Bulldog Battle Royal for Harry Stout Rocks!
The second year of the increasingly popular Harry Stout Rocks program that provides musical gear to area school band programs featured a classic battle between old advisories. The Bulldogs from Otsego nipped the Bulldogs from Vicksburg by a hair, thus taking home the $ 5,000 gear bounty courtesy of RIT Music of Grand Rapids and The Harry Stout Foundation. Making the contest even more intriguing was the effort of Mattawan and Kalamazoo Christian who trailed the leader by only a handful of votes. The four schools combined for approximately 80% of the total participation from seven area school band programs.
Harry Stout Rocks is designed to help area school music programs by providing much needed musical equipment. The awards are determined by the programs participation at Harry Fest based on the number of signatures obtained during the course of the event that was held at Bittersweet Ski Resort on May 30th. Each program had a sign in area where signatures were collected and closely monitored. Once someone signed, their hand was marked to prevent repeat voters and to maintain the integrity of the fun competition amongst the schools.
Otsego Band Booster President Joe Kokmeyer enjoyed the spirited yet friendly competition with the other programs, but knew the outcome would be determined by how diligently the boosters and students promoted.
“I made announcements at each concert and explained to everyone
briefly what is was about and what the benefits were if we all
participated.
I held up a brochure and
told everyone that I am holding $5000 in my hand and it was ours if we wanted
it, how bad do you want it?” Mr. Kokmeyer stated.
In addition to handing out the brochures and putting up posters
provided by HSF, the Otsego band placed information on their web site, made announcements
at concerts and gatherings and made sure everyone knew what they had to do to
take home the $ 5,000 award.
“I think overall the active boosters had a great time promoting Harry
Fest,” Mr. Kokmeyer added. “Going out there the day of and asking fellow students
and boosters if they went to Harry Fest was fun.
Thank you for inviting us and the great thing
your foundation is doing.
I am sure
Harry will be so very proud of this.”
Harry Stout Rocks was inspired by Harry Stout’s love for music and passion for helping others. Beyond Otsego’s top award, Vicksburg was presented with a $ 2,000 award, Mattawan and Kalamazoo Christian $ 1,000 each and last year’s winner Gull Lake and Kalamazoo Central each received $ 500.00 awards. Allegan did not meet the minimum signature requirement of 50 signatures.
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