The evening’s setting was perfect; the champagne fountain was flowing, stars lined the ceiling, cheerful chatter filled the room and we found ourselves aboard the ill-fated maiden voyage of the RMS Titanic at Our Lady of the Gulf (OLG) Catholic School’s 2011 Valentine Gala. Captain Ronnie Best, passengers, Melissa Crowley, Father Bazar and shipmate, Dillon Janecka, Mariner class of 2010, took center stage and set the mood.
Deemed the largest passenger steamship in the world, the Titanic was said to be “unsinkable.” However nearly 100 years ago, after four days of travel from England, on April 14, 1912, the steamship hit an iceberg. The following morning, the ship sank to the bottom of the ocean, taking with it 1,517 lives, resulting in one of the most tragic maritime disasters in history.
We, as passengers, quickly became enthralled with “surviving” the evening for a chance at winning a necklace inspired from Titanic’s famous “Heart of the Ocean” blue sapphire necklace. Auction items filled the room and our odds of survival were increased by purchasing Titanic Trivia message bottles, Lifesavers with passenger names and by bidding on puddle ducks which were constructed by the OLG students with assistance from Texas Sea Grant agent, Rhonda Cummins and Seadrift Sail and Yacht Club commodore, Jack LaBarge. The puddle ducks were cleverly decorated with numerous local sponsors and fit the nautical theme to a t! All proceeds are for the OLG Teacher Bonus Fund. The evening was delightful; a delicious meal and dinner were served.
OLG School 7th and 8th graders with their completed puddle ducks. the ducks brought in almost $2,400 for the teacher bonus fund.
As the night came to a close, Hope Boyle took the stage and began to sing “My Heart Will Go On.” Quickly remembering the women and children first rule, I knew I had slim chances of survival as 36 year-old, 2nd class passenger, Mr. John Henry Chapman; Jackson was a 52, 2nd class passenger named Mr. Charles Henry Chapman. We all anxiously read the names as they appeared on the black screen in the room, waiting to see if we had a chance of arriving in New York; HOGEBOOM, Mrs Anna Louisa, 1st Class, KREUCHEN, Miss Emilie, 1st Class, MAIONI, Miss Roberta Elizabeth Mary, 1st Class…we were doomed!
One of the puddle ducks sponsored by 1610 Kayak Radio.
Congratulations to Kati Durham, Mariner class of 2006, who was awarded the “Heart of the Ocean” necklace. She is a world/national/Texas record holder in power lifting and is a 2010 Calhoun High School Alumni. While my husband Jackson and I did not survive, there were six survivors at our table. We all had a blast at the gala! Special thanks to everyone that put so much time and hard work into developing a successful event. We look forward to the next gala! Visit the OLG website at http://www.olgmariners.org/.
OLG Principal, Theresa Dent, and Titanic survivor and lucky winner, Kati Durham. Kati won the “Heart of the Ocean” necklace at the OLG Valentine Gala.
