There are no Herefords on the auction block at tonight's Black Tie Blue Jeans event like there were in 1987, but the Rocky Mountain College fundraiser is still raising thousands of dollars to help students pay for college.

Shari VanDelinder, executive director of development at Rocky, hopes to raise a net profit of $250,000 at tonight's dinner, dance and auction to pay for scholarships. Partygoers will notice that more than 30 Rocky students will be working the event, setting up, greeting guests at the door and thanking them when they leave.

"Over 5 percent of the students are helping out this year,'' VanDelinder said.

Van Delinder said donations for the auction are up, most notably original works from some of the area's most noteworthy artists, including Harry Koyama, Russell Chatham and Michael Maydak. She has also lined up unique opportunities, including the chance to be an extra in an upcoming movie by producer Brandon Hogan, a Rocky alumnus.

"He's with Paradox, and they are partnering with MGM and Sony on some films. We don't know what film it's going to be, but it could possibly a movie they're working on with Ashton Kutcher," VanDelinder said.

In its peak year, BTBJ raised $400,000, but VanDelinder said with the downturn in the economy, projections for tonight's event are more modest. The Midlife Chryslers, a local classic rock band that includes Rocky art professor Mark Moak and Rocky alumnus Hal Forseth, will perform.

"When we call people after the event to get feedback, everybody said, 'Bring the Midlife Chryslers back.' They are a very popular band," VanDelinder said.

BTBJ started out with a cattle auction organized by Pat Goggins and Rocky board member Jim Almond and his wife, Sandy. The Almonds are still active at Rocky and were recently named philanthropists of the year. That first year, cattle were auctioned off on Friday and a dinner and dance took place on Saturday at the Northern Hotel, VanDelinder said. That's where the name and the dress code for the party came from. Men still wear cowboy boots and blue jeans.

This year's party has been dubbed "Champions," partially because of Rocky's national championship in men's basketball last spring.

"We have champions among our faculty, staff, alumni and all our friends. They help Rocky students become champions with their support and become champions themselves," VanDelinder said.

Nicki and Rick Larson, owners of EBMS, are this year's honorary co-chairs. The Larsons have been pioneers in the health insurance industry and leaders in the community, with a history of supporting RMC.

"As parents of two RMC graduates, and business owners who have hired RMC graduates for key leadership areas in our company, we are intimately familiar with the exceptional value of a Rocky education," Rick Larson said.