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As the name implies, the 10th annual Blue Jean Ball was a casual affair that was hosted on a recent Friday evening by legendary Auburn University football coach Pat Dye at his Notasulga ranch
Dye welcomed hundreds of arrivals who were not only eager to help support the outdoor event as a fundraiser for the Auburn University and Auburn University Montgomery School of Nursing, but to also enjoy a night of good food and music and private tours of his Crooked Oaks Hunting Lodge and Quail Hollows Gardens.
The Blue Jean Ball was created in 2001 by Dye and longtime partner Nancy McDonald, a former associate dean of nursing at Auburn. Developed as a way to give back to the community, proceeds have supported the education and training of Alabama nurses, as well as the programming and faculty at the two schools. Over the past decade, the balls have generated enough funds to award more than 250 scholarships to those pursuing nursing degrees.
Individuals and businesses helped sponsor the 2010 event by securing brandings as Trailblazers, Point Riders and Big Circle Riders.
"The Blue Jean Ball is one way we can help support these young men and women in their aspirations to be nurses," said Gregg Newschwander, dean of the AUM and Auburn Schools of Nursing. He enjoyed the 2010 evening with Colleen Oettinger, honorary co-chairs Betty and Earlon McWhorter, and Dye and McDonald.
Previous events have been adult-only evenings, but the ball was open to guests of all ages this year, with more than 700 supporters donning their favorite country-Western-wear for the occasion. There was something for everyone, as they came in blue jeans, flannel shirts, cowboy hats, boots and sundresses topped with denim jackets. Many paid tribute to Auburn by wearing orange and blue, while supporting friends threw in an unapologetic smattering of Alabama crimson and white for good measure.
Having infused fiesta and Hawaiian elements into the details of balls in the last couple of years, Auburn and AUM nursing students, who served as members of the event staff, donned yellow Blue Jean Ball T-shirts that featured the theme of the night, "Back to Our Boots."