Rattlers hosting December event to raise money for future athletic scholarships

The Medicine Hat College Rattlers are hoping to raise a little bit of extra cash for student athletes this holiday season by hosting a Jingle and Mingle fundraiser.

The event is taking place Dec. 2 at the college, with tickets costing $65 each or $480 for a table of eight.

The night will feature a silent auction with more than 60 items, live entertainment, free valet parking, a buffet-style dinner, free childcare for children four-andolder, specialty beverages and plenty of time to be social.

For students across all of the Rattlers teams, many athletes rely on athletic scholarships to play sports each year.

“It’s honestly pretty huge for me to be on a scholarship,” said men’s volleyball player Tyler Olson. “The fact that I’m not able to work a part-time job whilst playing volleyball and going to school being a full-time student. It’s just huge to get for us students. No matter how big or how much it is, it makes a difference for us.”

The event is being held by the Rattlers, with a goal of $20,000 to go toward athletic scholarships for next year.

“It’s very important for me to have a scholarship,” said women’s soccer player Cassidy Larochelle. “If I didn’t have one, I would definitely be hurting for the ability to play sports. If I didn’t have one, I would probably have to work a lot more during the school year. Having that extra money just really helps out.” During their seasons, student athletes can put between 10 and 20 hours each week into their sport, during practices, games, workouts and other training.

“In general, a scholarship just makes everything cheaper,” said men’s soccer player Devin Simon. “We put a lot of time into sports. So having that money behind you just helps. It pays for school. It pays for textbooks, and things like that. It means that I can put money I would usually put into school, into other things like food and other basic human needs.” Simon added events like this are a great way to get people together.

“Things like this are great to get people, and the community together,” he said. “I think this is a good cause, for student athletes. It gets current athletes out, and former athletes back into the program a bit and just benefiting the Rattlers program a bit.”

There are single and fulltable tickets left to purchase. They can be found online at www.eply.com/jinglemingle

The Rattlers basketball teams play host to SAIT Friday. Women tip off at 6 p.m., with the men playing after.

“No matter how big or how much it is, it makes a difference for us.” – Rattlers men’s volleyball player Tyler Olson on receiving an athletic scholarship.