Through the collaboration the Family and Consumer Science and the band program, an Evening of Holiday Jazz pumped up seasonal cheer in the school commons on Monday.
“It’s my favorite evening of the year,” said Dollars for Scholars Committee member Peggy Peterson as she addressed the audience.
While Erik Hermanson’s Holiday Jazz entertained with seasonal tunes arranged with a rock or swing twist, students from Amanda Whiteis’ Culinary Arts class served an appetizing assortment of hors d’oeuvres and desserts.
Whiteis’ Design Basic class crafted holiday table decorations for the event, and Christmas trees, some decorated by elementary students, lined the commons perimeter.
The free will donations collected will be placed under Dollars for Scholars’ Christmas Tree—for allocating to the 2025 seniors—and stuffed into the stockings of the FACS and music programs.
While both the boys and girls basketball teams were on the road, and the Vikings were on Monday Night Football, most of the tables in the commons were full.
“Such a small school we are but obviously have incredible support,” said Hermanson.
Students in the Culinary Arts class serving at the event included Martavis Williams, Kayla Bauer and Keely Davis.
Elementary Student Council members serving beverages were Blair Voit, Kenzie Sandhurst, Addy Hoffman, Jayda Roemhildt and Bella Baker.
Crafting the table decorations were members of Whiteis’s Design Basics Class: Koby Kopischke, Mickayla Janzen and Curtis David.
Erik Hermanson’s Holiday Jazz Band included Jackson Bowen, Mylie Dylla, August Keltgen, Caleb Connor and Judd Gibbs on trumpet; Melissa Miller, Jackson Wille and Jackson Shouler on trombone; Maya Lassiter on clarinet; Anna Kawatski-Klein on baritone saxophone; Ariel Murphy and Evelyn Keltgen on tenor saxophone; MacKenzie Smith, Allison Cink and Sierra McCabe on alto saxophone; Vivian Hilfer on piano; Clara Hilfer on lead guitar; Elijah Mons and Dacota Lotspeich on bass guitar; and Reid Knish, Ben Traxler and Wyatt Williams on percussion.
It is a talented and dedicated bunch, Hermanson told the audience.
“Please try to convey to these people how much I care about them and love teaching them. They don’t believe me when I say they are great. We are looking at an extremely special group of people. They come in at 7:00 in the morning on Wednesdays…that is very hard to do, (especially in winter weather). People talk constantly about ‘kids these days,’ but this is what kids these days are like.”
Selections played by Holiday Jazz were “Jingle All the Way,” “A Swingin’ Silent Night,” “We Three Swing,” “Angels We Have Rocked the House.” “A Marshmallow World,” “Two Front Teeth” and “O Holy Night.”
Other members of the Dollars for Scholars Committee are Rhonda Omtvedt, Lisa Alitz, Natalie Hoheisel and Connie Ryan.
School food administrator Monica Manzey rounded up the food and helped with its preparation.
Above: Holiday Jazz
Holiday Jazz
Video: Two Front Teeth