DEL NORTE— Students with the High Valley Community Center (HVCC) held their annual art auction last Thursday, April 25. The students spent the last several weeks working on pieces of art to sell during the auction in order to raise funding for their end of the year trip to Denver. HVCC staff helped with the event by setting up the dining area at the center to look like a sleek art gallery with tables set around for dinner. According to staff, 16 students participated in the event and every piece of art was sold.
HVCC has had a busy year, first moving into their new location and staying busy with fundraising events, educational classes, hands-on life skill courses, and they plan on ending the school year with a bang. The evening was well attended with every table in the building full of eager parents and local residents wanting a piece of art created by the teens. The art was set up along the wall on separate tables for each student. Some featured pieces of jewelry, paintings of the Colorado logo and much more; each piece showed the dedication of the student who had created it.
HVCC provided the dinner for the evening and started the event around 6 p.m. By the time dinner had been served and the attending crowd was settled in, the evening was off to a great start. Each student took a moment to explain their piece and showcase it to the crowd before the auction. “Every piece sold and the students raised enough money to go to Denver this coming Friday. They were very happy,” said staff member Kathryn Trujillo.
“We don’t have specific plans in place yet, but we know we want to make the trip educational,” continued Trujillo. She stated that they hoped to focus on art while in the big city and give the students a chance to see some of the galleries while on their trip. “After that there will be time for some fun, we just like to have an educational background,” finished Trujillo.
HVCC also welcomed a new fun addition to their center. “Robert Shepherd from Albuquerque, N.M. built and donated the lending library to HVCC. Robert Shepherd and his grandson Leroy Trujillo helped install the library on Sunday. Valerie Williams works for Building Communities That Support Children’s Reading, and she provided HVCC with books for the classroom and now for our new lending library too,” said Trujillo.
Next up, the center will be hosting a comedy night on May 13 at 6:30 p.m. The Del Norte Chamber of Commerce is partnering with High Valley Community Center to host Sam Adams for a night of comedy. Proceeds from the event will help to host this year’s “Trails Showcase.” The event is open to everyone – tickets, which include dinner, are $20 in advance or $25 at the door and can be purchased at HVCC or online at www.DelNorteChamber.org. Call 719-657-9081 for more information.