Fashion Forward: Waikato Management students from left to right Ilkwon Chung, Monique Webb, Joanna Appelman, Sarah Dixon and Saicha Knight.
Waikato University students are putting their new skills to the test.
Over the next four weeks, Waikato Management School students will run events to help raise money for the Waikato/Bay of Plenty Cancer Society as part of a new paper being offered on event management.
Students have been working in groups of up to six to research, plan and implement an event. Among the 15 student-organised events is a Charity Spring Fashion Show and Auction, which has been organised by communications students Sarah Dixon, Monique Webb, Saicha Knight, Ilkwon Chung and Joanna Appelman.
Sarah says the group shared a mutual fashion obsession. “We felt a fashion show would be a fun way to get the community involved in a great cause,” she says. “As we got further into planning the event we also found businesses were willing to not only donate money, but auction items as well.”
This week’s fashion show will showcase the latest spring clothing collections from local stores. “The auction will have a range of items, from limited edition pink breast cancer Pandora bracelets to a yacht ride and a three-month gym membership,” says Sarah.
Monique says sponsorship is essential as they want to raise as much money as they possibly can. “We’ve been surprised at how accommodating businesses have been. Not only have they offered items for our event, but also their time and experience which has been invaluable.”
Both Monique and Sarah say the new events paper at Waikato University has allowed them to understand and experience what it’s like to organise and manage an actual event. “Organising this event, while extremely satisfying, has proven to us that event planning is not always glamorous,” says Monique. “There are some really hard jobs, but this paper has enabled us to prove to ourselves that we are capable of organising a great event.”
The Charity Spring Fashion Show and Auction takes place at 7.30pm on Friday September 24 and is held at the Ferrybank Lounge on Grantham Street in Hamilton. Tickets can be bought by emailing Sarah Dixon on [email protected]. Other events in the coming month include a disco at Ohaupo School; a scavenger hunt at Sky City; a talent show at the Cambridge Town Hall; a mini-golf tournament in Callum Brae; and, a drive-in movie at the Hamilton Gardens.
Money raised by Waikato University students will go to support the Waikato/Bay of Plenty Cancer Society in its appeal for $4.25 million to build a new accommodation facility for people receiving treatment for cancer. The facility, on Tainui St in Hamilton, will house 600 people every year and provide free meals and accommodation, and will also be the hub for the Cancer Society’s support services.