MBA program seat auctioned off for $27K

Hundreds of people gathered into the Orlando Marriott Convention Center for a silent auction Friday night, with all proceeds going to the Boys & Girls Club.

UCF and their business program teamed up with the Boys & Girls Club  by donating an automatic seat in their executive master's in business adminstration program as part of the auction.

The highest bidder for the seat, Herb Gingold, won the spot with a bid of more than $27,000.

"It was a bargain," Gingold said.

Biding and winning this seat means that Gingold wont have to wait for acceptance into the program or for tuition reimbursement from the company he works for.

Those in the program can earn their degree in 20 months, with classes on Fridays and Saturdays. According to the program's website, many Central Florida businesses offer tuition reimbursement for their employees who enter the program. Along with teaching executive business skills, the program also offers a week long international residency so the students can learn how business works internationally. The program emphasizes critical thinking, decision making and leadership, which are the core values of the entire program.

Jana Breburdova, the assistant director of marketing for the UCF MBA program, manned UCF's booth during the event handing out brochures and taking bids for the seat.

"We feel like it's the most universally fit program for us and we see students from all kinds of backgrounds that benefit from it," Breburdova said.

She was very optimistic about the the program's future with the Boys & Girls Club.

"I would not be surprised if we were to come back next year" Breburdova said.

Breburdova said there are many differences between the normal program and the MBA program.

"We take everything for the executive when it means getting into the program," she said.

Andrea Wright, a graduate student from UCF, was at the event to show her support for the Boys  & Girls Club.

"I was excited to come to this event to support the Boys & Girls Club because I have worked with children before and its just a great feeling," Wright said. "I think it's a neat opportunity and I would have bid on it if I had the funds. It's just amazing you can buy something that not only betters yourself but goes toward a worthy charity."

Gingold wants to start the program in a year.

"I am an alumni of UCF so it will be exciting to be a student again," Gingold said.

Gingold is a technical sales representative from Texas Instruments and said this will benefit his career.

"I am fortunate enough to be able to experience this," Gingold said. "In my current profession I am hoping to use this knowledge to improve my management skills."

He said he doesn't want his time as an Executive MBA student to be his last at UCF.

"I hope to one day to return to UCF as a teacher," Gingold said.

Even though it was a hefty sum, he didn't mind putting that money towards a worthy cause.

"These kids deserve our support and its our responsibility to help them out," Gingold said. "It's tough to muster that kind of cash but the benefit of it makes it all worth it."