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This year, attendees at the University of North Georgia's (°ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¹Ù·½ÍøÕ¾) annual Oconeefest fundraiser will have the opportunity to make a statement in funding student scholarships without uttering a single word.

On Oct. 19, the °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¹Ù·½ÍøÕ¾ Oconee Campus will host its signature celebration featuring food, drink and entertainment to raise funds for Oconee County students at the fourth annual Oconeefest.  The evening will begin at 5:30 p.m. with a reception on the front lawn of the Oconee Campus, 1201 Bishop Farms Parkway, Watkinsville, Georgia. Dinner and music will be from 6-7:30 p.m.

This year an additional fundraising opportunity has been added to Oconeefest — a silent auction. All proceeds will go toward the funding of Oconee County student scholarships. Area businesses are encouraged to donate items or services for attendees to bid on. Donations will be displayed throughout the evening and businesses will receive name recognition on the silent-auction program.

"We added the silent auction this year just to change things up, to get people excited to contribute and have fun at the same time," said Dr. Cyndee Perdue Moore, executive director of °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¹Ù·½ÍøÕ¾'s Oconee Campus. "Among the items up for auction are a one-night stay at a local bed and breakfast, a basket featuring locally produced products, and gift cards from a number of area businesses."

Oconeefest raises scholarship funds for Oconee County students attending any of °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¹Ù·½ÍøÕ¾'s five campuses. Scholarships may be used for tuition, study abroad, undergraduate research, and other expenses and opportunities. Oconee is the largest feeder county to °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¹Ù·½ÍøÕ¾'s Oconee Campus. More than 600 students from the county are enrolled at all of °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¹Ù·½ÍøÕ¾'s campuses, so funds raised from Oconeefest, via sponsorships and donations are critical in supporting local students.

"During the evening we will have °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¹Ù·½ÍøÕ¾ students from Oconee County give testimonials about how the scholarship money from this event has impacted them — their ability to study abroad, do internships in other parts of the country, participate in research project opportunities," Moore said. "It's important for the sponsors and the supporters of Oconeefest to know where their contributions go and how important these scholarships are to our students."

Moore said this year's goal is to raise enough funds from Oconeefest to establish at least 10 scholarships, each worth $1,000.

The presenting sponsor for Oconeefest is Peach State Federal Credit Union; platinum sponsors are River Mill/The Standard, and the Rotary Club of Oconee County; gold sponsors are Athens Ridge and Oconee State Bank; silver sponsors include Athens First Bank, BankSouth, Nebraska Book Company, °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¹Ù·½ÍøÕ¾ Real Estate Foundation, and Williams & Associates.

For more information about Oconeefest, sponsorship opportunities, or auction item donations, call Moore, at 706-310-6219 or email cyndee.moore@ung.edu.