Campus Hosts Valentine's Day Events

Arts & Entertainment Editor

Courtesy of Janelle Martin

YES! - Matt Middleton, the new offensive coordinator, participated in the Missionary Baptist Student Fellowship Valentine's Auction. The auction raised over $2,600 to aid children soldiers in Uganda.

   The Valentine’s Dinner and the Valentine’s Auction gave students and faculty the opportunity to give and receive at the University of Arkansas at Monticello.

   Four couples won the chance to have a romantic dinner and see a movie with their significant other.

   Junior Lesa Kilpatrick and her husband Mark won one of the dinners and will go on their first date. Lesa and Mark met while working at a Campbell Soup factory. Mark worked as a security guard and Lesa on an assembly line packing frozen dinners. 

   Lesa said there was immediate attraction between them and that he took care of her after she had to have major surgery. 

   The Kilpatrick’s married after a month of knowing one another. Over their 12-year marriage, they never went on a date and focused their life on raising their two daughters, ages 15 and 5.

   “I just wanted to date my husband,” Lesa said. “I wanted just him and me for the first time.”

   Lesa entered the contest by e-mail and sent in a submission describing her age, about her children and her chaotic lifestyle.  Lesa said her husband did not believe they won and asked which kid they were taking with them.

   “I couldn’t believe it,” Mark said. “I honestly thought it was a joke.”

   Mitch Powell, student services coordinator at Crossett, also won a romantic dinner. He gives his wife, Sandy, a bouquet of one white rose, two reds and three pink roses every Valentine’s Day. He actually proposed to Sandy on Valentine’s Day and the day represents something special to them. He said he was excited about the dinner.

   “I am very appreciative of Aramark, the Student Activities Board and Lindsey Kight for sponsoring the dinner and allowing us to enjoy a romantic evening together,” Powell said.

  Ray Dillard and Jon Robbins won the other two dinners.

   Lindsey Kight, director of Student Programs and Activities, and Jamie Glisson, production manager of Aramark, started the tradition of a Valentine’s Dinner in February 2007.  Kight and Glisson wanted SAB and Aramark to work together to provide faculty and students a way to celebrate Valentine’s Day.

Courtesy of Janelle Martin

Wanted- Senior Jason Beck (top) and senior Jeremy Woodall (bottom)  clown around while being bid on at the Missionary Baptist Student Fellowship Valentine's Auction. The auction raised over $2,600 to aid children soldiers in Uganda.

  “I just thought it was a neat option to do, since most of the time college students don’t have that much money to actually take somebody out,” Glisson said.  “Plus, we are in a small town where there’s not a lot of nice places really to go have a nice romantic dinner.”

   The winners received a filet mignon dinner with southern-style green beans, garlic-roasted potatoes, a tossed salad and a chocolate mouse with a strawberry on top and movie passes.

   Over 16 people entered the contest to receive the dinner.

   Other groups raised money or did something to help others. The Missionary Baptist Student Fellowship continued a tradition started in February 2007.

   The MBSF held a Valentine’s Day Auction Feb. 7 to raise money to help children soldiers in Uganda.

   The auction raised over $2,600 by auctioning more than 50 participants including Kight and Matt Middleton, the new offensive coordinator.  Many organizations participated such as fraternities, sororities, the basketball team, volleyball team, baseball team, the Wesley Foundation, the Baptist Collegiate Ministry and the MBSF.

   “We’ve never been to anything like this before,” first-year student Bliss Sizemore said. “This is exciting.”

   Joey Cook, a youth director for Pauline Baptist Church, announced the students and staff being auctioned.

   Senior Jason Beck and senior Jeremy Woodall walked out dressed normally and then stripped off their clothes to reveal an outfit advertising for dates with “Men Seeking Women” in black and white. They clowned around, jumping on one another, and Beck jumped onto Woodall’s shoulders.

   “We are happy to be doing this,” Beck said.

   The bidders received a candle-light dinner with a movie afterwards. Some of the students who participated helped cook and served the meal.

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