Campus Connection

CBS ‘Survivor’ alum is now a pioneer in the fast-paced world of auctioneering

Growing up, Yve Rojas was often told that she talked too fast. 

Rather than work on slowing down, she did quite the opposite. She used her gift to her advantage.  

Rojas, ’91 (political science), now travels the country as an emcee and professional auctioneer. She lends her talents to more than 125 events each year — everything from golf tournaments to Food Network bake-offs to benefit auctions supporting major charities. 

By her estimate, she has helped nonprofit organizations raise more than $100 million. 

“I just enjoy being around people, standing up there with a microphone, being in front of a crowd,” she says. “I enjoy when a donor’s emotion and understanding of a nonprofit’s work turns into a compassionate donation.” 

The job is much more than speaking rapidly into a microphone 45 minutes at a time. 

Rojas spends hours learning about the organizations she serves, as well as reviewing production details such as lighting, sound and run of show. 

As the person with the microphone, she is an ambassador for her clients — in no small part responsible for ensuring an event’s success. 

“It’s so much more complex than it looks,” she notes. “When you think about these organizations and the desire they have to serve the people they serve, it’s a lot of stress. I own my responsibility to help raise those funds.” 

Rojas was classically trained at the World Wide College of Auctioneering, where she earned both a general diploma and a secondary diploma in bilingual auctioneering.  

Rojas is also a member of the National Auctioneers Association (NAA), through which she holds the designations of benefit auctioneer specialist and Certified Auctioneer Institute professional. 

She is the reigning NAA International Auctioneer reserve champion, as well as a former winner of the Kansas Auctioneer Championship. 

All of this, paired with her Venezuelan background, has made Rojas a pioneer in the auction industry — one historically dominated by white men. 

“It’s a niche industry that, like many industries, has traditionally been led by men,” explains Rojas, who hopes to serve as an example for other women and people of color. To date, she has mentored three women and one man who have since broken into the industry. 

“As far as a profession for women, I think auctioneering is extraordinary and offers so many opportunities,” she says. 

Rojas didn’t initially set out to become an auctioneer; her life has included many chapters. 

Her first job out of college was with Abbott Laboratories, a multinational company specializing in medical products, where she learned the finer points of sales and grew accustomed to frequent travel. 

A natural performer, she eventually changed course and had an extensive career as an actor. She is a member of the Screen Actors Guild—American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, and continues to work in both broadcast and non-broadcast productions. 

But the spotlight on Rojas perhaps shone brightest in 2010, when she was a contestant on the 21st season of CBS’s “Survivor.”  

Due to her well-rounded skill set, Rojas established herself as an early threat to win the $1 million prize and was soon singled out by her tribe. She was voted off on day 15, finishing 14th out of 20 contestants. 

Despite falling short, Rojas left with a wealth of experience, which helps frame her perspective on work and life. 

And while navigating life as a castaway in the cut-throat game of “Survivor” seems to have little in common with auctioneering, Rojas has found meaningful parallels. 

“On ‘Survivor,’ I was reliant on myself: my experiences, my reactions and my responses. The uncontrolled elements were famine, dehydration and sleep deprivation,” she explains. “When it comes to auctions, I can do as much prep as I can, but there are still unexpected elements: how the stock market is doing, what the weather is like, what the audience is doing. There are elements we can control, and there are elements where we just need to pause, respond and move forward. 

“The excitement I felt on ‘Survivor’ is the same excitement I get when flying to an event,” she adds. “It’s the unknown. No event is the same year to year or night to night.” 

Rojas also carries lessons and experiences from her time at UW-La Crosse. 

As a member of the Eagle Battalion, she developed a strong work ethic as well as physical and emotional toughness. 

In the classroom, she was struck by the passion of professors. Their energy and enthusiasm during lectures, she says, is reflected in the way she carries herself in front of an audience. 

“Sheldon Smith in particular, from Archaeology — I remember his delivery, his enthusiasm and his excitement for what he was teaching,” Rojas says. “When you’re surrounded early on by people who love what they do, it makes you excited about what you do and the chance to share it with others.” 

And when someone is excited about what they’re saying, it is hard to fault them for talking fast.