The School of Medicine Class of 2017 recently hosted the 17th Annual Lubbock City Lights Charity Ball at the Lubbock Country Club as well as Light Up the Night, a glow-in-the-dark 5K race, which started and ended at the Robert H. Ewalt Student Recreation Center on the Texas Tech campus.

Co-chairs for the ball, which also featured a live and silent auction, were Jeffrey Davis and Bryan Wakefield. Margaret O’Neal and Charles Rotenberry served as co-chairs for the 5K.

Davis said the students take pride in getting involved in a community event.

“It’s a privilege to contribute to this community by supporting deserving charities that provide services for the City of Lubbock,” Davis said. “This gala is a tradition for our medical students to remember the importance of giving back.”

Almost 300 participants signed up for the inaugural Light Up the Night walk/run. In addition, more than 300 people attended the City Lights charity ball.

Together, both City Lights events raised more than $56,000 for the TTUHSC Free Clinic at Lubbock Impact, the Children’s Home of Lubbock, Lubbock Meals on Wheels, and the Bridge of Lubbock.

“What a tremendous effort by our first-year medical students,” said Steven L. Berk, M.D., TTUHSC executive vice president, provost and School of Medicine dean. “We are extremely proud of their hard work, and also thankful to all of the School of Medicine departments who contributed to the event.”

Approximately $350,000 has been raised in the past 16 years through Lubbock City Lights.

The Lubbock City Lights Committee during the 2014 City Lights Charity Ball.