“Incredible Journey” Ends With Schwegler as Lights On Champions
LAWRENCE, Kan. – ‘Under the Sea’ was on top of the world when the Schwegler Elementary site was named the Boys & Girls Club of Lawrence 2017 Lights On Talent Show champions, Friday night on the Lawrence Free State High School stage.
All 15 BGCLK locations brought the night’s Disney movie-inspired theme, “The Incredible Journey: Quest for the Lights On Trophy” to life. Every site was given two categories to draw from: Disney movies and musicians. Schwegler took on the challenge of blending The Little Mermaid and Justin Bieber – and aced it. In fact, every team aced it. Only three points separated first, second and third place.
“It was amazing! My kids were so excited,” Lindsay Simms, Area Director of the Schwegler BGCLK site, said. “Ms. Heather and the kids worked so hard to learn the dance and get it perfect. I’m so proud of them. I am really proud of all of the kids; seriously, every Club was fantastic.”
The Broken Arrow and Kennedy Elementary sites took second and third, respectively. Broken Arrow’s dancers wore costumes that read “Wonder by Wonder,” thanks to their Aladdin and Stevie Wonder ensemble. Kennedy’s crew masterfully mixed lines from Toy Story in with a medley of Michael Jackson songs. All three of the top finishers will recreate their performances at the Lawrence Youth of the Year ceremony on Jan. 25.
Mike Anderson, a Lawrence City Commission candidate, and the host for the evening kept the crowd laughing throughout the night. He also stirred up every performer on stage when he built the suspense before finally announcing the champion. It was his task to take the judges’ final tallies and read them aloud.
Per the usual for this event, the panel of judges had their work cut out for them. The 2017 Lights On judges were: Margaret Weisbrod Morris (Lawrence Arts Center), Hannan Misko (Lawrence Arts Center), Codi Bates (Bon Bon, The Burger Stand, VanGo), Darian Bruch (Rock Chalk Dancer), Kara Daneck (Rock Chalk Dancer) and Malyiah Finch (Dance Hues Studio).
A full house in the FSHS auditorium was treated to epic dance routines, including The Lion King and Garth Brooks (Prairie Park), Beyoncè and Moana (Quail Run) and Hercules and Maroon 5 (Pinckney), Beauty and the Beast and The Spice Girls (Teen Center), Brave and Madonna (Hillcrest) and so many others, keeping the scores close from start to finish.
Launched in October 2000, Lights On Afterschool is the only nationwide annual event celebrating afterschool programs and their important role in the lives of children, families and communities. The national celebration of Lights On Afterschool Day (Oct. 26) is a tribute to the organizations across the country that keep their “lights on” after school hours. Approximately 8,000 afterschool programs are expected to participate in the 18th annual Lights On Afterschool, holding rallies, science fairs, student performances, community service events, sports competitions and – in Lawrence’s case – a talent show.
The Afterschool Alliance organizes Lights On Afterschool to draw attention to the many ways afterschool programs support students by offering them opportunities to learn new things—such as science, community service, robotics, theater and the experience of traveling sporting events. The events send a powerful message that millions more kids need quality afterschool programs. As a partner of the alliance and the largest afterschool program in Lawrence, the Boys & Girls Club of Lawrence works every day to help fill that need.