Two UC Davis staff members will be attending Mondavi Center performances this season on the house.

Melody Benson of Accounting & Financial Services on the main campus and Betti Clark of Patient Care Services at the UC Davis Health System won free tickets by simply entering their names in a Mondavi Center contest.

The contest drew about 1,150 entries, and the Mondavi Center picked the winners at random. Each receives a pair of tickets to five events in a choose-your-own subscription package.

"I'm very excited," Clark said. "I can't wait to get dressed up and go see some shows (two symphonies and two operas) and a speaker (Andrew Weil)."

The Mondavi Center organized the contest to draw attention to the new 10 percent discount for staff. Add that to the regular series subscription discounts, and faculty and staff can save up to 30 percent.

Benson, an accountant supervisor, said she will share her free Mondavi Center tickets with her daughter, Breanne, an incoming freshman at UC Davis. "We both really enjoy the theater and stage performances," Melody Benson said.

Clark, a hospital unit services coordinator, said she probably will invite work friends to join her at the Mondavi Center.

Staff members also receive a 10 percent discount on single-event tickets, which went on sale Sept. 8. Tickets are available through the Mondavi Center box office: (530) 754-2787 or (866) 754-2787, or www.mondaviarts.org.

The Mondavi Center's complete season information: www.mondaviarts.org.