SVA table for Valentine’s Day fundraiser in SUE East cafeteria. (Image courtesy of Mr. Axel Feliciano)
WHAT IS THE STUDENT VETERANS’ ASSOCIATION?
You might be asking yourself, “What is the Student Veterans’ Association (SVA)?” In short, it is one of the many professional organizations on the Gulf Coast State College (GCSC) campus. It is open to all students, but the primary target audience is; Active-duty, Air National Guard, and Reserve military members, their dependents, and veterans. The SVA provides participants with the opportunity to learn, grow and network with other like-minded individuals. Moreover, this organization provides the following opportunities; the ability to cultivate leadership skills, enhance the development of social skills, foster team building, and create opportunities to give back to the GCSC community overall. Each quarter the SVA holds numerous fundraising events across the main GCSC campus. The SVA’s first fundraiser of Spring 2022 was Valentine’s Day Sale.
VALENTINE’S DAY SALE!
Before the event started, word had to spread about this event. This generated enthusiasm and helped garner volunteers. E-mails were disseminated, texts sent, and flyers posted. Next, on the 10th and 14th of February, the SVA volunteers set up and sold numerous Valentine’s Day items from 10 AM to 3 PM. Their table was placed in the Student Union East (SUE) building near the Inklusion Coffee Shop. The volunteers sold the following items: Teddy bears, flowers, chocolate hearts, Valentine’s Day cards, and even held a raffle. The results of this venue were better than anticipated.
RESULTS
Overall, SVA sold $220 worth of products and sold $42 in raffle tickets. After deducting the costs incurred to procure those various items, the net income was $137. The winner of the raffle was a GCSC employee in the testing office. The prize was half the amount of the total number of raffle tickets sold (i.g., $42), and the winner was gracious enough to re-donate the winnings, $21, back to the SVA. You might be wondering, what were the three most commonly sold items? First, the roses, second the stuffed bears, and third the chocolate hearts. Also, the remaining boxes of chocolate were donated to the local Clifford Chester Sims State Veterans Nursing Home in Panama City.
FUTURE FUNDRAISING EVENT
The next SVA fundraising event will take place the week before Spring Break, from the 7th through the 10th of March. The SVA will have a table set up in the SUE East building. They will also have a table set up at the Advanced Technology Center (ATC) building. They will be selling Spring Break-themed and Saint Patrick’s Day-themed candy, cards, and more, so keep your eyes peeled for further information as we get closer to spring break. Also, if you are interested in volunteering for this event, contact Mr. Matt Fox at mfox5@my.gulfcoast.edu or Mr. Dave Jantzen at djantzen@gulfcoast.edu. Lastly, if you are interested in attending any future SVA meetings, the next one is scheduled for the 24th of March, from 12:30 PM to 1:30 PM. The meeting location is the Military/Veterans Resource Center (MVRC), located in the southeastern corner of the SUE East building, room 62.
