MOSES LAKE — The Big Bend Community College Foundation celebrated a major milestone as it hosted the 25th annual Cellarbration! For Education dinner and auction on campus this month. The Foundation’s signature fundraising event raised more than $280,000 this year all benefiting scholarships for Big Bend students.
Cellarbration! For Education is the Foundation’s largest fundraising event of the year, with every dollar raised dedicated to helping students overcome financial barriers and pursue their educational goals.
BBCC Foundation Executive Director LeAnne Parton said the event’s impact reaches far beyond the evening itself.
“Every single dollar that you are investing is going to impact a student and their family in the future, ensuring that education remains in reach for those who need it most,” she said.
The event brought together community members, donors, alumni, and supporters for a night of celebration, connection, and generosity. Attendees participated in a live and silent auction, dinner, and program highlighting the importance of investing in student success.
This year’s Cellarbration! also featured a keynote address from Judah Tadema, a former Big Bend student and scholarship recipient. He shared his story of moving to the United States from Ukraine at the age of seven and how his teachers played a big role in helping him learn English and succeed in his classes. That experience is what inspired him to pursue college and a career in education.
Tadema explained how scholarships made it possible for him to complete his degree at Big Bend debt‑free through a combination of hard work, including working two jobs during summer months, and donor support.
“Pursuing higher education comes with significant financial challenges,” he said. “The cost of tuition, textbooks, and other essential expenses continues to increase, and many students face difficult decisions about how to finance that education. Even highly motivated students may find themselves questioning whether continuing their academic journey is financially possible.”
Tadema emphasized the life‑changing role scholarships play for students.
“Scholarships create an alternative path to taking out loans, and one that allows students like me to focus on education rather than financial concerns,” he said.
Now majoring in Elementary Education at Central Washington University, Tadema shared that he is currently on track to graduate from there debt‑free as well.
He closed by expressing gratitude on behalf of students who benefit from donor generosity.
“Students may not always see the face behind the donations or realize the sacrifice of your contribution,” Tadema said. “But hear me when I say that we are grateful, and we are proud to work and to study in the confidence of knowing that you have invested in our hopes, our dreams, and our futures.”
For more information about student scholarships and foundation events, visit the Big Bend Community College Foundation website.
