Hilltopics E-Zine - Barton County Community College

Hilltopics E-Zine
Barton County Community College
E-mail Comments to hilltopics@bartonccc.edu

Dr. Doug and Jane Ayre

For more information, contact: Darnell Holopirek, 620-792-9367, holopirekd@bartonccc.edu.

June 5, 2006
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Story by Michael Dawes

Dr. Doug and Jane Ayre Co-Chair “Star-Spangled Night”

All-American Summer Picnic Planned for Barton’s 28th Annual Big Benefit Auction

Barton County Community College Foundation’s Big Benefit Auction is moving to summer. Scheduled a week before Labor Day weekend, the nation’s unofficial end of summer, the 28th Big Benefit Auction will provide one more opportunity for the public to participate in an old-fashioned, all-American summer picnic.

The auction, with a theme of “Star-Spangled Night,” will be held Aug. 26 from 6 p.m. to midnight at the Highland Hotel and Convention Center, Great Bend. The silent auction begins festivities at 6 p.m. Car Auction and Real Estate Inc. will conduct the live auction an hour later. After the auction, a dance is planned from 9 p.m. to midnight, featuring disc jockey Bobby Wild who will play music from the 1960s and ‘70s during the dance.

This year’s honorary co-chairs of Barton’s Big Benefit Auction are Dr. Doug and Jane Ayre, who own and operate Eye Care of Great Bend and Larned Eye Health. Raising four young children and operating businesses in two communities with Doug serving as one of two optometrists, the Ayres have limited time to serve, but they realize the importance of the event.

“The college is important for the community, so we make time for that,” said Doug. “I see patients every day who are affected by Barton as patients and as friends.”

Neither of the Ayres attended Barton, but both value education. Each earned a bachelor’s degree from Kansas State University. Doug also graduated from Nova Southeastern University School of Optometry in Miami, Fla.

“I’m from Salina and I did a lot of my undergrad from the colleges in town while I was in high school,” said Jane. “I had 14 hours before I attended Kansas State and I think having Barton in this area is a great benefit, not only to college students, but to high school students who have that option available to them as I did.”

With the auction’s picnic indoors, it comes with the promise of no pesky insects, no blistering heat sun burning noses, necks or shoulders, and no gusty wind blowing food across the yard. And with the picnic theme, the auction sports casual dress in a relaxed atmosphere.
“We’ve attended the auction the last several years,” said Jane. “We’ve enjoyed them. They’ve always been a lot of fun and this one especially looks to be a blast.”

One aspect that may bolster attendance at this year’s event is that the auction doesn’t appear to conflict with state college football schedules as in past years when the auction was held in the fall.

“We were thrilled when we found out the auction was scheduled for August because K-State’s first football game is Sept. 2,” said Jane. “That’s always been a concern for us.”
Auction tickets go on sale July 17 at a cost of $25 per person. Tickets can be ordered by contacting the Foundation Office. More details about the auction will be announced in the coming weeks.

The auction is the BCCC Foundation's longest running fund-raiser. All money raised this year goes toward academic scholarships and program enhancements at Barton for the 2006-07 academic year. The Foundation is in its acquisition phase to secure auction items through the end of this month. Businesses or individuals who have items, talents or services to donate are encouraged to call the Foundation Office, 620-792-9306.