By Melissa Wong

On Oct. 19, over a thousand people gathered on the grounds of the Texas Scottish Rite Children’s Hospital for its annual event Treasure Street.

This year’s theme was Color Me Texan, which could be seen through attendees’ western wear and the longhorn that greeted guests as they trickled in.

Guests enjoyed small bites from Campisi’s, Haystack Burgers & Barley, Parigi, Paul Martin’s American Grill and Matt’s Rancho Martinez. They also sipped on drinks and margaritas from Mesero.

For entertainment, guests enjoyed music from Emerald City Band, Svet (a previous America’s Got Talent contestant) and dancers from Booker T. Washington High School. Guests could also participate in a silent auction and take photos on the longhorn.

An event highlight was seeing all the volunteers who came together to help. The volunteers at the event could be easily recognized throughout the event in their bright red jackets. The volunteers typically work for the hospital throughout the year, but for the event they donned special coats and helped register, greet and mingle with guests.

Several volunteers for the organization are SMU alumni who quickly got involved with volunteering after graduating. Unlike typical organizations, the Scottish Rite stands out because of how they utilize their volunteers.

“Some of the volunteers do administrative duties, which saves the hospital money,” alumnus Brittani Boukather said.

Boukather also offered several ways for SMU students and recent graduates to get involved with the Dallas scene. She suggested joining clubs such as Mustang Heroes during their time at SMU, then finding a hospital they like after graduation.