Elaina Eakle
ehe001@marietta.edu
Caitlin’s Prize Committee held its first bake-off competition on March 20 to raise money for the Caitlin Yager scholarship fund for Marietta College’s International Alternative Winter Break program.
Students gathered to bake and enjoy treats in memory of Caitlin Yager, who enrolled in the class of 2016, but passed away in a car accident in December of 2013. The last two years, Caitlin’s Prize Committee had hosted 5K races to raise funds for the scholarship.
Senior and committee member Annalee Haviland explained that a bake-off was chosen as a way to share one of Caitlin’s passions in addition to raising funds.
“We wanted to try a fundraiser that paid homage to Caitlin’s life, and because an annual race was chosen in the past, we thought we would try something new,” she said. “Because Caitlin was famously known for her baking, we though a bake-off would continue her love of sharing this skill with others.”
Cooking-themed prizes were awarded to the first, second and third place teams based on the votes of those who came to taste. Caitlin’s parents, Richard and Carol Yager, donated first and third prize and attended the bake-off.
“It’s really nice that they do this to continue to remember Caitlin,” Richard Yager said. “She had a pretty profound impact on people.”
Members of Caitlin’s sorority, Sigma Kappa, said that the bake-off brought back fond memories of their time with Caitlin in addition to keeping her legacy going.
“She was always in the kitchen baking, so last night, the three of us were down there… and it just kind of reminded us of what she was all about and what she brought to our chapter,” junior Shelbi Westfield said.
Those who knew Caitlin through her athletic activity participated in the competition as well.
“As athletic training students, we worked with her, and she ran cross-country and track, so it’s an honor to honor her in this way,” senior A.J. Eppley said.
Senior Emily Mason agrees that the bake-off was a fitting way to honor Caitlin’s memory.
“Caitlin was in my graduating class, and I got to meet her through McDonough and the leadership program, and she was an amazing woman with a really big heart,” Mason said. “She wanted to change the world, and I think she still does that even though she’s not here with us.”
Maribeth Saleem-Tanner, director of the office of civic engagement, helped the committee to plan the event. She was pleased with the support and attendance the event received.
“This was really completely and totally student driven,” she said. “I think that in every step of the process they were really thoughtful about Caitlin’s legacy and about the spirit of the event… I just think this is a really beautiful celebration and also a really great event to bring people together.”
Haviland said that while the committee plans to hold the bake-off again in the future, they are also open to other fundraiser options.
“We hope this event will take off and will be an annual tradition, but we are always discussing different options for future fundraisers since Caitlin had so many passions,” she said.
Anyone wishing to support the Caitlin Yager Memorial Fund can make donations by following this link and selecting the “donate” option: https://mcdonough.wufoo.com/forms/caitlins-bakeoff/
The fundraiser for the 2017 scholarship will close Friday, April 1.
All photos by Elaina Eakle.
