gala was made possible by several businesses in the community, including the Bistline Foundation, Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance, ISU Credit Union, Mountain View Hospital, Portneuf Medical Center, Zions Bank, Premier Technology and SE Idaho Gastroenterology. More businesses donated goods and services to the Gala, including the Idaho State Journal, KPVI News 6, Bell Photography, Nel’s Bi-Lo Market, KISU, Butcher Block, Christine’s Floral, Costco and Safari Graphics.

            “We are very appreciative of each of our corporate donors and local businesses who believe in this event and want to see it succeed,” Turley-Ames said. “Due to their support, we raised over $100,000 and wrapped up our most successful Gala yet.”

            For more information, contact Melissa Lee at 282-1404 or bohnmeli@isu.edu.