A group of some of UH’s hottest bachelors and bachelorettes strutted their stuff on Tuesday at the UC underground as part of the “Spring Into Love” Date Auction event, hosted by the Hispanic Business Student Association.
The auction was created as a fundraiser for scholarships and other HBSA initiatives, and brought in a number of other participating organizations, including Phi Alpha Delta, the pre-law society. Nearly thirty eligible singles were auctioned off at the event, where bids started at $10 and increased in $5 increments. All the proceeds earned by HBSA members participating in the auction went straight back into the organization, while the money earned by other participants was split 20/80 to recoup some of the fees for running the event.
“I’ve been to date auctions before and they’re really fun, even if you’re just watching,” said Rachel Farhi, a junior double-majoring in English literature and political science. “With all the groups participating, it’s a great opportunity to get organizations to meet one another too.”
Anaelisse Bernal, one of the dates being auctioned at the event, was nervous about participating because she didn’t know what to expect. But she said that it was a great experience for her, because she’s open to new ideas and memories.
“I just did it for fun. It’s always good to try something new and different,” Bernal said.
Political science junior Nelson Villanueva came to the auction to support his fellow Phi Alpha Delta members, some of whom were being auctioned at the event. He said that he got caught up in the fun and excitement of the auction and ended up going home with a date.
“I wasn’t thinking about bidding at first, but then she came up and I thought she was really good looking,” said Vilanueva. “It’s really fun. You get a lot out of it and I think that everyone will enjoy it, even if you don’t bid.”
Kendrick Dean, a management information systems junior, agreed. As one of the more active participants in the auction, the crowd cheered as he went on to win multiple dates from the event. He said that he was impressed with how so many of the dates at the auction had both the looks and the intelligence that’s he’s feels is hard to find in the dating world.
“I was expecting it to be cheaper,” laughed Dean. “But the quality of the women here definitely exceeded my expectations. I wanted to get a girl. These are some pretty girls and the money is going to a good cause. It increased my dating opportunities and helped my chances of finding a wife one day.”
Louis Vogtman, a management information systems junior, is the fundraising director for HBSA and one of the creators of the event. He said that he felt the auction was a great success, and that he’s optimistic about its future.
“I look forward to seeing it next year,” Vogtman said. “I hope we can get even more people involved and get more of the school to support their fellow students.”
