Bates 'sizzles' at Pacific Grill Events Center

Spice up your spring at the annual Bates Technical College Foundation fundraiser, Bates Sizzles, on Thursday, April 21, 5:30-9 p.m., at the Pacific Grill Events Center, 1530 Pacific Ave., in Tacoma.

Chef Gordon Naccarato will showcase Pacific Grill’s mouthwatering appetizers, including cheeseburger sliders, “meat candy,” and an elegant signature cocktail.

Attendees can bid on hot silent auction items such as a homemade Korean dinner for six; a tamale party; a baseball autographed by Felix Hernandez, a Cy Young Award winner; lunch with Bates President and community activist Lyle Quasim; several packages dedicated to wine, cooking, tea, margaritas, and more.

This year’s live auction will feature several vacation packages, including a trip to the House of Blues, a Sonoma wine extravaganza, the Hyatt Key West Resort and Marina, and a New Orleans jazz and dining package.

Funds raised at Bates Sizzles assist the college’s students and programs with scholarships, mini-grants and more. During the 2010-2011 academic year, the foundation awarded $70,000 in scholarships to more than 125 Bates students. Last year, the event raised about $40,000 to support this effort.

Especially important during today’s economic conditions, scholarships play a key role for students enrolled in higher education. At Bates, all students are eligible to apply for the foundation’s general scholarships, and others who fit certain criteria can apply for a variety of program-specific scholarships.

Recipients in various career education programs may use the scholarships, which range from $150-$1,000 per student, to help pay for tuition, books, supplies and child care expenses at the college.

Tickets to Bates Sizzles are $60 each or two for $100. Call 253.680.7060 or visit www.bates.ctc.edu/Foundation to reserve your tickets and learn more about the event.