The University of Massachusetts Dartmouth turned to New England star power to raise money for students in need.

Former Red Sox slugger David Ortiz was the host of the university’s Center for Marketing Research Celebrity Scholarship Dinner on April 26 in Swansea. He helped the university raise $25,000 in scholarships, which were awarded that night to UMass Dartmouth business students.

During the dinner, which attracted more than 600 attendees, Ortiz fielded questions from the audience on everything from baseball to his career post-retirement. He recalled his favorite pet name for Dustin Pedroia, “Pee Wee,” and other memorable moments of his career with the Red Sox, said Nora Barnes, Director of the Center for Marketing Research.

He also signed sports memorabilia for an auction. One item, a signed Red Sox hat, sold for $400 alone, Barnes said.