National Strategic Selling Institute to host third annual benefit auction
Monday, March 30, 2015
MANHATTAN — The National Strategic Selling Institute, or NSSI, in the Kansas State University College of Business Administration is set to host its third annual benefit auction Saturday, April 25, at the Houston Street Ballroom, 427 Houston St., Manhattan.
The event is organized by students in the institute's advanced sales class in conjunction with Pi Sigma Epsilon, the sales and marketing business fraternity.
"This is a tremendous opportunity for our students to develop their selling skills and, at the same time, give back to the community," said Dawn Deeter, director of the National Strategic Selling Institute. "Through the NSSI Benefit Auction, students have the chance to put into practice what they are learning in the classroom."
Students work together to find items for the auction and sell the tickets to the event. This year the organizers voted to split the net proceeds with Manhattan Special Olympics and the National Strategic Selling Institute's Sales Cup Merit Awards, which go to students who have earned performance points through their classes and participation in sales competitions, networking events, workshops and other institute events.
The doors to the event will open at 5 p.m., with a catered meal from Coco Bolo's beginning at 6 p.m. Drink tickets and a cash bar will be available throughout the evening.
The auction portion of the event begins at 7 p.m. and will feature a live auction, hosted by 2001 Kansas State University marketing alumna Michelle Canny of the Canny Team, with items ranging from suite tickets to a home Wildcats football game to a golf outing. Also available will be a silent auction, featuring signed sports memorabilia and a variety of gift baskets.
"Employers are very excited by what we are doing, and feedback from the students has been very positive," Deeter said. "Although the class is difficult — it is never easy making cold calls — it is real-life difficult rather than book difficult. Students appreciate the difference and the responses they are getting from employers."
The minimum donation to attend is $50, but opportunities are available to buy a sponsored table, donate an auction item, sponsor the meal of an Advanced Sales student, or sponsor a Special Olympic athlete or team. For more information about sponsorship opportunities visit http://cba.k-state.edu/nssiauction. To donate an item or purchase tickets, please contact Deeter at ddeeter@k-state.edu.
