Students will auction off their beards to raise money for global missions Monday, Nov. 25 at 7 p.m. at the Baptist Collegiate Ministry.
Students will be able to bid on a beard at the BCM’s annual Beard Auction. Winners can shave the beards however they wish. Money raised will go toward students’ summer missions and projects, including trips to India, China, and New York.
“Last year our BCM president had his beard shaved really badly,” said BCM director John Aaron Matthew. “He had to go into his senior engineering presentation with Dr. Oldham and a film crew, so he had to explain why his beard looked like that.”
The students must keep their beard shaved in whatever fashion for 24 hours. This year participants will be wearing special shirts to inform others of why their beard may look ridiculous.
“This is important because we’re trying to do everything we can to make costs less expensive for students that are willing to give their spring breaks and summers to help people around the world,” said Matthew.
Matthew said some students are putting their hair up for auction as well.
“It raises money for missions so I’m willing to bid high,” said junior interdisciplinary studies major Rachel Larkins.
Larkins has gone on mission trips to Haiti, New Orleans, inner-city missions, and will go to Greece during spring break.
“When you go on mission trips, you have more motive to support because you know what it’s like,” said Larkins.
Matthew brought the idea to the BCM after participating while in college at Louisiana Tech University. He said the fundraiser usually brings in between $700 and $1000 with 75 to 100 students bidding, but he hopes for a larger turnout.
“It’s fun and exciting because I have several friends who are participating,” said Larkins, who wants to give her friend either a handlebar moustache or a beard like Seneca Crane from “The Hunger Games” movie.
The BCM will accept cash, credit, or check from bidders.
