This winter quarter, the Department of Engineering hosted their 18th annual Engineers Without Borders Gala.
The event took place on Feb. 7 in the Marcus Whitman Hotel’s ballroom. Department of Engineering alumni, faculty, friends of WWU, and their families were invited along with all current engineering students. Non-students paid a $68 admission fee while students’ $40 tickets were sponsored by donations.
The gala raised $14,000 before expenses through ticket sales, a raffle, games, and an auction. The funds will go towards a project fund that includes finishing EWB’s current water supply project in Tanzania.
A favorite memory from this year’s gala is when a man staying at the hotel walked by the ballroom and asked if he could join in on the festivities. “Everyone kind of knows each other so it was funny seeing him interact with everyone,” said Sophia Rivera, EWB student president.
That man ended up donating almost $500 to the organization. At the end of the event “he gave us his contact information and said, ‘I just like doing this kind of thing,’” said Rivera.
After the gala, Rivera’s responsibilities with EWB include organizing quarterly workshops and preparing for the yearly service project. This quarter, she has a concrete water filter workshop scheduled in preparation for Tanzania.
Next year’s gala will take place on the first weekend in February. To learn more about WWU’s EWB chapter and the gala visit wallawalla.edu/ewb.
