The annual IPRIDE assembly and talent show occurred on Thursday, April 2, to showcase students’ talents. Student performers showed off beautiful voices, impressive dance moves, and Shakespearean speeches. Seniors Alex Waski and Jamie Panichi emceed for the event.
In the week leading up to iPride, teachers nominated students who consistently demonstrate respect. Waski and Panichi drew 25 names from all those nominated.
“We had over 35 staff members nominate students who have consistently shown respect throughout the school year. Staff members included teachers, office staff, school counselors, and cafeteria staff. There were 231 different students nominated by staff members for consistently demonstrating respect throughout the school year,” Mr. Matt Grendel explained. Winners received a card for a free boxed lunch from Cane’s Chicken.
The first act of the show was a performance from junior Robby Kalman and senior Tillie Averre, who sang “Can’t Help Falling In Love” by Elvis Presley. Both students showcased their voices by singing the song while Averre also played the guitar.
Next, the Varsity Baseball team recited the St. Crispin’s Day Speech from Shakespeare’s Henry V. Each member of the team spoke their line into the microphone and completed the speech with their coach, Mr. Jim Crooks.
Students were not the only people to showcase their talents in the show; teachers also had the chance to show off their amazing dance skills. Mrs. Darlene Stefanski, Mr. Mark Corpuz, Mrs. Jess Crooks, Mr. Mike Morefield, Mr. Mike Janatovich, Mrs. Gretchen Obrovac, Mrs. Sheryl Luoma, and Mr. Danny Zillich each danced to the most popular song from the year they started teaching in a video. Songs ranged from hip-hop to pop, but all staff who participated had their moment.
Continuing with the theme of dancing, Mrs. Jennifer Dietrich read some history about the Russian Revolution while freshmen Leah Creel, Madison Spetich, Adyson Miedl, and Lauren Olexa performed to the Just Dance song “Rasputin”. Each student dressed up as different historical figures, including Rasputin, Czarina Alexandra, and Czar Nicholas II.
Next, Tillie Averre, junior Penny Averre, and senior Brooke Coldsnow sang and danced to ABBA’s song “Super Trouper” with a guest appearance from Kalman.
The IPRIDE assembly also showcased a nearly 30-minute teacher impersonation video which is an annual favorite.
Students and staff watched the video after the talent show. Senior Lindsey Lieu took charge of the project. Lieu began brainstorming for the video in early February and started recording and editing the video in late February. She created the video with the intent of making a satirical film that students and staff can relate to.
“Throughout the years, students catch different quirks about a teacher and poke fun at them,” Lieu said. “It’s all in good fun and not meant to hurt anyone’s feelings.”
The teacher impersonation video, as it sounds, compiles clips of seniors imitating their favorite teachers and the silly oddities they show in class. Each senior was given the opportunity to select a teacher to portray.
Senior Allie Bohrer thinks the main goal of the video is to “have a last hurrah with the staff that the seniors have spent years learning and growing from at school.”
Senior Samantha Kandzer hopes the students watching the video will “get a good laugh here and there or say, ‘Oh yeah, they always do that.’”
“I hope that everyone takes it as a funny, lighthearted way to bring people together,” senior Alex Waski said. “I think it’s a funny and relatable way to show teacher appreciation through the eyes of four-year students.”
Lieu took inspiration from impersonation videos on YouTube along with the mockumentary style of the sitcom The Office. She poured every ounce of effort that she could into the video, and she said she hopes that it will encourage the creator of next year’s video to make a masterpiece.
After the teacher impersonations were over, seniors Alex Waski and Joe Fricano wrestled in inflatable sumo costumes to end the show. Fricano won the fight, bringing a close to the show and a start to spring break.
