Gala fundraiser benefiting student scholarship funds with Michael Symon

Save the date!

Saturday, November 2, 2013
Saint Martin’s University
Lacey, Washington


Join the party!

Be a part of the Saint Martin's Gala and share your love of service at the same time!

Sign up to be a volunteer today.

Volunteer and attend the Saint Martin's Gala with Michael Symon!

Student spotlight

Crystal Maria

As a scholarship recipient, Crystal Maria ’13 knows that scholarships change lives. In 2012 she shared her experiences with guests of the Saint Martin’s Gala. A bittersweet and compelling story, her remarks moved the audience to help raise more than $760,000 for future students.

"Individuals like you who support scholarship funds for Saint Martin’s University give students like me a chance to change their lives, live out their dreams and set goals they never thought possible. Those who share their generous spirit with Saint Martin’s send a message to students: 'You are worth something. You are capable of succeeding. I believe you can achieve what you set your mind to, even if you don’t have the financial resources to fund that personal journey.' "

"Please don’t think for a moment that you are not capable of changing a life. Look at me: You have changed mine, and you will forever change the lives, and futures, of so many students like me. In doing so, you shape the future of your communities."
- Crystal Maria


Gala chairs
Armandino '59 and Marilyn Batali
Rick and Pam Panowicz


2012 SMU Gala with Guy Fieri

Relive the 2012 Gala with Guy Fieri through our social media coverage.


For questions, please contact:
Bianca Galam
Office of Institutional Advancement
360-486-8885 gala@stmartin.edu

The 2013 Saint Martin's Gala

An evening with celebrity chef Michael Symon

Lift your forks and raise your wine glasses — Chef Michael Symon is coming to the Saint Martin’s Gala!

From the on-stage Viking kitchen, Symon will deliver his unique brand of epicurean entertainment, preparing a signature gourmet dinner from a menu created exclusively for the event. Guests will enjoy a delicious celebration featuring specially selected wine and an exciting live auction.

Symon, an Iron Chef and co-host of The Chew, will be the third consecutive celebrity chef to headline the annual black-tie affair, which raises funds for student scholarships. In 2011, Saint Martin's welcomed Chef Mario Batali, and in 2012, Chef Guy Fieri. Both chefs broke records for funds raised by the Gala.

Individual ticket and select table sales open to the public on May 1, 2013. Review our ticket information for additional details.


Opportunities to support the Gala

Sponsorship and table patron opportunities are currently available. To learn more, contact the Office of Institutional Advancement at 360-486-8885 or gala@stmartin.edu.


It's about the students!

Students

Gala receipts benefit SMU scholarship funds

The Saint Martin’s Gala is a celebration of hospitality and community. It's a time to see old friends, renew acquaintances, savor delicious food and wine, and be entertained. But the primary reason for our gathering is to support our students educational journey through the advancement of scholarship funds.

Scholarships are vital! They make it possible for hundreds of students to attend Saint Martin’s every year. In this difficult economy, as a college education grows increasingly out of reach for ever more students and their families, scholarships help make a degree from Saint Martin’s a reality for many. But, a Saint Martin’s education is much more than a college diploma. It is a unique experience that prepares individuals to take on personal and professional challenges of the 21st century, equipped with a set of ethics rooted in our Benedictine values.

Financial aid facts

  • More than 95 percent of Saint Martin’s students receive some form of financial assistance.
  • In 2011-12, Saint Martin's University provided its students with more than $10 million in the form of grants, including individual and corporate donor-funded scholarships, and the 2011 Gala Feed-a-Mind scholarships.
  • As a result, the Saint Martin’s student body represents a rich diversity that distinguishes our campus from many others across the nation. More than one-third of our students come from underrepresented populations, including first-generation college students as well individuals from low-income families and ethnically diverse backgrounds. Our University is one where everyone has the opportunity to thrive.