This year’s National Academy Foundation High School’s Academy Awards, which honored many of Baltimore’s business leaders, was a smashing success. Not only did it raise more than $50,000 for the Baltimore school’s academic programs, it also broke the old idea that these types of ceremonies are snooze fests.

Many set the tone for the evening, including WJZ-TV’s Stan Saunders, who emceed the event and also had a child graduate from this outstanding high school, and did I mention the location? Held at the newly opened Hilton Baltimore Convention Center Hotel, the beautiful venue only enhanced the atmosphere for the 700 in attendance. Petra Compel of P.W. Feats — considered by this social columnist to be one of the best auctioneers around — was carried in “Cleopatra -style” by the school’s Rams football team, adding to the great vibe of the night.