This year’s “Top Gun”-inspired ShamrAuction on Feb. 26 will be filled with surprises and will help raise funds that will benefit the student-run coffee shop as well as for tuition scholarships.

Senior director of advancement Mrs. Michelle Taylor ‘01 is working to make this ShamrAuction the best one yet, especially after the virtual setup last year, with hopes to reach an overall goal of $570,000.

This year’s ShamrAuction fund-a-need goal is the future student-run coffee shop, which will be located in the Shiel Student Life Center. Taylor said she hopes the event will provide $100,000 to get the shop up and running. Taylor said, “We are always striving to be the high school of the future, and so one of those pieces of innovation is making sure our kids really understand business and understand what it takes to put together a business.” Once it opens, the coffee shop will do exactly that.

Covid-19 may have caused some challenges with ShamrAuction last year, but Taylor ensures that the safety of guests is one of the most important aspects of the event this year. “Obviously precautions are being put in place, but God willing we’re moving forward with an in-person event,” Taylor said.

The “Top Gun” theme reflects one of the new classes this school year. Taylor said, “With our new Civil Air Patrol class, it fit so well. It was a really cool way for us to highlight that new course.” Some guests may even be expected to show up in flight suits and aviator sunglasses to fit the theme.

There are many ways for the community to get involved with this event. Students can volunteer as servers for the night or solicit their favorite businesses and ask them to donate items for the auction. Local companies can also donate to get their name out. Adults can attend the event or just place bids on items in the silent auction from home. Taylor said, “Everyone is invited to participate in ShamrAuction.”

ShamrAuction is different from other school fundraisers in many ways. Taylor said, “It also fundraises for the entire school as a whole.” ShamrAuction’s goal of $570,000 provides money to go toward need-based scholarships, which are given to about 40% of the student body.

ShamrAuction begins on Feb. 26 with Mass in the chapel at 4:45 p.m., with doors opening for the actual ShamrAuction at 5:30 p.m., according to Taylor. This year, both the new Innovation Center and the Welch Activity Center will be used for the event.