URBANA — After a highly successful X-Week, Student Council executive secretary-treasurer Natsuki Nakamura said the school managed to raise almost $2,000 for this year's charity, the Don Moyer Boys and Girls Club.

That figure doesn't even include Big Show, which will take place on May 15 and 16.

"I was really surprised by how well everything turned out and how much money we made," Nakamura said. "I would have to say that it was probably one of the most successful X Weeks of the last few years."

Indeed, based on last year's figures, Uni can look forward to breaking the $3,000 mark once Big Show is factored in. X-Week '08 raised $1,621.22 for Urbana-Champaign Books to Prisoners, and of that amount $1,241 came from Big Show.

Juniors and seniors can donate their time as well to the Don Moyer organization. According to junior class president Rachel Harmon, the club is inviting Uni upperclassmen to volunteer in its final afterschool session of the year Friday at 3 p.m. The session will be held at the club, located at 201 E. Park St., Champaign.

This year's X-Week featured fundraising events that included eating contests, bake sales, and music in the hallways.

The week culminated Friday with the annual senior auction in Uni Gym. Organized by Nakamura, senior class president Kareem Sayegh, and Student Council executive vice president Alan Liang, the auction sold off items ranging from senior Karolina Kalbarczyk's chemistry notes to English teacher Steve Rayburn's Hawaiian shirt.

A highly anticipated raffle drawing was held at the auction as well. Sponsored by the freshman class, the raffle offered a grand prize of an 8GB iPod Touch, which freshman John Hadley won. Other winners included French teacher John Garvey ($15 iTunes card), sophomore Eunjung Kim ($5 Smoothie King gift card), and freshman Shruti Vaidya ($5 Starbucks gift card).

Check out the photo essay below to take another look at the auction.

Senior Auction Recap

From left, freshman class officers Jamie Blue, Marie Lilly, Christina Harden, and Annie Rong get ready to announce the raffle winners. All photos by Katy Metcalf (click any photo to enlarge and to create your own slideshow)

Senior class president Kareem Sayegh auctions off a pair of white pants donated by classmate Cheng Luo.

With StudCo executive secretary-treasurer Natsuki Nakamura at left, executive vice president Alan Liang holds up a T-shirt donated by math teacher Craig Russell.

Nakamura helps lead the auction.

Assistant Directors Sue Kovacs enjoys the bidding.

Guidance counselor Sarah Dewhurst picks out the lucky raffle number.

Dewhurst draws the winning ticket while Sayegh holds the grand prize, an iPod Touch, which freshman John Hadley won.

The mystery box was donated by senior Paul Miller.

Sayegh auctions off class notes. Notes are always a huge success at the auction.

Students watch the auction with interest.

Sayegh makes his point clear.