Superhero theme for 10th annual GHC Foundation Mystery Getaway

Money raised goes toward World Class Scholars

The 10th anniversary Grays Harbor College Foundation Mystery Getaway next month will feature a superhero theme and again raise money for the foundation’s World Class Scholars program.

“People who buy their tickets in advance and at the door drop them into a suitcase,” said foundation executive director Lisa Smith. “Then they go into the HUB, which we decorate to the theme, which this year is superheros. Then people can mingle, we serve heavy appetizers and there is a bar available.” You must be 21 or older to attend.

The event is Thursday, Feb. 22, from 6-8 p.m. in the Grays Harbor College HUB.

You don’t need to wear a cape to participate. Individual tickets can be purchased for $50 plus a processing fee online at ghc.edu; click on the Mystery Getaway announcement on the home page.

And the foundation is always looking for sponsors for the event. Sponsorships start at $500 plus a processing fee and can be purchased at the same email address. Those who purchase a sponsorship get recognition in the foundation’s promotional materials and at the event, plus eight tickets to the fundraiser of the season.

“Tim Martin, our board president, is emceeing the event,” said Smith. “He’ll talk about what the World Class Scholar program is about, lay out the rules, and then the drawing is process of elimination until the last person is standing.” Tickets are drawn throughout the event until there is one ticket left, which is the winning ticket.

The grand prize is a three-day trip to a destination that is not disclosed until the night of the event. Previous destinations included San Francisco, Las Vegas, Palm Springs and New Orleans. The prize includes airfare, hotel, transportation and a gift basket containing items from the destination city.

“We will unveil the location that evening,” said Smith. There are also opportunities during the evening to pay to secure your spot in the top 50, and “during the evening we raise the price even more to secure a spot in the top 10.”

The goal this year is to raise $60,000, which would bring the endowment to the $1 million mark, said Smith.

The foundation started the World Class Scholars program in 1993. Students in Grays Harbor and Pacific counties can sign up for the program beginning in the seventh grade but no later than the ninth grade.

“The program is a partnership between students, parents and the college,” said Smith, who herself was a member of the third graduating class of the program when she graduated Aberdeen High School in 2002. There are now 16 schools participating in Grays Harbor and Pacific counties.

Participating students sign a contract with the college, committing to follow the requirements of the program. If they follow through and graduate under those requirements they qualify for a $2,000 scholarship to Grays Harbor College, equal to about two semesters’ worth of tuition.

The requirements include:

• Graduating high school with a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or better

• Completing a portfolio of materials annually

• Demonstrating a variety of interpersonal skills, including working with groups, leadership roles, and respecting others

• Completing at least 50 hours of community service and provide annual documentation of participation

“I remember being in junior high and Bette Worth came to talk to us about World Class Scholars,” said Smith. “I came from a family that never really discussed higher education, and after she spoke I was adamant about doing that process.”

Her portfolio, like others, also serves as a point of self reflection, outlining the student’s goals in higher education and paving a path to a career.

“My portfolio was in a nice, thick binder, but it burned when the school burned down (in January 2002),” said Smith. “I still have my medallion, with my maiden name on it and completion year, and when I got the job I told my husband to get it out of the attic. I wear it when I talk to people about the program because I want to show what kind of impact the program has on a student.”

In 2016, 44 students earned scholarships to the tune of just under $76,000 Last year, 35 students were awarded a total of just under $69,000.The foundation projects in 2018 as many as 83 students could be funded a total of more than $128,000.

Scholarships are specifically for Grays Harbor College, but can be used to pay for the college’s online courses, said Smith. The program in 1999 received the U.S. Senate’s Innovation in Education Award “for creativity and promoting continued education,” she added.

“If a student goes through the program and attends college somewhere else, that is fine,” said Smith. “The program is a pathway to higher education. That’s exactly what it did for me. I went to college somewhere else and used the scholarship to take summer courses.”

Interested students can get more information on the Grays Harbor College web site or from Vanessa Escobar, the college’s recruitment/admissions manager, at 360-538-2524 or email vanessa.escobar@ghc.edu.

If you would like to donate funds to the program, contact Smith at 360-538-4243 or lisa.smith@ghc.edu.