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Art enthusiasts can bid on original pieces created by Oakton Community College students, faculty and local artists from the comfort of their homes while supporting students in their academic endeavors.

The Oakton Educational Foundation's annual "Art & More for Education's Sake"– a benefit silent and live auction event – is open to all and will be live-streamed through Vimeo starting at 7:30 p.m., Thursday, April 22. Register for free at oakton.edu/auctionevent.

Alternatively, VIP tickets are available for purchase through Monday, April 12. The VIP experience ($100 per couple or $60 per individual) allows you to enjoy the evening with wine and charcuterie delivered to your home.

"At a time when students need our help the most, we look forward to an engaging evening in support of a worthy cause," says Carl Costanza, Oakton Educational Foundation Board President. "Our ability to enable student success by extending financial support in the form of scholarships, emergency funding, and technology tools depends on donor support. We are grateful to the artists at Oakton and in the community who have gifted works to help us raise funds to empower student learning and enhance lives through the gift of higher education."

The silent auction opens for live bidding on Friday, April 16. Works include professional and student art paintings, sculptures, photography and ceramics. Also up for grabs are trips to Florida, New York City and Los Cabos, Mexico!

Proceeds support student scholarships, innovation grants for academic and co-curricular programs, and the Student Success Fund, which helps students cope with financial hardship.

The Oakton Educational Foundation supports the College's mission and vision by raising funds in support of student scholarships, academic programs, teaching excellence, and capital improvements that enhance the quality of education at Oakton.

Due to donors' generosity, the Educational Foundation allocated more than $840,000 for student scholarships in the fiscal year 2020, directly benefiting more than 340 Oakton students through scholarship awards and indirectly impacting the more than 6,700 students who are currently enrolled.