Tea to support students, faculty projects

Event features themed tables, fancy hats and

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Rosemarie Asam and Ann Hohimer coordinated their outfits with their table setting for last year’s tea.

(THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. – Feb. 23, 2017) The California Lutheran University Community Leaders Association will hold its seventh annual Hats and High Tea to raise money for student scholarships and educational grants in March.

The event will be held from 2 to 4:30 p.m. Sunday, March 12, in Gilbert Arena on the Thousand Oaks campus. Guests will enjoy tea with sandwiches, fruit and desserts amid themed table settings and garden-party decorations. The afternoon will begin with a champagne reception.

Vonette Yanaginuma will play the harp, and music and art major Katherine Reaves of Thousand Oaks will sing. A silent auction and raffle will be held.

Cal Lutheran alumnus Karsten Lundring of Thousand Oaks will emcee for the first time. Lundring was among the students who attended Cal Lutheran its first year. The 1965 graduate was a member of the university’s original Kingsmen Quartet and served as the campus’ first pep commissioner. 

Attendees are encouraged to cap off their tea party attire with a hat. Table sponsors and party hosts will decorate each table in a festive theme. Awards will be presented in categories including most creative table setting and wildest and most elegant hats. 

CLA was founded in 1963 to stimulate community interest in Cal Lutheran’s academic, athletic and cultural programs. Members organize fundraising and social events throughout the year to support academic departments and student scholarships. The organization has provided nearly $2 million through the years.

Faculty grants support academic and cultural programs, many of which involve students and benefit the community. Current projects include an entrepreneurship program for elementary school students, writing workshops for seniors living at University Village and Latino employees at Cal Lutheran, scholarships for low-income students to attend a Cal Lutheran Summer Youth Writing Camp, a new philosophy camp for high school students, collaboration with high schools and colleges on academic integrity issues, research involving special-needs students that requires eye-tracking software, and a program serving deaf Latino students in Oxnard.

Scholarship winners are selected for their community service, leadership potential and academic achievement. This year’s recipients are Jacob Aguilera of Vista; Sonora Carroll of Bothell, Washington; Anissa Fraijo of Brea, Cody Jones and Julia Kearns of Simi Valley; Christian Moreno of Walla Walla, Washington; and Kayla Dubowsky and Alexandra Stewart of Santa Maria.

Tickets are $50 for adults and $25 for children. Sponsorships are available. For reservations or more information, visit CalLutheran.edu/cla or contact the University Relations Division at 805-493-3151 or fielding@callutheran.edu.

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