Splash! Into Love: Date Auction

Splash! is a University of Chicago student organization that offers free after-school and weekend programs for high school students. Every year they hold a date auction (with date packages from various fun and fancy places) to raise money for their many classes and activities. Shotosnap was lucky enough to be there.

 Cover Photo:

 The Splash! Team, with organizer Sarah Li in the middle, irons out some details. They have to make sure adequate refreshments are provided for those bidders, after all.

The bachelors and bachelorettes begin to arrive; adjusting makeup and fashionable threads.

And admire the bios that everyone(‘s friends) wrote.

(Most of) the crowd looks on attentively!

Himabindu Poroori preforms a lovely rendition of “Book of Love”, complete with acoustic guitar.

Miss Joone Choi, a talented member of PhiNix dance crew, is embarrassed after an impromptu dance performance.

 Penny Segura walks with style, and sass.

Hiba Ahmed enjoys many shoutouts from friends in the audience.

     Benjamin Nickerson plays it cool, in snazzy jacket and cap.

Veronica Murashige fields questions about the origin of her lovely dress (Lucky Brand).

 Emma Patchak amazes us with her complex knowledge major and extra-circulars

Matt Luchin laughs off a particularly embarassing audience question

Joe Caputo is modest and charming (and he has a car!).

 Giulia Calveri shows off her lovely Italian accent and promises great food to the highest bidder.

Katherine Oosterbaan is confused and amused by the bio her friend wrote.

Will Craft shows off his fancy suit-jamas.

Ivy Sandquist is resplendent in red.

Karlee Esmailli reads us a cat poem, braving injury to make money for the kids.

 In the interim, the team enjoys a feeling of accomplishment (and snacks).

 The Auction begins again with Marius Karabaczek, AKA “man with the golden voice”

Gwendolyn Wiegold was more than happy to answer any audience questions with style.

 Vo Ram Yoon, a Splash! Organizer as well as bachelor, is bashful on stage.

 Katie Burns, one of the MCs for the evening, makes sure each bachelor/bachelorette is dutifully appreciated and embarrassed.

 The Splash! Team devotedly records the bid prices, and monitors/announces their progress.

 Natalie Von Laufenberg leads the audience in a stellar performance of “Titanium."

Brian Lu shows off his dancing skills, with a k-pop medley.

 Veronika Kondev is surprised by a collection of friends that give a (extremely enthusiastic) shoutout.

 Matthew Morales nods along to his amazing superhero origin story.

Julianne Zhang, far too modest, brings cupcakes to apologize for her “lack of talent”. Katie demands higher bids, "For the children!"

Jeff Simnick educates us all on the wonders of the universe, and Ke$ha. 

Stefania Ghisleni, another lovely Italian lady, makes sure the bids she receives are adequate.

Mattie Renn shows off her exquisite styling and taste, and is momentarily perplexed by an odd audience question.

So, the auction is over, and a good time was had by all. By the end, the auction had raised over $1800 for Splash!. The Splash! volunteers are looking forward to getting back to the classroom, so to speak.