Tim Hartman surveys the array of desserts at Thursday's second annual "Scholars, Dollars and Chocolates" banquet at the Broad River Electric Auditorium. There were 300 desserts made by the Cherokee County Alumni Chapter of Limestone College. Limestone College surpassed its goal last Thursday and raised more than $20,000 in a "Scholars, Dollars and Chocolates" event.

A sold-out crowd of 300 people spent the evening at Broad River Electric Auditorium for dinner, homemade chocolate desserts and entertainment the Iron City Band of Blacksburg.

Preliminary figures showed the scholarship banquet made $20,500 for the Cherokee County Scholarship Program, said Tisha Thompson, Limestone College director of corporate and annual giving.

Limestone provides an annual $1,500 tuition grant to all county residents who attend the day program at Limestone College. At $1,500 per year, Thompson said the college's scholarship for local residents adds up to a significant savings over a 4-year period.

Limestone College awarded $195,000 in Cherokee County scholarships to 154 students during the 2008- 2009 school year. County students received an additional $242,450 in academic, athletic, music, theater and art scholarships.

The college began the "Scholars, Dollars and Chocolates" event last year in an effort to increase support for the county scholarship program.

Despite moving to a larger venue, this year's event still sold out a couple of weeks in advance.

"We are thankful for the support of Cherokee County for another sold-out event that exceeded the goal," Thompson said. "An event for a worthy cause that begins with chocolate dessert is a guaranteed success."

Brown's Packing Company provided meat while Aramark donated the side items and food preparation. Homemade chocolate desserts were provided by the Cherokee County Alumni Association.

The donations allowed Limestone College to put all event profits into the Cherokee County Scholarship Program, Thompson said.