News

The NEO Development Foundation hosted its record-shattering 18th Annual Fundraising Gala on November 7. Foundation officials challenged attendees to raise over $100,000 to celebrate NEO’s Centennial and they answered the call, raising $103,000. Last year, NEO distributed nearly $150,000 in student scholarships thanks largely to donations raised during the annual Foundation gala. Partnering with GiveSmart, NEO again offered mobile bidding technology to allow those who weren’t attending the gala to have a chance to win nearly 250 auction items.

“We want to give a special thanks to our business community, alumni, and friends who helped us set an event record,” said Jennifer Walker, Executive Director of the NEO Development Foundation. “The $100,000 will help fund scholarships and support the NEO Ag Department’s effort to build a greenhouse for educational instruction and community projects.  As our centennial year winds down, it is exciting to end on such a positive note.” The NEO Agriculture Department Greenhouse was selected as this year’s special project and guests enjoyed the theme “Evening at the Derby.”

NEO Agriculture is one of the oldest departments on campus and features education areas including Livestock, Forestry, and Agri-Business. In 2018, NEO announced the introduction of an Agronomy program at the Soybean Research Field Day. To support the development of the program, the Agriculture Department raised $40,000 at the Gala to purchase an Agriculture Research Greenhouse that will allow students to conduct hands on research year-round. The see photos from the evening, visit Facebook.com/gogoneo, or to donate, visit NEO.edu/Foundation. (Photo: NEO Ag Hall of Fame Member Sonny Booth served as the guest auctioneer along with NEO student Keylon Stogsdill)