Steamboat Pilot & Today

Steamboat Springs — Each year, students at the Emerald Mountain School await their campus's annual fundraising auction like it's a major holiday.

And this year's event certainly will be a time to celebrate.

“We're very, very excited,” eighth-grader Nicole Zedeck said Tuesday in the school's cafeteria. “You just hear so much about it from your parents. It's kind of like a rite of passage.”

This year's auction at Rex's American Grill & Bar will celebrate the school's 20th anniversary with a Roaring '20s theme.

Nicole is one of the lucky eighth-graders who will serve as an ambassador at the auction that supports the small private school's tuition assistance fund.

She and her classmates will help serve hors d'oeuvres and join in on the revelry.

Parents also will be able to bid on a prize package that includes the musical services of Nicole and five of her classmates, who play in the string quartet “Coal and the Diamonds.”

Other auction items include a whitewater river trip, horseback riding lessons, sporting lessons by past Olympians, tutoring and several art projects from the students, among other things.

One parent even is offering to provide 20 hours' worth of “errand running” to the highest bidder.

“This auction is absolutely integral to the culture of our school,” Emerald Mountain School Admissions Director Debbie Gooding said.

She said 28 percent of the school's 58 students receive scholarship assistance to help cover the annual tuition of $13,465.

Last year's auction raised about $60,000 for tuition assistance.

Head of School Sharon Mensing said the proceeds from the auction help support a healthy socioeconomic diversity at the campus.

“The only way to provide that diversity is to be able to offer scholarships to families who would not be able to come to our school without it,” she said. “It's important for all of our students.”

The upcoming auction will be the first under the banner of Emerald Mountain School, which changed its name from Lowell Whiteman Primary School at the start of the school year.

All of the school's families donate to the auction in some form, and the event is open to the public.

Tickets are $50 and can be purchased through the school by calling 970-879-8081.

“It's really cool to think we're the leaders of the school, and we get to represent the school,” eighth-grade student Leah Rowse said. “I want to do a good job at the auction.”

To reach Scott Franz, call 970-871-4210 or email scottfranz@SteamboatToday.com