Lake Area Tech Festival of Trees Returns to Watertown Nov. 20 to Support Student Scholarships

Northeast Radio SD News – Watertown, SD - The Lake Area Technical College Foundation is preparing to transform the campus student center for its 27th annual Festival of Trees on Friday, Nov. 20, bringing together alumni, businesses, and community supporters for the foundation’s largest fundraiser of the year.

Lake Area Technical College Foundation Executive Director Tracy Buisker and Foundation Development and Alumni Coordinator Jessi Eidson joined Northeast Radio SD in the studio to detail the upcoming holiday event, auction packages, and how proceeds directly support students and campus programs.

Event Schedule and Entertainment

The semi-formal evening runs from 5:30 to 11:30 p.m. across all levels of the Lake Area Tech Student Center in Watertown. At least 400 attendees are expected to gather for the annual holiday kick-off, which features appetizers and hors d’oeuvres from multiple food vendors, a silent auction, a live auction, and live music.

“It’s an opportunity that we bring together alumni, supporters of the college, businesses, just to really kind of take in Lake Area Tech and a lot of times sit back and help out our students,” Buisker said.

Entertainment at the conclusion of the evening will feature musician Shawn Lenning. In addition, Lake Area Tech students regularly share their musical talents during the event, including instrumentalists and the campus choir.

Silent and Live Auctions with Home Delivery

Fundraising during the Festival of Trees is driven by event sponsorships, ticket sales, and both silent and live auctions.

The online silent auction opens the Monday prior to the festival, allowing bidders to preview items and place bids throughout the week leading up to Friday night.

The live auction features decorated holiday trees, furniture, concert packages, and custom experiences underwritten by sponsors and donated by local businesses. Campus departments also contribute specialized auction items and event support. The welding program fabricates custom pieces and assists with setup and teardown; the cosmetology program donates a group package, and the college’s eSports program offers a two-hour arena rental package.

As a signature perk of the live auction, every full tree package and large item purchased is delivered directly to the winning bidder’s home or business. The foundation partners with Aberdeen-based Dial-A-Move, co-owned by a Lake Area Tech alumnus, to handle the post-event deliveries.

Supporting Student Scholarships and Campus Programs

Following a record-breaking fundraising total last year, foundation leaders and Lake Area Technical College President Tiffany Sanderson are hoping to set a new milestone this November.

Proceeds from the Festival of Trees support student scholarships, academic program needs outside of standard budgets, and campus leadership initiatives. Across all funding avenues last year, the foundation awarded $5.75 million in scholarships to Lake Area Tech students.

Tickets and Sponsorships

Individual tickets and table sponsorships are currently available through the Lake Area Technical College Foundation. Guests purchasing individual tickets can also submit seating requests to be placed at tables with friends or groups attending the event.