Members of the Great Bend High School Class of 1957 recently sponsored two seats for $125 each as part of the Take a Seat campaign to renovate the Fine Arts Auditorium. They are challenging other classes to follow their example.
The campaign allows community members to sponsor an auditorium seat for $125, which will get their name, or the name of an honoree, inscribed on a plaque and placed in the lobby area. Seat sponsors will have at their disposal two lines at 30 characters each. Learn more at TAKEASEAT.bartonccc.edu. Donations will be accepted online or by cash, check or credit card by calling Coleen Cape at the Foundation Office, 620-786-1136. The campaign will continue until Aug. 1.
Dana Foss spoke on behalf of her class:
“(Our class has) always shown a great dedication and loyalty to Great Bend High School, the city of Great Bend and the surrounding community. With class reunions being held generally every five years beginning after graduation, attendance has been amazing. Everyone is always ready to ‘come home’ to spend time with their classmates and see what is new in Great Bend. During those reunions, tours have been taken of many businesses, neighborhoods, grade schools, high schools, etc. Our class was very fortunate to be able to visit Barton Community College and use some of the facilities for our events. Everyone wants to see what is new at the college and they are always impressed.
“Following our last reunion in 2012, because of generous donations from classmates for expenses, there was a comfortable amount of money left. Our local group determined that we would like to use some of the money to benefit our classmates if needed and to benefit the community. Many local classmates are involved in the college by employment, plus family members, children and grandchildren taking classes and being involved with activities, programs, musicals, athletic events, camps, etc.
“When the remodeling and updating of the Fine Arts Auditorium was announced and the Take a Seat promotion was publicized, that was a project we all agreed on. After some discussion we realized that GBHS has an amazing history and all graduating classes are very loyal to their school, town and community.  We thought that by taking our step to purchase two seats, that would be of interest to other graduating class, in fact the class of 1957 would offer a challenge to the rest of the classes to do the same. Challenge rewards would be the fact that we are the best of the best graduating from GBHS and we are all interested in doing what we can to improve and support the community we are so proud of.”