8/30/02

2ND ANNUAL BLUE JEAN BALL FOR AU, AUM NURSING SCHOLARSHIPS

AUBURN -- The schools of nursing at Auburn University and Auburn University at Montgomery will sponsor the second annual Blue Jean Ball on Friday (Sept. 6) in Notasulga.

The event will begin at 5:30 p.m., at former Auburn football coach Pat Dye's Crooked Oaks Hunting Lodge.

Profits from the ball will go to funding nursing scholarships at Auburn and AUM. Students will be selected for the scholarships based on financial need and academic standing.

"We think the Blue Jean Ball gives Auburn supporters an opportunity to take advantage of a home football weekend and have a little additional fun that benefits the University," said Jennifer Dingman, development officer for the AU School of Nursing. "Last year's ball netted more than $46,000 and we're hoping to raise even more than that this year."

The Blue Jean Ball will feature entertainment ranging from horseshoes and hayrides to dance music by the City Slickers and a performance by the Montgomery Dulcimers Association.

In addition, the ball will feature both live and silent auctions featuring prizes specifically tailored to Auburn people. Among the live auction items are an afternoon quail hunt for four with Dye and Auburn head football coach Tommy Tuberville, two separate packages of football luxury suite tickets (one including 12 seats in the Great Southern Wood Preserving suite for the Vanderbilt game and the other two seats in the Alumni & Development suite for the Arkansas game), a Bo Jackson football helmet and a buffalo head and rug.

The silent auction will feature nearly two dozen items. One of the more unusual is a custom-painted Tigers-on-the-Prowl tiger like those seen throughout Auburn, donated by East Alabama Medical Center.

Representatives and birds from Auburn's Southeastern Raptor Rehabilitation Center will also be present as will Aubie, Auburn's lovable costumed mascot.

Individual tickets are available to the ball for $60 each. Tickets include dinner, entertainment and two complimentary beverage tickets.

Other "branding opportunities" are available at certain sponsorship levels. For more information, contact Dingman at 334-844-1434 or via email at: dingman@alumni.auburn.edu.

Crooked Oaks Hunting Lodge is located off Macon County 59, about 20 miles west of Auburn. Specific directions are on the back of the Blue Jean Ball tickets.

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CONTACT: Dingman, 334/844-1434.