T H E S O I R É E E N J OY S G R E AT S U CC E S S The Soirée, St. Joseph’s Academy’s premier fundraising event, was held the evening of March 10 in the Activity Center. The theme of this year’s gala was Rocking through the Decades. Guests enjoyed a night of live and silent auctions, raffles, great food and drinks by area restaurants and live music by After 8. The evening raised more than $100,000 to be used to provide campus-wide enhancements to benefit the young women of SJA. Through Qtego Auction Technology, guests were able to bid on auction items before The Soirée began. During the event, they used their smartphones to track action on the silent and live auctions and raffles. Guests also enjoyed the SJA Student Ambassadors who were on hand to assist throughout the evening. The 2018 planning committee was chaired by Linda Thompson. She was joined by Committee Co-Chair and Live Auction Chair Michelle Mitchell, Silent Auction CoChair Courtney Newbill, Silent Auction Co-Chair Kathryn Rothkamm ’87, Restaurant Chair Melanie Callicott, Raffle Co-Chair Katie Cheatham, Raffle Co-Chair Missy Brown ’94, Decorations Chair Christy Castille Haik ’82, Pull-a-Fork and Entertainment Chair Joanne Harvey, Sponsorship Chair Adele Netterville, Bar Chair Jean Couvillion and committee members Kelly Lewis, Misty Plauche, Tammy Brice, Tracy Gaspard and Ursula Laville. Serving as committee advisors were Meg Gerald, Sister Joan Laplace, Katie Jeter Valenciano ’04 and Jennifer Knight.
Guests enjoyed live music by After 8.
The Soirée committee owes a debt of gratitude to the individuals and organizations who sponsored The Soirée. Sanctity-level sponsors were Celebrity Theatres; Franklin Data Empowered Direct Marketing; Charles and Joanne Harvey; and Linda Thompson. Joy-level sponsors were Dr. James Rhorer; and Suzanne and Joseph Quinlan. Action-level sponsors were Investar Bank; John G. Turner and Jerry Fischer; and Kendra Scott Jewelry. Red-level sponsors were A&J Designs; Blair and Jim Purgerson; Elizabeth ’72 and Tom McKowen; Michael Fruge and Tony Clayton; Sissy ’80 and Ralph Stephens; Qtego Auction Technology; Fran ’76 and Leroy Harvey; and Air Effects/Sky Tracker LLC. White-level sponsors were Cajun Industries LLC; Gail and Bill Pryor; Hiller Orthodontics; Linda and Ian Hipwell; Linda and Larry Messina; Louis Mechanical Contractors Inc.; Christine and Milton Dureau; Raymond James and Associates Inc.; Dr. Ann Lafranca and Robert A. Handy; Ryson Roofing; Cajun Ready-Mix; School Time Uniforms; and Anne and Tom J. Meek.
Student Ambassadors were on hand to assist guests with their auction bids.
Members of The Soirée planning committee were, from left, Melanie Callicott, Katie Jeter Valenciano ’04, Jean Couvillion, Christy Castille Haik ’82, Kathryn Gober Rothkamm ’87, Courtney Newbill, Linda Thompson, Joanne Harvey, Jennifer Knight, Meg Gerald and Wendy Coniglio.
13 | S J A C O N N E C T I O N S Spring 2018