[caption id="attachment_17664" align="aligncenter" width="1000"] Guests enjoy the casino room during the successful event.[/caption]

The Delaware Technical & Community College Stanton and George Campuses' 12th annual Mardi Gras gala, held last month, drew more than 500 guests and raised funds to support student scholarships. Over the past 12 years, the event has raised more than $1.2 million, which is used to help students in need pay for tuitions, books, and other essentials while attending Delaware Tech.

Guests were treated to exceptional New Orleans style music, entertainment and food as well as music from The Blind Date Band, live painting from Smashed Label, make-your-own voodoo dolls, magic shows, tarot card readings and country line dancing.

This year's event also celebrated the College's 50th anniversary with a themed room, giveaways and a VIP reception prior to the event for major sponsors and friends of the college.

"Mardi Gras is the campuses' largest annual fund-raising event, and is successful because of the generous partnership of our sponsors and donors and the support of our volunteers," said Dr. Kathy A. Janvier, vice president and campus director of the Stanton and George Campuses.

Having fun for a cause benefits the students of Delaware Tech. Mardi Gras scholarship recipient Annalyn Wood recently remarked, "I'd like to thank the donors who provided my scholarship. It has made going to school much less stressful, because I can focus on my studies and not have to work as much. I am looking forward to working as a NICU nurse when I graduate."