- April 18, 2024
-
-
Loading
Loading
Mote President and CEO Michael Crosby with Chairwoman Judy Graham
Guests were served dive mountain drinks upon arrival.
Three long tables were set up for the top sponsors.
Elly Wengerd and Dr. Barbara Fleener
Phil Gravinese and Lauren Toth
Sponsors had a pair of glasses at their place settings.
Beth and Ellie Waskom
Blue flowers centered the tables.
Michael and Rebecca Moore
Sharks swam on the screen at the front of the room.
Two women on stilts walked around taking photos with guests.
Lindsey and Lowe Morrison
Dr. and Mrs. Judy Kepecz and John Hays
Ron and Betsy Koepsel
Ai and Monica Streacker
Steven and Vanessa Wagner
Carlton and Rachel Shelley
Robert and Anne Essner
Earle and Ellen Layman with Susan and Ted Sherman
Darcy and Rudy Webb
Bill Mariotti, Dr. Anila Jain, Alejandro Rodriguez and Phil King
Inna Snyder takes a photo of the women on stilts.
Tracy Fanara and Ryan Westerburg
Jay and Marlo Turner with Randy and Jennifer Simms
Chairwoman Judy Graham welcomes guests to the gala.
This year’s Oceanic Evening took guests into the future and celebrated the vision Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium is working toward.
Mote is looking forward to the transition of its City Island campus, which will become the International Marine Science, Technology and Innovation Park. The gala also celebrated the organization’s plans to build a Science Education Aquarium at Nathan Benderson Park and the SEA donors who have helped raise $28 million of the $130 million needed for the project.
Upon arriving to Oceanic Evening on Oct. 27 at The Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota, guests were greeted by women on stilts with a neon blue costume fit for a spaceship. Sponsors also received a pair of futurist glasses, thanking them for their support of the gala and its theme of “looking into the future.”
During the program, guests were able to get the first look at the renderings for the campus.
