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A student-led effort at Widener University Commonwealth Law School turned into a night of momentum, generosity and community, as the school’s inaugural Public Interest Auction raised more than $10,600 to support students pursuing unpaid public service opportunities.

Held March 27 in the Law School’s Dean’s Gallery and Douglas M. Wolfberg Courtroom, the event brought together students, faculty, staff, alumni and members of the Harrisburg legal community for an evening that blended purpose with energy. By the end of the night, organizers reported a total of approximately $10,650 raised through live and silent auction bids, pre-event donations and contributions from “celebrity bartender” tips.

For second-year student Haley Nelson, who helped lead the effort, the moment exceeded expectations.

“I was trying to be cool about it, but I started tearing up when the bidding started,” Nelson said. “I had genuine nightmares about no one showing up or no one bidding. But every single item was bid on and taken home. The number of students who showed up and participated was incredible.”

The auction featured 30 silent auction items and 16 live auction offerings, ranging from experiential opportunities to sports and entertainment packages. Among the top bids, a Fender Telecaster guitar donated by alumnus Doug Wolfberg ‘96 sold for $950 during the live auction, while a Hershey Spa gift card reached $425 in the silent auction.
The live portion of the evening, emceed by alumnus George Mitchell ‘18, became a defining highlight.

“The energy and excitement in the room were exactly what we had hoped for,” said second-year student Kaylee Caprari. “No one was sitting back observing. Everyone was fully present and enjoying themselves.”

“We put so much time into every detail,” Nelson said. “To see the room full and people genuinely enjoying themselves, that was everything.”

Second-year law student Thea Homan recalled the final hours leading up to the event as one of the most nerve-racking moments of the process.

“The hardest part was that window of time when everything was ready and we were just waiting for people to arrive,” Homan said. “But once they did, everyone stepped into their roles and everything just clicked.”

Homan, who helped decorate the space the night before, said there was a quiet moment when the team realized they had done everything they could.

“It was a late night, but once everything was in place, I knew all we needed was for people to fill the room,” she said.
The funds raised will support students who accept unpaid positions in public interest law, helping offset financial barriers that often come with service-oriented work.

“Many of us felt personally tied to this,” Caprari said. “Having worked in public service before, we know how helpful a fund like this would have been."

Organized entirely by a student committee over eight weeks, the auction showcased student leadership in action.
“This only worked because of the team,” Nelson said. “Everyone showed up, took ownership of their role, and followed through.”

At the end of the night, as organizers gathered to tally the final numbers, the group realized they had doubled their original fundraising goal.

“It was surreal,” Caprari said. “Eight weeks of hard work really paid off.”

Dean andré douglas pond cummings said the event reflected both the initiative of the students and the strength of the law school community.

“I am so proud of Haley Nelson and her student team for bringing this to life,” cummings said. “This was a brand-new idea for us, and they took it on, met with alumni and local partners, and made it real. The energy in the room was palpable, people were engaged, bidding and genuinely having fun together. And to raise more than $10,000 in that first effort means we can now support students doing public interest work, helping cover real costs like rent, food, and transportation. That’s what makes this so meaningful.”

Nelson credited the broader law school community for making the event possible, pointing to strong support from faculty, staff, and leadership.

“My biggest takeaway is that at Widener Law Commonwealth, we execute on good ideas,” Nelson said. “I’m honored to be part of building something that I hope continues for years to come.”

“The love for this school was palpable in every action and decision in the room,” Caprari said.

“There was a building full of people who understood the value of the Public Interest Fund and wanted to support students pursuing unpaid public interest work,” Homan said. “It made the night meaningful and joyful at the same time.”

“We didn’t just raise money,” Nelson said. “We showed what this community is capable of.”

In addition to Nelson, Homan and Caprari, special thanks also go to their fellow student organizers Andrea Hernandez-Rodriguez, Artemis Kia, Brielle Kimmins, Cade Kassay, Carli Squares, Gabrielle Hubbard, Giselle Gil Ambriz, Hunter Zycband, Jarrod Wood, Jericha Brock,  Kiera Flannery, Lauren Knopf, Michelle Ildefonso, Natalie Solano, Ryan Manderbach, Stephany Borges, whose work behind the scenes made the inaugural Public Interest Auction a success.