(Posted Feb. 25, 2016)
By Kristy Zurbrick, Madison Editor
New weight room equipment, reduced Advanced Placement (AP) testing fees, specialized music instruction, scholarships.
These are some of the ways proceeds from the Red Raider Regale have benefitted London High School students. Now in its third year, the fundraiser continues to be a unique event put on by the academic, athletic and music booster clubs.
This year’s Regale is set for March 12 at the high school. Doors open at 6 p.m. with a catered meal served at 7. The cost is $35 and tickets must be purchased in advance. They are available at the high school, CK Signs, First Merit Bank, Kronk & Scaggs Insurance, or Wilson Printing & Graphics.
Silent and live auctions are planned, as is a raffle. Among the auction items are a Columbus Zoo back lot tour, a two-night stay at a Hocking Hills cabin for six people, and Ohio State University football tickets. Students and alumni will provide musical entertainment. Student artwork will be on display.
“Students also are helping to set up and tear-down and will serve food. It’s very much a student event,” said Ginger Kronk, booster member.
The 2014 Regale raised $12,000. Last year’s event raised $14,000.
To get a feel for how booster club efforts impact students, the Messenger interviewed five recent London graduates. All five volunteered at the Regale or other booster events while in high school and all five benefited from booster proceeds. Here’s what they had to say and what they’re up to in college.
- Alex Coates, Class of 2015—A freshman at the University of Toledo, Coates is majoring in astrophysics and applied mathematics and plays trumpet in Toledo’s marching and basketball bands.
“I received a scholarship from the academic boosters and my AP testing fees were partially waived,” she said of the boosters’ impact on her high school career.
At London, Coates performed in the marching band’s color guard and played trumpet in concert band. Her mother was involved in booster events.
“I like that the boosters helped students who could not afford the full cost of things,” she said.
- Elizabeth Bennett, Class of 2015—A freshman at the University of Toledo, Bennett is a pharmacy major, plays flute in the marching band, and is a member of the Sigma Alpha Iota music fraternity.
She performed in band and show choir while at London and was especially appreciative of the music boosters and “band parents.”
“They were always there, helping with uniforms, buying instruments and repairing instruments,” she said.
Bennett also benefited from the reduced AP test fees. She took the tests for chemistry, calculus, government and English.
“When you have more than one exam, it really adds up. I saved about $30 per exam, thanks to the boosters,” she said. The courses allowed her to bypass several required courses in college as well as earn credit for elective courses.
- Alex Cox, Class of 2015—A freshman at the University of Toledo, Cox is majoring in bioengineering, plays trombone in the marching and basketball bands, and is a member of the Phi Mu Alpha music fraternity.
In high school, he played tuba in marching band, played trombone in an All-Star Brass Band, was captain of the basketball team his senior year, and played soccer.
“The new weight room equipment (supplied by Regale proceeds) is really nice compared to what we had before. The old equipment was hard to use. It’s a lot better facility now,” he said.
Cox also praised the boosters for supporting student musicians through uniform purchases, band camp costs, and solo and ensemble contest entry fees.
“The boosters helped with my love for music,” he said.
- Clayton Geib, Class of 2014—A sophomore at the College of Wooster, Geib is majoring in chemistry and plays right guard on the football team. He made the dean’s list three times in a row and started every game this past football season.
“I feel like I’m doing well in both aspects—athletics and academics,” he said.
While at London, he benefited from the boosters in the form of scholarship money and use of upgraded sports training gear.
“The scholarship money was definitely helpful. And it definitely makes us better as athletes when we get better equipment,” he said.
- Aaron Throckmorton, Class of 2015—A freshman at The Ohio State University, Throckmorton is majoring in health information management and systems and plays E-flat cornet in the marching band.
In high school, he played baseball and performed in marching band, musicals and theater productions. He, too, mentioned the weight room improvements and the AP testing discounts as helpful. He also appreciates the part the music boosters played in nurturing his love for music.
As a member of the OSU band this year, he performed in London, England, during an NFL football game and in Arizona for the Fiesta Bowl parade and half-time show.
For more information about the Red Raider Regale, contact committee chairperson Diane Boyer at (614) 946-3390 or email redraiderregale@gmail.com.
