With the AAPG Annual Convention and Exhibition (ACE) rapidly approaching, AAPG would like to highlight the incredible fundraising efforts taken by the AAPG Midwestern State University (AAPG MSU) Student Chapter to ensure their chapter's attendance at the 100th AAPG anniversary in Houston, April 2-5.

Attending ACE can be a challenge for many students due to the lack of travel funds and busy course schedules. The AAPG MSU Student Chapter in Wichita Falls, Texas, took on that challenge and successfully raised funds to attend the event.

It all began in early 2017 when student leadership discovered there was high interest among the student chapter membership to attend ACE. With that in mind and a determination to attend, the student chapter approached the local community to raise funds for a trip to Houston. The Gypsy Kit Uncorked restaurant agreed to host a profit share event for the organization and donate 10 percent of the evening's gross sales to the AAPG MSU effort.

Realizing they would need additional funds in order to accomplish their fundraising goal, the students used an anonymous $200 donation furnished by Senator Bud Dillard to purchase an HP Stream laptop to be raffled off at the event. In order to boost attendance and encourage the sale of more raffle tickets, the AAPG MSU raised more than $600 of in-kind sponsorships for additional prize giveaways from local businesses including restaurant gift cards, oil changes, cell phone repairs and massages.

The event was a success!

AAPG MSU raised more than $1,000 in raffle sales and $100 from the restaurant's gross sales. "We were very surprised with the end result and were told by geoscience faculty that we had the most successful fundraiser they had ever seen," said AAPG MSU President Brian McCray. The total amount of funds will provide six student chapter members lodging, transportation and registration costs to attend the AAPG centennial celebration.