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HOUGHTON -- In its short decade at Michigan Tech, the Rozsa Arts Center has encouraged local schools to teach the significance of the arts.

"There are lots of studies that show that educating students in the arts helps them in lots of other areas," said Rozsa Center director, Susanna Brent.  "Music helps with math, theater helps with literature and reading.  In general, it's a very, very important part of a child's education."

The Rozsa Center has supported their mission of arts education by exposing kids to music and theater through their Class Acts program.

"We bring in performances for kids from around the area from local schools," Brent explained.  "These performances are not available to the public; they're only available for the kids."

"We have all the wonderful resources here, and we would like to share our resources with the local schools," said Provost Max Seel.

But the Class Acts program wouldn't be possible without fund-raisers like its annual Christmas Tree Auction, which has helped raise thousands of dollars in the past.  Local artists and organizations decorated artificial trees to be auctioned off for the highest bid.  The auction begins Monday, but on Sunday, the community was able to purchase the trees at "buy it now," set prices at a champagne brunch.

The tree bids ranged in price from about $100-$500, and they were not just ordinary trees; artists adorned them with not only decorations but with prizes as well.  One tree was decorated with VIP passes to Michigan Tech's performance of 'South Pacific.'

The brunch was accompanied by renowned Canadian fiddler, April Verch. 

The auction runs from Monday until December 10.  To submit your bid, visit the Rozsa Arts Center.