Be Our Guest

The second annual Master’s Ball was a night full of the finer things in life: formal dresses, tasty hours de oeuvres, and fundraising for a good cause.

The physician assistant (PA) program at Cumberlands’ Williamsburg campus raised $4,100 for Emergency Christian Ministries (ECM) at the Master’s Ball, a steep climb from the $2,900 the ball raised last year.

“I am so proud of the effort put into the ball and the strides everyone made to make it a success,” said Hailey Satyna, '26, president of Cohort 2024 in the PA program. “Yes, we’re all stressed-out PA students, but everyone put in some time and some effort toward the cause. The effort everyone put in was astronomical.”

ECM is operated by founders Steven and Susan Jett of Williamsburg. The ministry began in 1991 and provides those who find themselves homeless by providing accessibility to a safe, clean, warm, and dry place to live during a transitory time in their lives. ECM works to meet the spiritual needs, as well as the physical needs, of those in need by providing clothing, food, Bibles, transportation needs, laundry facilities, showers, and more. Additionally, the ministry assists residents in finding employment and permanent housing.1

For months before the ball, PA students networked with local businesses to arrange donations. Everything at the ball was donated, from food to raffle prizes. It unexpectedly became an opportunity for the students to connect with the local community, which is something they don’t often enjoy due to the many hours of studying, classes, and clinicals required in the program.

Hailey said, “The ball gave us a chance to get dressed up, play trivia together, and get to know each other better.” She added, laughing, “And we got to see each other in a different light than as super-busy PA students always running around wearing scrubs!”

Susan Jett chuckled, “It’s always fun sitting and watching young people do their thing. My husband was amazed this year to see students playing cornhole, indoors, wearing suits and ties.”

The staff at ECM is greatly appreciative of the funds the PA students raised to help their ministry.

“Nowadays, it’s hard to find young people who want to be involved in community service,” said Susan. “That alone is exciting to see. And, of course, the money is a great asset for us because we are in a full renovation of our building right now.”

Last year, a lot of painting and sheetrock was redone, as well as other projects. This year, it’s important that the kitchen gets upgraded. Since ECM serves many people who are in their seasons of highest need, the funds used for renovations will be directly impacting many people in important ways.

Susan said she and her husband were honored that the PA students picked ECM as beneficiaries of the funds from last year’s ball. It was originally Morgan

Moses, '23, who came up with the idea.

Morgan, president of Cohort 2023, explained, “In previous years, the UCPA program has hosted various charity events, but since COVID-19 they had been unable to do so. As restrictions were loosening last year, my class decided we wanted to reinstate an event that could give back to our community. I contacted community leaders in search of a local organization that was in need of assistance. This is when I learned about ECM’s urgent needs for funds and repairs to their facility. We recognized that they share the same values that we have as PA students seeking to serve others in need, so we unanimously decided that we wanted to help their cause.”

She and the rest of her cohort, who planned the first Master’s Ball, were thrilled with its success. Now that the second ball has raised even more funds, Morgan can’t wait to see how successful the next ball will be.

1 https://www.kybaptist.org/church-missions/emergency-christianministries/